THE
GAZETTE VOLUME 8 • ISSUE 3 FEBRUARY 11, 2021
Wilton Manors & Oakland Park FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/WMGAZETTE COMMUNITY
WILTON MANORS
Healing — One Brush Stroke At A Time Wilton Manors Parkland mural gets a much needed facelift
By John Hayden It’s been three years since the school be expressed in a creative way instead of having shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High those emotions push down inside. And when School (MSD) in Parkland. While the shock has they placed the tiles together, it was almost slowly faded, the pain remains for the survivors, electric.” This turned out to be a positive first step, but the families of victims, and the South Florida community. Now a place dedicated to healing, due to the scope of the tragedy, Dr. Busciolano knew more had to be done and reflection, and peace in Wilton took a leap of faith. Manors is getting some TLC, “I wanted more! And as I making sure it will be here for “... They could looked around I saw an empty a long time to come. allow their raw wall in front of Lola’s Bazaar, The mural and MSD and without specific plan, Memorial Rock Garden outside emotions to be I called Evan Anthony, the Lola’s Bazaar Market was expressed in a owner, and said ‘Would you created in the aftermath of the give me that wall for the MSD shooting. While many of the creative way instead students?’” student survivors made sure of having those Anthony was happy to the world paid attention by provide the canvas. Now the using their political leverage of emotions push down project needed direction. the moment, others suffered in Next Dr. Busciolano was silence. inside. And when able to meet Lauren Rosa, the Dr. Julio Busciolano is a they placed the tiles art teacher at MSD. Being able mental health therapist who to work with someone who worked with many of them, together, it was had an established physical and told SFGN about what he almost electric.” and emotional connection saw, and how he was inspired to the students helped bring to help them heal through art. - Dr. Julio Busciolano everything together. “I saw in these survivors “Meeting Lauren was a gift. an initial sense of confusion, related to PTSD symptoms: lack of sleep, An amazing and talented professional that tendency to isolate, flashbacks, panic with led the project every weekend,” he said. “But noises, etc.,” he said. “Above all a sense of by the end of July she had to leave for her new job at the Department of Defense in Tokyo. It disconnection with self and others.” In the days after the shooting, students were was difficult for the young artists but they were given tiles and encouraged to express their resilient and continued to come on their own.” Even though he isn’t a trained artist, Dr. feelings through art. “So they could allow their raw emotions to Busciolano stayed close to the project by
Photo credit: Courtesy Dr. Julio Busciolano.
setting up a booth at the bazaar, selling his vinyl records. He watched as the students painted the eagle, then used portraits of the victims to create their images on the wall. When you visit, you can’t help but be moved. Each picture is a lost member of our community, memories kept alive by a community that cares and refuses to forget. “When you experience trauma, words are insufficient,” he said. “Positive change happens when human beings can express themselves through artwork, reframing feelings and I believe, mostly in this case, they produce a deliberate response to an experience.” Now, to mark the three year anniversary, the mural is getting some much needed upkeep.
www.WMGAZETTE.com
From heavy rains to fading in the sun, South Florida weather is tough on outdoor art. Viviana Werner, an MSD alum, started the restoration, and is thankful to Kimberly Marie from Holy Mackerel who donated the paint, as well as the continued support from Wesley Schultz and Evan Anthony at Lola’s Bazaar. Dr. Busciolano is glad the mural will continue to be here for others. “Throughout these three years I’ve seen people stopping by and crying, praying, getting angry, struggling to make sense, and families talking to their children,” he said. “A powerful moment: the day when a Sandy-Hook survivor joined an MSD survivor at the mural and held hands.”
2 .11. 20 21 •
17