Yale Police contribute to Lunarfest

Lunarfest, organized by Yale-China, took place throughout February and celebrates the Chinese New Year. Local artist Kaitlin Tan Fung created a large mural of 42 colorful squares celebrating the Year of the Tiger. Each square was decorated by members of the Greater New Haven community.

The Yale Police Department (YPD) was invited to contribute a square. Sergeant Martha Cedeno-Ross and YPD intern Savannah Wells decorated one of the squares with multiple decorations, various lucky colors and positive words. This included the word “Lunar,” the year “2022” to signify the Chinese Lunar New Year, and a red dragon. The dragon represents good luck, strength, and health and is commonly seen in new year’s parades. Also, Savannah drew lanterns that promote friendly relations, peace, forgiveness, and honor deceased ancestors.

Artists were able to use photographs, paint, ink, markers, and collaged materials in creating their squares. Each puzzle piece was created apart, then all the separate pieces connected within the lines and shapes making one large mural. Red and gold, used throughout the mural, are considered lucky colors and represent happiness, beauty, success, and good fortune.

View the mural in person at 77 Audubon Street, New Haven, through Monday, March 7. The mural will be on display on the second floor of the Ives Branch of the New Haven Public Library during March.