SABRINA DORSAINVIL MURAL
SEPTEMBER 2019
MEET THE ARTIST
Sabrina Dorsainvil is fascinated by people. She is curious about the ways we interact with each other and how we experience everyday spaces, services, and systems. She is a multidisciplinary designer and illustrator whose work ranges from playful drawings to strategic urban projects. Her civic design work centers on the human experience and uses creative approaches to address systemic issues within areas such as housing, public health and human rights. Her artwork focuses on storytelling and finding simple ways of celebrating people and their humanity. We’re thrilled to be working with her as she adds to the public art landscape this September through Walls on Western.
ABOUT THE MURAL
Allston, I really love you!
“Allston, I really love you!” reflects on of the diverse set of people that live, work and play in this neighborhood of Boston. It serves as a reminder that love and respect for our shared humanity should be an important priority for us. It also hopes to draw connections beyond the bounds of language, urge for our collective vulnerability, and celebrates people being their full unapologetic selves.
Created in collaboration with DEAF Inc., the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf, this mural acts as an invitation to all viewers to see and celebrate each other and the local the Deaf community living, working and thriving in the Allston area.
Q&A WITH THE ARTIST
TELL US ABOUT YOUR CONNECTION TO ALLSTON
Three of my favorite things about Allston:
1. the diversity of cultural food options,
2. the people, and
3. the Deaf community.
A few years ago, while living in Allston, my partner and I were interested in continuing to learn more American Sign Language and about Deaf culture. We happened to read the back of a show bill for a great play entitled “I was most alive with you” and saw DEAF Inc as a sponsor. We looked into them and ended up spending 3-4 years studying ASL partly because it was serendipitously down the street but also because it very quickly became the safe space for navigating what it meant to be an ally to the Deaf community. This mural is meant to honor kindness and welcoming nature of all whom I’ve met through Deaf Inc. My hope is that it acts as a nod to all the viewers to see and celebrate the local the Deaf community living, working and playing in the Allston area like folks from the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
*DEAF, Inc. was founded in 1977 by Deaf leaders from the National Association of the Deaf and the Massachusetts State Association of the Deaf. It is one of the first multi-service community-based agencies run by and for people who are Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, or Late-Deafened.
Learn more: deafinconline.org/about
Tell us a little about your background and training?
I’m a Boston native but with family roots in Haiti. I studied Industrial Design at MassArt for undergrad and have a masters of science in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons the New School. I’ve been drawing and doodling since I was little and was lucky to have gone to a Greater Lawrence Technical High School because I had been exposed to art and design as connected practices in the graphic communications program. From there I was on a path of learning by doing and I’ve been grateful for the multitude of opportunities I’ve had to lead with my values in both my design work and my work as an artist/illustrator. My work centers on people and everyday experiences. I am also currently the Director of Civic Design for the City of Boston on a team called the New Urban Mechanics. Even in that work I have the space to constantly ask myself how I might bridge art and design with the fight for social, spatial and environmental justice. I’m continuing to grow and learn along the way.
HOW DID YOU START DOING MURALS?
In the past I’ve supported others in making murals but it was so long ago! I’m looking forward to trying it out again for myself!
What is the process that goes into YOUR ILLUSTRATIONS?
I remember a time when I was scared to use colors unless I was using pastels. I’ve come a long way! Now if you look at my work you’ll see many bright color combinations and a lot more experimentation. During the day I work a full time creative job and even when the work doesn’t call for illustration skills I try to at minimum doodle notes. I often need to find my creative center outside of that context so I use commutes as ways to doodle and experiment with different mediums and limited color palettes. When I illustrate or design for work or freelance gigs a common narrative through that work is storytelling. In those cases trying to unpack concepts for the end viewer require understanding intentions and the audience. In contrast, my personal work is sometimes more playful and often about creating characters. I like to challenge myself to just draw and adjust as I go. Doodle doodle doodle!
WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR WORK?
My work is influenced by people! A lot of my work depicts womxn and femme characters. I often find myself making up characters from memory or imagination. I tend to produce work for myself that’s inspired by my experiences, whether positive or negative, but sometimes chose ordinary objects to be the foundation for a series.
What do you do when you hit a creative roadblock?
When I hit a roadblock I simplify things! For example if I’m interested in drawing a character I’ll doodle a shape and deconstruct a features down to key elements and build up from there—- one thing at a time. If I’m looking to incorporate more un constrained creativity I switch up the medium (I’ve been known to embroider or use paint markers or watercolor). From there I pick a theme and make a series of similar but different doodles. Sometimes taking a much needed break does the trick as well. Be kind to yourself!
Where else can people find your work?
You can find some of my work on my website (sabrinadorsainvil.com) and more recent things on instagram. I hope to share any new shows or opportunities to engage with my work on social media!
FAVORITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN BOSTON?
The access to water and green spaces is a draw. I also really value the people I’ve met here and the efforts they’re making to better this city on all fronts.
