Jenny Ustick was accustomed to painting large scale murals before coming to Graniti, so she was excited to find the spectacular wall below Ristorante Flora to make her project. With the help of friend Atalie Gagnet, the mural was completed in roughly two weeks in April and May of 2018. Ustick is interested in images of national personification and allegory, and how countries and regions construct identities. The figure wears a Phrygian cap, an ancient symbol of freedom and self-determination. She is the embodiment of liberty and dignity. The background’s bright, bold knit stitches set against a rugged landscape represent unity and healing. This project was created with an awareness and respect of Sicily’s long history of cultural flux, and a desire for understanding with regard to shifting politics in the United States.
Visit www.jennyroeselustick.com
