All of Us. Roots & Branches” is a collaborative work, designed by DaNice D Marshall and painted by the talented artist Ramon Santiago.
The viewer is asked to see above, as well as to see below. Because in order to appreciate the Salem of today, one must discover the layered history underneath. Filled with writing, itself an art form, these words define Salem, MA. From the indigenous fishing spot named Naumkeag to Salem Willows, which in Hebrew means “peace” to King Pompey and the 1st Black Elections, these words speak pride.
The mural’s bottom, its root system, has the potential to be interactive, with words to be added over time to foster intergenerational belonging, as well as to conserve the mural.
My work is always intentional in the connectedness of people. I paint narrative art, as much to record ordinary activities of life, as to show the viewer that all people laugh and have moments of joy. We live in a digital world that’s spinning incredibly fast, but art slows us down. We are compelled to stop and look, in this way art creates community.
In 2024 DaNice received a MassMOCA Residency Fellowship that changed the trajectory of her art practice, she now includes Public Art and Advocacy. She is a mural designer and creates 3D Public Art,.
DaNice lives in Braintree, MA, with her husband Ben.