9. Education is Not A Crime Celebrates Dizzy at 100

From L-R, Artist Brandan Odums (@BMIKE) ~ Artist Marthalicia Matarrita (@Marthalicia)

Over the years, Education is Not A Crime has created various art campaigns to bring to light the plight of those banned from higher studies in Iran due to their beliefs. Once again, #NotACrime, and the curator and producer of this project, Street Art Anarchy, have arrived in Harlem. This year’s mural is completed in time for the 72nd regular session of the UN General Assembly, which will focus on the theme: “Focusing on People: Striving for Peace and a Decent Life for All on a Sustainable Planet.”

@BMIKE, or Brandan Odums (from New Orleans) of Studio Be, created one of the five-story murals of a young Dizzy. The bottom part of his mural (with the yellow background) is filled with signatures from people in the neighborhood, as well as images based on the album cover for “Gene Norman Presents Dizzy Gillespie in Concert.” In addition to his website, you can also follow Brandan Odums on Instagram.

Harlem-based artist Marthalicia Matarrita’s five-story mural features Dizzy surrounded by a sea of clouds. In keeping with the #NotACrime tradition, she included images of children in a classroom setting. You might recognize her name from her Black Vulture mural, painted as part of the Audubon Mural Project (2014). She was also a participant in the Harlem Arts Festival, the Heath Gallery/Public Art Initiative, among other exhibits and projects. You can follow Marthalicia on Instagram.

The double Dizzy Murals by #NotACrime can be found at 229 West 135th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd and Frederick Douglass Blvd, North side of the street. The unveiling and celebration will be held on the day of his birth, October 21st. Continue to follow #EducationIsNotACrime on Facebook.