Johanna Herr, Let Compassion Be The Thread That Binds Us, 2024, lenticular prints, PS 169 Addtion, Queens

Let Compassion Be The Thread That Binds Us is a site-specific lenticular mural created by artist Johannah Herr for the lobby corridor of the new P.S. 169 Addition, Queens. This immersive artwork spans the corridor wall measuring nearly 27’ wide and 6’ high. To create the artwork, the artist researched textile traditions from around the world. Her work cites dozens of patterns and weaving techniques, including kilim from Morocco, houndstooth from Scottland, kente from Ghana, ikat from Uzbekistan, Zulu beading from South Africa, Diné weaving from the Navajo Nation, and Oaxacan baskets from Mexico. These global traditions are fused into a collective tapestry, a metaphor for the way individuals work together to build the fabric of society, and the way a diverse student population comes together to form a community. 

The mural was fabricated using lenticular printing technology. Multiple images were combined and printed on a special plastic which creates an illusion of motion depending on the angle from which it is seen. As viewers pass by the artwork, they witness a dazzling, ever-changing patchwork of interwoven patterns. Words integrated within the artwork flicker in and out of view, eventually revealing one of two poetic messages: "OUR FUTURES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER" and "LET COMPASSION BE THE THREAD THAT BINDS US."