I love street murals, and I’ve paid more attention to them ever since I discovered my friend Resa’s blog, Graffiti Lux Art & More. She wonderfully captures various murals and street art throughout Toronto; I bet she’d be a fan of the murals by LA artist Mike Norice. This documentary gives me a glimpse into Norice’s incredible talent. Mike is a successful visual artist and sneaker-art designer, with a client list that includes stars like Elton John, Mariah Carey, Tom Cruise, and Michael B. Jordan, among others. In 2017, he launched the Artfully United non-profit project, painting messages of hope, unity, and encouragement on walls in underprivileged neighborhoods and gang territories all over Los Angeles.
The typographic mural showcasing a single word like “Love,” “Hope,” “Believe,” or “Forgiveness” may appear straightforward, but its message and impact are truly deep. I really appreciate how Mike always features a cheerful black boy mascot, Powerful Paul, in each of his murals. There’s a green spark radiating from Paul that Mike describes as the power of prayer.
Directed by Dave Benner, the documentary covers a decade of Mike’s journey to create over 20 murals in underprivileged neighborhoods. It combines personal storytelling that’s both intimate and gritty with vibrant visuals of street art, delving into themes of community, faith, and redemption. Unlike many contemporary documentaries that use high-end motion graphics and sleek cinematography, the real standout here is Mike’s amazing story.
Growing up in the gang-infested streets of Watts, CA, Mike and his family faced poverty and homelessness, making his efforts feel very personal. Mike shares how he felt driven to create these murals to fight against gang influence and bring hope to historically underserved neighborhoods. “It’d be tough to shoot someone in front of a wall that says PEACE,” he says about one of the murals he paints in areas where gangs frequently hang out. All the murals are amazing, but I especially adore the BELIEVE mural with Paul ‘unzips’ the wall to reveal the word.
The documentary also tells an uplifting story about Mike’s father, who was in prison for aggravated robbery. Benner interviewed Mike’s mother, Dorcas Morrow, who raised him and his sister, Dr. Carmelle Tabitha Norice, as a single mom. Carmelle is a doctor with a dual MD-PhD in medicine and cellular, molecular, and biomedical studies from Columbia University. The entire family, especially Carmelle, worked tirelessly to get their dad released, particularly as he started to suffer from dementia. Even though their dad is a Muslim, their mom raised the two siblings as Christians. I’m really inspired by how Mike and Carmelle openly discuss their Christian faith and their active participation in the church community.
I’m glad this film is being made available on streaming platforms during Black History Month; however, it is an excellent viewing choice at any time of the year. I believe it would be great to show this in art classes because I think young people would connect with Mike on a deep level, both as an artist and as an extraordinary person. He’s not just satisfied with the success and fame he’s gained from his custom pieces; rather, he uses his natural talents to bring people together and promote understanding in his community and beyond.
Artfully United honors the strength of positivity and serves as a reminder that hope can sometimes flourish in the most unexpected places. I recently learned that Mike has been chosen as one of the eight muralists for the upcoming 2028 LA Olympics. The next time I visit LA, I will certainly seek out Mike’s murals in the neighborhoods that are often overlooked by most tourists.
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