Earlier this year, we announced a contest to redesign the garden’s logo. We received some incredible ideas, and are thrilled to announce Gerard Pefung’s colorful artwork as our contest winner. For members of Maple Street, the logo evokes many things: the rich, life-sustaining rewards of gardening; the abundance that is reaped when communities work together; the care and respect we aim to foster among our neighbors; the diversity of the Prospect-Lefferts Gardens neighborhood.

Gerard is a native of Camaroon; in 2001, Pefung and his family immigrated to Nebraska. Driven by an earnest desire to learn and take on new challenges, he scribbled, drew, and painted on everything he could touch. He has since developed a distinctive style and approach to painting. Painting is a way for Pefung to connect with others through the exchange of thoughts, feelings, and perspectives from lived and shared experiences. He and his partner have lived in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens since 2018.

Gerard’s winning designs are above; below, you can read our interview with him about his design process.

Have you been able to visit the garden this year? 
During my research for the logo I had a chance to come to an MSCG Fresh Food Box and check it out. It was so cool and beautiful seeing a diverse group of neighbors working together. Garden members and volunteers were caring, kind and I enjoyed garden-fresh parsnips, beets, potatoes, shallots and other goodies pulled right out of the garden. It was such a treat! 

In the spring, the whole family is gonna be there with me volunteering. 

If you're a home gardener, what are you growing right now? 
I cannot say that I am a home gardener. However, I spent most of my childhood in tropical Cameroon. My mother grew most of the food we ate.  It was amazing! One of my chores was watering, weeding, and caring for various plants. As a child it felt like a daunting task, but now I wish I had paid more attention and had taken more interest in that lifestyle. 

At present, in our home we have dracaena, rhipsalis, as well as various succulents and spiral plants that drape around. I love it.

Describe your design process: how did you select the palette, and where did the inspiration for the image come from? 
God blessed me with the ability to give my mind permission to tap into this universal creative force older than time. There I have found an endless source for bright solutions and ideas in times of need. I think a lot about how things work within and around us. I guess through observation and interest, you can learn a lot. 

When it comes to designing or making anything for someone other than myself, there are a lot of unknowns. I like to gather as much information as I can during preliminary interviews and conversations. My goal at this seed point of the process is to equip my creative mind. I do so through asking questions, listening, taking notes, sketching, etc. Soon, within all these collected ideas, an image begins to emerge. 

Back at my studio, I go over everything, over and over again, pruning all the information, keeping the ones that suit the project. At this ideation stage, like when you’ve watered a growing tree, things begin sprouting and taking shape.

Coming from a traditional painting background, I have always been drawn to vibrant graphics with strong lines and bold colors. Being in the garden gave me so much light and insight to better develop this design concept.

The final design was a combination of everything in bits and pieces: dialogue with garden members, my research on the garden, aligning my ears and thoughts with my hands, and being present in the garden—breathing and tasting from it. All this gave me a fresh atmosphere and  fertile soil for deciding colors, shapes, composition, layout and text, which ended up informing the design.

How does the new logo reflect the garden's mission?
I believe in the garden's vision, and this design aims to convey its mission of bringing more affordable, healthier food options into the neighborhood.  

Most families living in less affluent neighborhoods do not make enough to afford healthier food. Maple Street Community Garden is a healthy food oasis, encouraging community members to work together by increasing and advocating for food justice and access to fresh food. This design reflects the hearts and minds behind this cause.

If you are interested in learning more about Gerard Pefung, please visit his website:  www.gerardpefung.com.