Delano Dunn, The Scene is Set for Dreaming, 2024, mixed media, PS 108 Addition, Bronx​

The Scene is Set for Dreaming is a site-specific artwork created by Delano Dunn for the gymnatorium lobby of the P.S. 108 Addition, Bronx. The exuberant and colorful mural features black and white images of children playing amongst a world full of large flowers, colorful rainbows and geometric shapes. Dunn used photographs of students from the school’s archive, as well as contemporary images of children, for his composition. All are shown happily engaging in this wonderous world laughing, smiling, dancing, one playing the piano, one exploring the petals of a flower, and one sitting atop a doorframe surrounded by a giant pink bloom. The Art Deco style of the original 1937 school building served as an important design element that is reflected in its patterns, diagonals, honeycombs and rich jewel-toned colors. A variety of materials, including hand-cut glass, recycled glass with digital printing, vitreous glass tiles, porcelain tile and faux wood were used to fabricate the mural.  

Dunn's inspiration for this artwork came from Glenna Avila’s 1984 outdoor public mural L.A. Freeway Kids, which was meaningful to him as a youth growing up in Los Angeles. Featuring seven larger-than-life kids engaged in different types of play, the mural encouraged Dunn at a young age to pursue his dream of becoming an artist. Similarly, The Scene is Set for Dreaming demonstrates the fun and value of learning, making friends, and building diverse communities.