The Mourning Bar

Someone you've never met but always admired passes, you hear the news, and you want to express your gratitude in a tangible way.

College students have created a one-day pop-up art-build at a NYC bar and invite the public on social media and this site. (Likely beginning in the morning when bar is not in use)

You show up and wait on a line to enter (hopefully not too long) while you talk to others on that line about why you were drawn to come and engage. You share that this person meant something to you.

You enter the bar, are given a simple paper pattern to replicate in paint on a small 3" x 3" canvas. You sit, your talk, you paint, you laugh, maybe you get choked up, and then you add your little canvas to a collection of 168 other canvas (19x19) to make a community mosaic portrait.

You see the artwork displayed somehow / somewhere / sometime - and you always remember you painted one tile because you were moved to do so.

The process is so simple, yet so therapeutic and connects you with others.

Thankfully, we are not engaged in planning of a tribute at this moment. When we sadly lose an icon, we will post details here as well as on our Instagram social media account.

We seek icons that have made significant cultural impact - usually in fields that united people such as music, theater, film, and literature - but we may honor iconic scientists, engineers, public servant or humanitarians.

Due to the divisive nature of politics, we will not offer publicly accessible tributes to elected officials but may decide to provide private art-making services if aligned with our mission of service.

The Mourning Bar is a service-learning program of St. John's University's College of Business in partnership with students from all majors including art, education, and history. 

Art tributes are decided in consultation with those student volunteers. Discussion often involves whether the lost icon transcends generations with their work and impact.

Students interested in volunteering are asked to contact Dan Napolitano, Assistant Dean for Student Services and Community Design at [email protected]

The pilot location of the Mourning Bar is planned for Amity Hall, in Greenwich Village NYC in partnership with STOUT NYC Hospitality Group. 

St. John's alumnus Martin Walen, owner of STOUT NYC has been generous in offering space to pilot this program. 

We may consider other bars (and in other cities) if the establishment has a cultural significance tied with the late icon.

Bars are often open midday into evening, so the morning/mourning concept makes use of often unused space to gather.

The aforementioned Irish Wake - which often occur in pubs -acts as inspiration of mixing grief with joy. 

All ages are welcome. Alcohol will not be a central element of this event, but the host bar may choose to offer food or beverages. There is no expectation that painters need to spend any money to participate. We kindly ask that you remember to dip your paintbrushes only in your water glass and not in your beer mug.

Yes. Look for a link to RSVP for each designated art-build. 

Entrance will be first-come, first-enter line-based. We hope that you may get onto the line and then fill out the RSVP survey while you wait but we also may need to close the RSVP if the capacity is deemed untenable or unsafe. 

The RSVP helps us document who painted, allows us your permission to be filmed, and also gives us full control over the final artwork created.

A VIP is someone closely connected to the deceased - whether a family member, a colleague, or former collaborator - who may want to participate but requests some accommodations such as a private entrance, a private room, or security concerns.

Please contact [email protected] with the subject line of "special consideration" so that we may discuss your participation in the most respectful way possible. 

Due to the tremendous impact and legacy of each icon, we may not be able to accommodate all those who knew the icon but will strive to be sensitive to each request.

Sadly, we are not equipped to respond to all the unfortune daily losses in our city - even though there is ample need to help communities grieve and heal. We hope to provide detailed instructions for community members to create their own tributes similar to ours - or to cultivate new ideas with creative artists directly from within those communities impacted. Leaning on local artists is a much stronger way to sustain the communication process beyond the action of the actual mosaic making.

No. It is not a religious service nor intended to be restrictive in any way. It is inspired by the mission of St. Vincent to grant access to such important life moments.

We will be very selective in granting media access that is respectful of our process. Only one media outlet per tribute will be approved with a mutual understanding of appropriate conduct.

For example, only those painters that RSVP'd and indicated a comfort and willingness to speak with media will be engaged. 

The St. John's student and staff will respectfully decline interviews as we seek to raise the voices of those in the community that have come to paint.

This is the most common question asked while painting as we receive many requests and painters want to return to see their work in the final product.

We do try to offer them to the icon's family or if there might be namesake school, cultural center or museum connected to the icon's work.

We have considered hosting an exhibition at the end of the year and invite the many painters to come and see their work as part of the greater project.

By RSVP'ing with your email, we can inform you of the mosaic's destination.