At the entrance of Canal Street stands the Map of Chinatown. The kiosk is painted bright red, a traditional lucky color in Chinese culture. On top of the kiosk is a dull beige gold dragon that symbolizes power and strength. Finally, on the kiosk is the map, specifically the map of Chinatown, decorated in vibrant shades that makes it even more eye-catching. On the map, one can see many iconic features of Chinatown. For example, the well-loved bubble tea, dim sum restaurant, Asian supermarket, and the Chinese grannies that dance to pop music in the park. It also includes the rustic $5 haircut barbershops that are given by young aspiring hairstylists and old uncles that can still give you a clean cut with fuzzy vision. Once again, one can spot a red dragon but this time paraded by young men in matching outfits. This is a form of traditional dance performance in Chinese culture, similar to the lion dance. Overall, this art paints a vivid picture of the Chinatown community. It highlights the cuisine, the language, the traditions, and how everyone has a role in the community. This artwork is illustrated by Dingding Hu, who was commissioned by the Museum of Chinese in America and Art department of NYC DOT. This documentation of the daily life of the people highlights the signature business throughout the neighborhood and is one of the Chinatown Public Art series named “Welcome to Chinatown” launched at the end of October 2017. The other artworks are of similar fashion, the artist’s representation of Chinatown, and can be found on Walker Street as well as underneath Brooklyn Bridge on Pearl Street in hope of attracting more visitors to Chinatown. 

Not far off from the Map of Chinatown lies another artwork. A side-view of a man with his hood up and staring upward is made with dark and gloomy hues. Underneath him is a sea of three-dimensional hearts and upon close look, one can find “Hart Island” written on the bottom right heart. Above the man is a cloud of similar colors: white, black, and gray. However, surrounding the cloud is the color of the rainbow or LGBTQ pride with a big white X behind it and crown on top. (Turns out there was another part in this mural that I left out in the picture) The mural “Hart Island” was created by the Nomad Clan in 2019 as a dedication to NYC Pride, a non-profit organization that produces the official LGBTQIA+ Pride events in New York City, and produced by thelisaprojectnyc. Next to the mural reads, “Dedicated To the lost, to the forgotten. To the beaten and trodden. To the oppressed, the brave. To the anonymous who lay in mass graves, We see you! To the numbers and the names. To the battles and the gains. To the quiet, the unseen. The kings and queens We see you!!!” This ties to the name of the art, “Hart Island”, which is an actual place and is a burial ground for over a million people in Bronx, New York. Burials on Hart Island include individuals who were not claimed by their families, homeless, and poor. In 1985, sixteen bodies infected with AIDS was buried at the southern tip of Hart Island, meaning away from other corpses. It was believed that the dead AIDS victim would spread the disease to other corpses, hence the separation. The only single grave on Hart Island was given to the first AIDS victim they got. However, with time, thousands of AIDS victims have been buried on Hart Island. 

Both of the artworks I have chosen represent a community. The Map of Chinatown represents the daily lives of those who come together to create the Chinatown we know fondly of.  On the other hand is Hart Island, a mural that embraces and dedicates to the LGBTQIA+ community. Both are composed very differently and gives contrasting vibes. The Map of Chinatown was cheerful and fun since it was made with promoting Chinatown and attracting more visitors in mind. There wasn’t any deeper message because it was a representation of what was there instead. Hart Island, however, was painted with a sense of sadness. The story that this mural holds was simply incredible and it taught me and hopefully others too who saw this mural as well a history lesson. Street art became a messenger of the stories that must be told to us, the public, with beauty and grace. This made me realize how powerful art can be, as it became a integral mean of expression for many communities, including the LGBTQIA+. There is a lot of possibility as to what art can do and there is no right or wrong because it is the interpretation of the artist.