Beyond Memorial

New York, NY

Common in the aftermath of shootings, New Yorkers often build candle memorials that offer a space for mourning and reflection.

However, once these memorials are taken down, the sites they occupied often remain overshadowed by grief and anxiety, perpetuating feelings of unsafety and stigma. These spaces also historically have generational or historical trauma due to decades of disinvestment and systemic injustice, leaving these spaces feeling unsafe and stigmatized.

Public artist and spatial justice designer Immanuel Oni has been working with Brownsville youth to reclaim these sites through public art activations as part of an initiative called Beyond Memorial. This initiative facilitates dialogue with multiple community groups across the city to reclaim various sites of loss, including an African Burial Ground and a Bed-Stuy environmental community center.

With Incite’s support, Oni will focus his efforts on building capacity within and beyond Brownsville to sustain and evolve this work through his non-profit, Liminal.

About the Team