Category: Public Art

“React, Respect, Intersect”, located near the intersection of East 5^th Street and Church Avenue, is a piece of public art I pass by all the time in my neighborhood of 18 years — Kensington. A bare wall only until recently (in 2011 the painting was complete through the support of the NYC Department of Transportation), it was no shock that I immediately prized it as an exciting new addition to my long-time neighborhood. The bright colors, large size and eye-catching geometry were the first things that attracted my attention but a deeper delve into why it was created helped me appreciate it so much more. Now, during weekend grocery shopping and long walks from school, I feel grateful to be able to admire and reflect on such a relevant work of art in the comfort of my own neighborhood.

With a colorful array of intersecting paths (i.e. F train line tracks, highway with white buses/red cars and a green road full of crossing children, elderly, skateboarders, bicyclists and even pets all depicted as figures in orange), two thirds of the mural depict the “hustle and bustle” so common in New York City. On the other end of the mural is a young girl. Regardless of which approach the viewer chooses, whether it be directly facing, walking past the side or even driving past the art, the image of the girl stands out. She is seen putting her hand out, palm toward the viewer, as if to say “stop”, while also holding a large, red octagonal sign with “RESPECT” written in white.

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This is an acrylic based, permanent, city- commissioned work of art initiated by the Groundswell Community Mural Project, a group “bringing together artists, youth, and community organizations to use art as a tool for social change” (https://www.groundswell.nyc/). Looking into this, I truly experienced the art in a different way. It was no longer a random mix of bright colors with a girl signaling “stop”. To me, it became a commentary on the importance of respecting community diversity and community safety as well as a warning about the dangers of traffic— an issue sadly becoming increasingly common in Kensington.

Starting with a fatal bicycle crash involving a close family friend in front of my elementary school then numerous car accidents at the intersections, traffic safety is an essential lesson my neighbors and I are no strangers to. It is no wonder that this mural is fittingly placed at the intersection of two roads, near a busy highway. The girl with the stop sign is given more meaning through this context of traffic safety, acting as a clear warning to drivers and pedestrians passing by. Additionally, Kensington is full of diverse people with different viewpoints, languages, and religions. It is no wonder that this mural fittingly holds up a large “RESPECT” sign.

All in all, although different from the illegal graffiti people usually associate with street art, the underlying message and befitting location of this mural are two things universal in public art. For example, Banksy had chosen to create art on the Israeli West Bank barrier wall, a highly relevant and pressing topic of discussion, to convey his views on the conflict. Had Banksy chosen another random wall, the message and power of his art would not have been nearly as clear. Similarly, this mural in Kensington takes the setting, diversity and issues of the neighborhood into consideration and conveys a message based on it.

I have always lived in Sunset Park, a neighborhood with many different cultures. Whenever there are rumors that La Migra (ICE, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is walking around from door to door looking for people to deport, my neighborhood becomes terrorized and sometimes completely deserted as people are afraid to leave their homes in fear of being stopped and deported by ICE.  A few months ago, some of my friends and neighbors that were freaked out when they heard the rumors that ICE was in our neighborhood and the police officers were helping them. For a complete month, stores closed early and the streets were empty by 9 pm. People were so afraid that some of them stop showing up to work. It’s unfortunate that people have become afraid of the police. It is much worse when people are so afraid of the police that they do not report and file complaints. There have been so many workshops, meetings, and news stories on how undocumented immigrants have rights and how they should act if ever stopped by the police or ICE.

“Cop Watch,” a mural located on the corner of 5 Ave and 44st, a place where many people walk pass by on a daily basis. I am getting allergy shots weekly, so I have been walking past this mural more than often. I have become more aware of the small details. “Cop Watch” was painted by Angel Garcia and students from Sunset Park High school in 2016. Sunset Park Cop Watch designed and commissioned the mural. I became aware of this mural while I was watching the news two years ago. The mural definitely adds a pop of color to a very boring wall. The mural looks fresh as new and it continues to add a pop of color to the neighborhood. It was obviously meant to last and the mural seems to have been created with red paint as the background. The mural is very noticeable, even though it is small compared to the rest of the wall that only has another piece of art, but it still appears a bit empty. The mural is still noticeable at night as there is a light that shines on the mural.

Protega a su Comunidad (Protect your Community), is written above the arms and hearts. The mural wants to unite the community to protect one another. Sabe sus Derechos? (Do you know your rights?), is written under the broken chains. Many immigrants still do not know their rights and this mural is supposed to raise awareness about their rights. Grabe a la policia (Record the police), is written at the bottom. People know of police brutality because there have been so many videos of such thing occurring. The mural lists the rights that immigrants have in Spanish as most of the neighborhood is composed of Hispanics. There are six rights that are listed:

1) You have the right to record the police.

2) Do not open the door to the police or ICE. Ask for a warrant.

3) If the police stop you, ask, “Am I free to go or am I being detained?”

4) If the police start to search your personal items, shout, “I do not consent to this search!”

5) When arrested, ask for a lawyer and do not say anything without them.

6) When you record the police, write down the officer’s name, badge number, time, date, and location.

The mural is definitely eye-catching with the vibrant colors, but the things that were painted are also remarkable. The chains appear to be broken apart and it seems to symbolize that the fear of having police contact is gone now that people know their rights. The hearts and arms seem to symbolize that the community is one regardless of the different cultures. The mural has many diagonals that point to the important question: Do you know your rights? Overall, the mural is supposed to allow the community to know their rights and feel safe whenever they interact with the police, which is something that the neighborhood needs in a time like this.

Unlike the majority of my peers, I have not lived in New York for my entire life. In fact, I have only been here for a mere two months. My relationship with public art is not one of childhood exploration and endearment, but a relatively new, and sometimes surprising, discovery. I have always described it as a “vacation trope”; something I would only ever see when I left home. Now, art is all around me: sprawled across the sides of buildings, adorning the tiles of popular subway stations, and even, as one friend often tells me, at the bottoms of lampposts. Some art, however, only makes an appearance if you know where to look.

During one of the early weeks of the school year, I needed to take the subway uptown to Manhattan. I had only taken the subway alone a few times at that point, so I relied heavily on Google Maps in order to get where I wanted to go. On this particular day, my usual route uptown was stalled due to the 2 train not running, leaving my fastest option (according to Google) to take the 5 train to Atlantic Avenue and then transfer to the B train. I had heard that the B train traveled above ground between Brooklyn and Manhattan, so I was excited to get a skyline view of the city while I traveled. Little did I know that I would be in store for a different sight just a minute before.

Crossing underground between Dekalb Avenue and Grand Street, I was already in place to look out of the train’s window to catch a glimpse at Manhattan, but my eyes were greeted by a colorful piece of artwork instead. I watched in awe as the colors danced in the window, creating a movie of images morphing into one another: a polygonal man becoming a three-dimensional zig-zag becoming a nest of lines becoming a rocket ship. Nobody else on the train seemed to notice it except for me, all paying attention to something else. Pleasantly surprised by this experience, I decided to do a little research.

I discovered that this piece is called “Masstransiscope”, and it was created by experimental filmmaker Bill Brand. In 1980, with the permission of the MTA, he essentially took over the out-of-use Myrtle Avenue station in Brooklyn, using over 200 hand-painted tiles to create a large-scale mural on one side of the station featuring repetitive, but slightly changing, images. On the other side of the station, he installed panels that would allow the motion of the subway train to create the illusion of a zoetrope, which is a device that creates a “movie” through a series of images or photographs. I think that this piece is aptly named, combining “zoetrope” with “mass transit”, which is exactly what it does.

“Masstransiscope” was sponsored by Creative Time, Inc., allowing Brand to find the funds for this expansive (and expensive) project. Along with the panels, he also included fluorescent lighting so that his piece would be visible during all times of the day. At 38 years old, this artwork is almost as old as my parents, so it no doubt needed to be restored to clear off the soot that had accumulated over the years; it was restored by MTA Arts for Transit in 2008, and again in 2013.

This interesting piece only reveals itself to you if you’re looking at just the right time, in just the right place; it only lasts for about 20 seconds. I like to think that this is the way Brand intended it, that only a lucky few, who either knew where to look or were just staring into space, would experience it per train ride. It’s more personal, in a way.

If you want to see “Masstransiscope” for yourself, just take a Q or B train from Brooklyn to Manhattan and look out of the right side windows.

Somewhere along a dirt road in the middle of Westchester, New York lies a small wooden cross tied together with coarse rope. It rests barely noticeable, nestled in a crowd of bushes with a few flowers surrounding it. Yet, for some reason, it is all you can see when you walk past.

Some art jumps out to its audience. It can take up every crack and crevasse or be utterly massive. Public art has a tendency to do just that. Public art usually grabs your attention in a split second and loses it in a split second. Whether it be murals that cover the sides of buildings that you pass on the bus every day or statues that tower over their viewers that are along your walk to work, public art is just meant to grab your attention quickly because they probably won’t have it for long.

However, there are moments where public art is made to be not public at all. Instead of being massive and distinct they are inconspicuous and camouflaged. Yet, the message they convey can be just as impactful.

Walking along a dirt road in upstate New York I almost missed that cross, but I managed to catch it in the corner of my eye. Rather than engulf an area in color and style this piece of art fits right into its surroundings it is barely noticeable. When I noticed the cross, my attention to it lasted for more than just a glance. I wondered how it found its way here and why it was there in the first place. It was crude and old but it was also beautiful. The person who gathered the rope, two pieces of wood, and flowers was not trying to overwhelm their surroundings but only send a simple message neatly tucked away in the bushes. This piece of public art has no artist who can be named or a plaque to which it can be given a date. It is blank and lacks all context, yet its message is clear and powerful. It begs questions that lead to no answers.

After spending some time glaring into the cross and the flowers that were around it I couldn’t help but feel sad. Its simplicity created something so powerful and encompassing all I could feel was sad walking away from it. Even being as small or hidden as it was its message was much larger.

At times we define what public art can be. Living in a place like New York City, we can’t miss the public art around us. Every corner probably will have graffiti lining the walls or peeling posters. Still, we cannot forget how and where art can find itself, even if it’s hard or easy to find it.

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

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As I take a walk with my dog every evening on the Coney Island Boardwalk, I always focus on enjoining the sounds of the waves of the ocean. I move from Brighton Beach to Coney Island, and when I get closer to West 8th street, my focus of attention switches to the New York Aquarium. The architecture and design of the New York Aquarium itself represent the topic of wildlife and its preservation. At this moment every day, my flow of thoughts goes from enjoining the beauty of the ocean to thinking about how to preserve its beauty. I elaborate on that topic even more in my mind when I see three pieces of art on the walls of the Education Hall of theNew York Aquarium.

These three pieces of graffiti are relatively new. They appeared on the walls of Education Center in the summer of 2017 on the World Ocean’s Day. Before that, there was also a graffiti on the wall. It was an extension of the last piece that you see on the right. It depicted the Coney Island neighborhood and the New York Aquarium before. Then, the Aquarium decided to renovate its walls and make a new design. The goal they were trying to achieve was to attract public attention to the issue of water pollution with plastic and to inspire people to protect our waters. The New York Aquarium organized a contest and three winners got a chance to install their designs on the walls. The winners and the authors of the art on the walls are Sheena Wong Shue, Danielle Mastrion, and Thomas Manco. You can see each artist’s statement about their work and artist’s bio on small posters by each of the paintings.

My favorite out of all three is the one on the left by Danielle Mastrion. It shows a body of the fish divided into two parts. One part of the fish is colorful and attractive in light blue water. The second part consists of a skeleton filled with plastic bottles and other garbage in dark water tones. For me, it represents how all the waste pollutes the water, turns it from nice, bright, and blue to ugly, dark, and dirty. Every day more and more plastic fills the ocean and brings the marine life to extinction. When I read the artist’s statement, I realized that my understanding of it was wrong. The author was using the idea of a phoenix and how it revives from the ashes. From the dirty water, a bright colorful fish comes back to life. My view of the picture turned out to be more pessimistic because I saw how everything is getting worse. The author, on the contrary, tried to show the possibility to change the situation for the better if we take the action and become more involved and attentive. The other two picture represent the same theme. They show us the ocean water and its inhabitants, dealing with plastic, and other waste in it.

From all the author’s statements, I realized that these artists are people greatly concerned about the issue of pollution of the sea and that they care about trying to change the existing situation. The location of the murals is perfect for attracting peoples attention to that topic. You can see them from the boardwalk when entering the beach. It takes the whole side of the Education Center so it’s impossible to not notice it. The murals are better seen during the daytime when the sun shines. It is great because at this time everybody is coming to the beach, to sunbathe, swim, relax… People come to have fun and enjoy their time, and the wall is here to remind them about the consequences of their potential irresponsible actions. Before entering the beach, people get a chance to glance at the walls, that might change their view on the time they are going to spend on the beach. The deeper meaning of the murals reminds them that they have to be careful and caring to nature, to the ocean. Maybe people will get affected by it and think before leaving an empty plastic bottle on the beach. Personally, for me, it did its job perfectly. I look at the walls every day for more than a year, and every day I get a reminder of how important it is to care for nature, and for the ocean.

by Anastasiya Chabotska 

The public art that I find intriguing is the playground floor of I.S 72, which I attended from the grade 6 to grade 8. I live only five minutes from this school and I pass the playground whenever I go to church on Tuesday nights for a college Bible study meeting. The colors of the playground also catch my eye when I pass on Friday nights, but they seem even more vibrant and appealing when I pass on Sunday mornings on my way to teach Bible study.

Even though I live so close and pass it often, I never paid much attention to the playground. However, one day I decided to take a closer look. When I was a student, the playground’s pavement was covered with fading grey paint with white lines which had long since lost their crisp, definition so, the pavement had a rather hum-drum appearance. The upgrades were impressive – almost shocking. Looking back, I am very surprised that I had any fun in that depressing playground!

Now, the playground has educational figures in welcoming colors painted on a bold matte black background. Splashes of dark and light blue, green, orange, pink, yellow, and red invite children and parents to enjoy this recreational space. Here everyone can enjoy playing basketball, soccer, kickball, baseball, softball, track, and football, just relax or play chess on the comfortable, chestnut brown chairs.

The playground is divided into two parts. On one side of the playground, there are six basketball hoops with nets. When I attended I.S. 72, the nets were either in disrepair or completely torn off. It seemed as if no one really cared about the state of the playground. Now there are six carefully arranged basketball courts each with an orange, and light and dark blue color scheme. A bright green soccer field highlighted in white sits in the middle of the basketball courts. The face of an angry bulldog, the mascot of I.S. 72, decorates the center of the soccer field. At the bottom of the soccer field, there is a map of the world bordered by a brightly colorful periodic table in pink, dark blue, light blue, orange, green, yellow, brown, and red.

On the other side of the playground, children can play kickball in a green box-shaped area enclosing a brown circle outlined in white with a caramel brown border. Below the painted kickball field, there is the map of the United States of America in green outlined in white. On the bottom right corner of the map, there is a list of all the states in bold white letters which are adjacent to a red track field outlined in white. The same color scheme of the kickball field decorates the baseball field which sits to the right of the track.

Returning to I.S. 72 brought back some fond memories of my being there for middle school. I was so happy to discover that The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation had repainted and remodeled the school’s playground as part of its program called The Schoolyards to Playgrounds initiative. It is gratifying to see how much effort has been invested in improving the playground. Now students can learn as they play in an environment which combines lessons in geography, science, and health all in a playground setting. Chaos has been replaced by public art which benefits the entire neighborhood. Each time I pass this playground, I am proud to live in an amazing community that encourages students to stay active in an educational environment.