On the side of a building, perfectly in view of the entirety of an intersection between Avenue S and East 36th street, there is a remarkably large mural set carefully placed for all the world to see. Every time anyone walks down the street, as I do nearly every day, they are able to bear witness to this meaningful, massive mural. The painting has been a fixture in this neighborhood for years- a staple to remind the community that no matter what happens or what divides us, we are all connected under these simple symbols.
In the day as it does during the night, this painting stands out against the dark brick structures behind it. The painter- who did not record his or her name on the artwork itself- was initially commissioned by a coffee shop that has since gone out of business. The property was repurchased and despite its coffee-related symbols, the mural itself was never removed.
While it may have initially been an unusually large painting that the coffee shop utilized to draw the attention of passerbys, there was always a more significant meaning behind the monuments portrayed in the image. In case it is not as easily conveyed in a picture as it is in person, this mural was initially commissioned in the months after 9/11. It stands as a lasting message that, despite the community suffering heavy losses in the tragedy that occurred that day, Marine Park, and the communities around us, are still able to stand tall.
Occasionally, street artists add their own contributions to the painting- as portrayed in the image above. While some of these have been removed in the past, others have been allowed to remain. One such contribution includes the words “Believe in Love” over the aging Verrazano Bridge. The new owners of the property elected to allow that message to remain, as it does nothing but add to the effect of the mural, itself.
Regretfully, there is little recorded information about this remarkable piece of artwork. Though community members pass by it nearly everyday, it has become such a fixture in the neighborhood that most just pass by it without ever even looking. The only people who ever seem to notice it have been those who intend to graffiti over the Bridge, as the “Believe in Love” artist once did. Once a well regarded painting, intended to last for decades, the mural has slowly been falling into disrepair. The aforementioned graffiti artists, in addition to the effects of weathering have been wreaking havoc on this once-remarkable piece of art. In the years to come, it appears that this landmark will continue to suffer from this undeserved lack of attention.
