The Karen Mural Project

Corner of Geneva St and Seneca St
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The Karen Mural was designed and painted in 2019 by Karen and Burmese teen members of the 4-H Urban Outreach Program at Cornell Cooperative of Tompkins County in collaboration with local muralist Dan Burgevin.  The mural and program was made possible thanks to the Cornell University Public Service Center, Park Foundation, Short Stop, Ithaca Murals, Ithaca Asian American Association, Ithaca Housing Authority and many individual community members.

​For more information, contact Ramona Cornell at (607) 272-2292 ext. 149 (Voicemail#269) or [email protected]

How this mural came to be...

​In January 2019, the Karen teens launched a search for an artist to assist them painting a mural at Short Stop.
Six artists responded to their public announcement.  They looked over the previous experience of each of the artists and chose Dan Burgevin to work with them on this project.

Thank you for helping make this beautiful mural happen!
Urban 4-H, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
Ramona Cornell, 4-H Urban Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
Dan Burgevin, Mural Artist Assistant
Chuck Dong, Owner of Shortstop Deli 

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Click here to read the Ithaca Voice article about the Karen Mural Project!

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13 people enjoying ice cream and company on a mural tour in July hosted by Bike Walk Tompkins and Ithaca Murals.

Mural up close:

The text at the bottom of the mural reads:
"Flowers and butterfly mask the genocide on the Karen People. A girl hiding in the burmese forest from the brutal military junta. Many Karen crossed the Sarawren to peace and security in Thailand. Starting new families, they obtained refugee status and eventually came to USA where they vote, work, and live free!"

Click HERE to see and share this mural on Instagram.