By Francesca Merwin, staff writer

 

When you look around town, it’s pretty easy to spot a Connective Corridor bus. They stick out from the others with their vibrant colors and haiku poetry. When you step inside, you’ll notice eye-catching upholstery, internet technology, and hi-tech electronic screens and voice systems.

Now look up. Do you see it? Now on these creative buses, you’ll also see art.

For the next two months, each of the three Corridor buses will feature images of various artistic projects. One bus will highlight the poetry of Somali Bantu refugees, one will host the photography of SU student Allyssa Kaiser, and the third will include the creations of local students involved with the Photography and Literacy (PAL) Project.

“My vision is for the buses to be mobile art venues,” explains Robbi Farschman, director of the Connective Corridor. “I want the buses to be ‘Poetry in Motion,’ ‘Music in Motion,’ ‘Drama in Motion’ and open them up to be mobile performance spaces. We did a test run last year with Verbal Blend, an SU poets’ group, and the reception was absolutely fantastic!”

Too, the possibilities for the buses to become something unique and culturally relevant are endless. With the addition of ‘Art in Motion,’ Farschman’s vision is starting to be realized. For example, the Somali Bantu poetry offers startlingly true accounts of what it’s like to grow up in a refugee camp. And because Syracuse is actually a hub for refugee resettlement, it’s an obvious choice to give a voice to.

“This project raises awareness of the many people we have in our community,” says Farschman, who worked with SU’s International Young Scholars to mentor the Somali Bantu teens in a creative writing program which produced the work. “These are people that might not have been able to showcase their talents because they didn’t have the funds to do so.”

Which is to say, none of this would have gotten off the ground if it wasn’t for the generous support from a few local businesses and organizations. Sponsorships from the Genesee Grande Hotel, Pastabilities Restaurant and Syracuse University’s Office of Community Engagement, all helped to make this come to life.

“This was a natural match for us,” enthused Karyn Korteling, owner of Pastabilities. “Art is foundational for a strong community. We can work to bridge some of the gaps in our community through its universal language.”

Her statements were echoed by Tom Fernandez, director of marketing at the Genesee Grande. “The Genesee Grande has been a huge proponent of the Connective Corridor,” he says. “It’s wonderful to see everyone connect on this project and breathe some life into the community.”

The collaborative efforts to infuse art into unexpected places suggest that this project will only enhance the mission of the Connective Corridor. Every two months, the goal is to replace the images to highlight other exciting endeavors in Syracuse. Please visit here for more information on how to participate with this project. In the meantime, hop on a Connective Corridor bus and enjoy all of the new things public transportation has to offer!