In 2005, two young men from the Holland, Jeroen Koolhaas and Dre Urhahn had an idea that eventually transformed a number of neighborhoods in different parts of the world with paint, and admittedly, barbecue.
Beginning in a favela outside of Rio de Janeiro, Haas and Hahn collaborated with locals to mural buildings in the area, an endeavor that received world wide attention when the end product was extraordinary.
Later, when asked to paint an entire street in one of Philadelphia’s most challenging neighborhoods, they explained in their TED Talk “We had no idea how, but it seemed like an interesting challenge…. so we moved in… and started barbecuing.” Locals gathered around the grill and the men were able to network in with the people right for the job.
Haas and Hahn repeatedly acknowledge the necessity of engaging the support and hands-on assistance of the people in the community to create a meaningful and organic experience, underscoring the public of public art. And apparently, if you grill it, they will come.
