[Posted July 2, 2021]
Over two days at Hillsdale's Other Worlds Games, a street artist duo from New York was the centerpiece of an event to raise money for an anti-bullying charity and memorialize Lake Oswego teen Carson Bride, who took his own life in June of last year.
The duo, who together go by the name MenaceResa, is made up of Theresa Kim (aka Resa Peace) and Eric Cheung (aka Menace Two). Travelling across America with two cats in an RV, the duo combine talents for fine art and graffiti in their #PaintLoveAcrossAmerica tour.
The artists arrived on Saturday, May 22, around 11:00 a.m. pulling up in a van not only filled with hundreds of cans of spray paint, but in immediate need of a new tire, supplied in short order by Les Schwab. As onlookers observed, the painting continued on Saturday and then again throughout the day on Sunday. Shop owner Ron Connell was impressed to see the artwork come together with layers of spraypaint applied so thinly that there was no drippage.
Photos courtesy of Ron Connell
The mural shows Carson playing Magic with his brother Jack, while another depiction of Carson looks down with approval on the game from above. The design, which was developed by Carson’s parents and brother, incorporates symbols from Magic: the Gathering.
Other Worlds donated 50% of Saturday’s sales to the charity STOMP Out Bullying, amounting to a $1,700 contribution.
The Hillsdale store is a gathering place for fans of in-person tabletop gaming, hosting tournaments and camps for players of all ages. Carson found refuge playing “Magic: The Gathering,” a popular collectible card game, at Other Worlds, says his mother, Kristin Bride.
Kristin Bride said in a statement, “It is through this event and our personal tragedy that we hope to bring awareness to the serious issue and consequences of cyberbullying.”
After Carson’s death Connell learned that he was being bullied and that the shop had been his sanctuary, a place where he felt safe. He spent much time there with his friends, playing Magic or just talking together.
Connell said, “We are so grateful to provide a positive space for people like Carson to enjoy activities they love while meeting other like-minded friends. It is a privilege to be able to honor Carson in this way and to shine a light on a problem that deserves all of our hearts and our attention.”
Since her son’s death Kristin Bride has become an effective anti-bullying advocate, lobbying for legislation to help teens like Carson and pushing for greater accountability from online platforms that are often the scene of cyber bullying. In May of 2021, Snapchat suspended two apps, Yolo and LMK, in response to a lawsuit brought by Bride and others. The Oregon Legislature passed into law a bill on July 1, 2021, requiring school districts to notify parents when bullying, including cyberbullying, is reported. Schools were previously required only to adopt policies prohibiting bullying.
During the event, artist Menace and shop owner Connell discussed plans for a future visit to complete the mural on the back wall of the store begun in 2010 by a young artist who died the following year. Connell said eventually the family may move the painting of Carson and his brother to a more permanent home, but for now it is on display in the window of Other Worlds.
--Valeurie Friedman
Share your reaction here.