Clemente Mosaic

This mosaic portrait of Roberto Clemente sits on the east lawn of Roberto Clemente High School on Division St. just east of Western Ave. It was installed in 2004 as an Architreasures community project in collaboration with teachers and students at the school. Architreasures was founded in 1996 as a non-profit community-building organization to facilitate grass-roots development of community assets, including art and architectural elements in public places and schools. This installation serves both as a mosaic double portrait of Clemente and Martin Luther King, Jr. (on the other side) and as a bench (also on other side). The portrait of Clemente, facing northeast toward the Division/Oakley intersection has the word "GIVE" in the background field surrounding the portrait. The King portrait has the word "SPEAK" written across the forehead. The mural panels are meant to be inspirational, and to serve as a bridge between the school and the surrounding community. Students at Clemente partnered with AIA Young Architects under the auspices of Architreasures to design and build the wall, bench and mosaics. This collaborative process is empowering for young participants, and the resulting product, though small in scale, lives on (in great condition after 5 years) as a visual reminder that every person has something to say and something to give to the community. They have only to put forth the effort. Speak. Give.