FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2026

Artist Kenneth E. Parris III Brings “Our America,” a Collective Public Art Project, to Central Park on October 2

Following its May Day debut in Brooklyn, the participatory chalk mural invites New Yorkers to transform Central Park into a collective expression of belonging and cultural plurality.

NEW YORK, NY — September 28, 2026 — New York–based artist Kenneth E. Parris III brings Our America, a large-scale public art project, to Central Park on Friday, October 2, from 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM. Taking place at the Naumburg Bandshell and Literary Walk, the event invites artists, community members, and passersby of all ages to contribute their handwriting to an evolving public mural, creating a visual record of inclusivity that reflects the diversity of people and voices that shape our nation.

Presented as part of FALL OF FREEDOM's national call for creative resistance, this second installment expands the project from downtown Brooklyn to one of New York City's most iconic public spaces, inviting residents and visitors to participate in an act of shared authorship.

Throughout the day, participants will handwrite the Woody Guthrie lyric, “This land is your land, this land is my land,” in chalk. Individual contributions accumulate into a large-scale typographic mural, creating an evolving visual field that affirms America as a place of belonging and shared opportunity for all.

“What interests me is the moment when individual voices form something larger than themselves,” said Parris. “Each person's handwriting is unique, but together these gestures create a shared expression of belonging, reflecting not only who we are, but the America we strive to create.”

Blending public art, performance, and civic participation, Our America transforms the familiar childhood act of writing with chalk into a collective ritual of presence. The mural's impermanence reflects both the urgency and fragility of democratic expression.

The event is free and open to the public.

Event Details
What: Our America Participatory Public Art Project
When: Friday, October 2, 2026 | 10:30 AM–7:00 PM
Where: Central Park, Naumburg Bandshell and Literary Walk,
near Terrace Drive and 72nd Street, New York City
Admission: Free and open to the public, All ages welcome

About Kenneth E. Parris III
Kenneth E. Parris III is a New York–based visual artist and creative director whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, drawing, installation, and performance. His work explores interpersonal relationships and the human condition, examining how individual actions shape broader social, political, and cultural landscapes.

About Fall of Freedom
Fall of Freedom is a national call to artists, institutions, and communities to create work responding to rising threats to free expression, immigrant and civil rights, and ongoing repression and state violence. Through coordinated activations across the country, the initiative amplifies creative resistance and celebrates the experiences, cultures, and identities that shape the fabric of our nation.

Media Contact
Kenneth E. Parris III / Rain Star Management LLC
Kenneth@rainstarmgmt.com
646-526-9366
www.parris3.com / @kennethparris3

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