Paul Mastrokostas – ARTS IN NYC

“Diversity”– An Evolving Brooklyn Community

October 23, 2018October 23, 2018 Paul Mastrokostas 0 Comment Public Art

With the construction of a ferry terminal connecting Bay Ridge and Midtown Manhattan, the 69th Street Pier would transform a recreational location for Bay Ridge residents into a transportation hub for South Brooklyn commuters. While this evolution would provide the 69th Street Pier with a newfound purpose, natives were left having to travel under a bleak overpass with walls that would act as an eyesore.

On June 12, 2018, Xaverian High School, my alma mater, unveiled their mural, “Diversity,” under the 69th Street overpass, beautifying the pier for its occupants. This public artwork was created in collaboration with the Department of Transportation and Greenman-Pedersen Incorporated, providing Xaverian High School art students with the opportunity to paint a mural that welcomes residents and visitors to the Bay Ridge community.

“Diversity” can be seen by locals who use the tunnel to access the pier and can be viewed by motorists driving westbound on Shore Road and 69th Street. This mural is meant to last and is best seen in the morning and afternoon hours as its bright paints radiate under natural light, allowing Bay Ridge residents to visualize its wide range of colors.

In Xaverian’s mural, a diverse array of sea life– consisting of royal blue seahorses, rose red sharks, multi-colored coral, an orange-red octopus, and many other vibrant sea animals– dominates the foreground. The background of this mural is composed of nineteenth century homes as sky blue row houses can be seen throughout the entirety of the composition. These bright images of sea life draw Bay Ridge commuters and residents’ attention to the diversity of life that can be found not only in nature but in their own community. While the cultural representation of Bay Ridge may be in a state of constant change, the mural pays tribute to Bay Ridge’s history as brownstones stand tall and proud behind its diverse inhabitants. Big white letters posted on a dark green sign towards the entrance of the pier contrast against the light background with the words “BAY RIDGE,” standing out to greet residents and identify their importance as members of a closely integrated community.

While the main objective of the artists was to beautify the overpass, Xaverian’s artwork speaks to every local about the importance of contributing to the culture of Bay Ridge’s dynamic community. As a Xaverian alumnus involved in many community events, “Diversity” represents the efforts of Bay Ridge’s youth in building its community and setting the direction in which this neighborhood is bearing as high school students are taking initiative in shaping public life. Throughout my volunteer work at recurring parades and memorials on 3rd Avenue, Shore Road, and the 69th Street Pier, I have learned about the strong influence of this culturally diverse, united people on the well-being and support of each other. “Diversity” stands as a testament to this neighborhood’s fellowship, giving commuters and recreationalists a mural that brightens their days and reminds them of their niche in this greater picture, transforming what would be a bare tunnel into a friendly and inviting passageway.

By Paul Mastrokostas

The Godfather: A Lesson in Family

September 20, 2018September 20, 2018 Paul Mastrokostas 2 Comments Film Reviews

The title of the Don is meant to be worn by a man of reason; a man who is able to identify and separate business and personal affairs. But in his attempts to negotiate and conduct business, there is nobody more that the Don trusts than his family— those that he considers friends. In Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 production of The Godfather, there is no greater concept than family and friendship that can exist in a man’s life. Starring Hollywood greats Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, and James Caan, The Godfather and many of its cast members would win 27 awards and earn 28 nominations, being ranked one of the greatest films of all time by AMC Networks’ Filmsite.

In this film, Marlon Brando plays the iconic role of the “Godfather” as Vito Corleone, the founder and Don of the Corleone crime-family. After Vito Corleone is approached by one of the film’s antagonists, Virgil Sollozzo (Al Lettieri), with an opportunity to finance a major narcotics trafficking operation, the Don decides to respectfully pass on “the Turk’s” offer, sparking a feud between the heads of the other New York and New Jersey Mafia families. As Vito Corleone ages and grows increasingly ill throughout the film, transitioning from the role of the Don to that of a loving grandfather, his position is passed to his sons, the youngest of whom embodies the characteristics that every leader should possess– reason, respect, loyalty, and love for family.

A film developed in the 1970s that follows New York and Sicily post-World War II, The Godfather brings you to a world dominated by a different class of criminal, where culture, faith, respect, friendship, and family are fundamental to the identity of a man.

The deep ties to Italian American culture are abundant, as Italian song, dance, language, food, and drink dominate scenes filled with gleeful men, women, and children or are used to convey the seriousness of situations during times of loss. Italian song and dance can be clearly seen in one of the first scenes of the movie, as Vito Corleone’s wife, Carmela, sings “Che la Luna” during their daughter’s wedding. With love and laughter filling the air on a beautiful, sunny day, culture and family are seen as the cornerstones to building a happy and successful life. Building this happy life is furthered by the importance of old fashioned Italian dinners, as friends and family gather in community to eat staple Italian dishes, drink red wine, and have loud, overlapping conversations with each other across the dining table.

Elements of faith and religion are also prevalent as the “Godfather” bears a sacred bond with his godchild and serves as both a spiritual leader and protector. Vito and Michael (Al Pacino) Corleone’s acceptance of the title of “Godfather” emphasizes the importance of faith and protection of children to the Corleone family, shaping the demeanors and decisions that the Don makes for the safety of both his children and the children of others. While the “Godfather” may be attributed with an image of a bright, moral figure, Vito and Michael are often addressed as “Godfather” during times when they face great injustice, surrounded by a dark setting that promotes a grim mood.

Respect and friendship present as major themes of The Godfather as Michael sacrifices a life outside of organized crime to provide for his family, just as his father’s reasons for getting into organized crime were to provide a better future for his children. Although Michael Corleone’s inevitable involvement in the family business was never what his father had planned for him, Michael decides to help his father during his time of need as both a sign of friendship and familial respect, vividly reciprocated by the soft, barely heard words of his father asking “Where’s Michael?,” as his first words spoken after having gone through a major medical crisis. Michael’s character development as a family man is furthered by his commitment to care for his loved ones as he becomes one of the few Corleone brothers to stay in a faithful relationship throughout the film. Through his faithfulness to his wife and time spent playing with his son, Michael embodies the moral character of a real man as described by his father– one who spends time with his family.

Culture. Faith. Respect. Friendship. Family.

The values of the Corleone family are key attributes that any American family should strive to achieve. It is The Godfather that reminds us of these values that we take for granted, making this film a piece of movie history that any father, mother, or child can learn from and relate to– a lesson in family.

By Paul Mastrokostas

Life’s Infinity

September 6, 2018September 6, 2018 Paul Mastrokostas 0 Comment Cabinet of Curiosity

Brooklyn College Library: Abstract Tire Creations

Circles: shapes with no corners, no beginnings, no ends. Depending on who you ask, they either have no sides or an infinite number of them. This abstraction of such simple geometry presents a unique opportunity for circles as an art form, seen immeasurably in our natural and artificial world. With this in mind, one can find circles, rings, and disks all throughout their surroundings, each with their own context and distinctive meaning.

Such disparity in significance and theme prompted us to classify our circles into the three categories detailed in the Met’s piece on the Kunstkammer: naturalia (objects of natural means), artificialia (manmade items), and scientifica (innovations that forward humanity’s knowledge of the world). We chose to arrange our cabinet beginning with the circles of naturalia, which showcase the round features brought about via nature’s mechanism of evolution. The contrast between the sturdy, protective structures of turtles’ shells and the soft buds of blossoming flowers serves to underline the distinctive variations seen from hidden processes existent from the beginning of life. We then shift focus to the opposite world of artificialia, and admire both the precision (and imprecision) of circles created by mankind, depending on their intended purposes as objects as well as their artistic interpretations. The Lily Pond Fountain offers an amalgamation of the natural and manmade; the fountain device acts upon the water to create ripples throughout the pond, contributing to the calm and quaint atmosphere of the pond. In contrast, the Tire Abstractions offer a more interpretive perspective on the rubber tires that keep us going, displaying the possibilities of what one can become. Lastly, we cast the spotlight on our curated circles of scientifica– that is, those circles that we see in manmade items that serve a greater pragmatic use. These marvels exist as the result of humanity’s desire to understand the unknown and conquer it for the sake of advancement- clocks display the passage of time and put everything in our lives into a temporal perspective, while chandeliers are a stylistic byproduct of the desire to illuminate the darkness. Such variation stemming from the mere common connection of circles provided us with a creative impetus to explore Brooklyn College through the lens of an artist, searching for something that we may find in a multitude of forms.

By Kelly Esses, Quoc-Huy Ly, Paul Mastrokostas, and Bren Tawil

Works Cited:

Koeppe, Wolfram. “Collecting for the Kunstkammer.” The Metropolitan Museum of Art, I.e. The Met Museum, Oct. 2002, www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/kuns/hd_kuns.htm.