Public Art

2021 Street Pole Banner Art Project

Utilizing our street pole banners as a canvas for artistic expression, the BID engaged students from Frederick Douglas Academy, Brownsville Ascend Charter School and P.S. 41 to create unique pieces of art for each banner. Participating students exercised their own creativity in producing art based in cubism, pointillism, abstract mixed media and digital illustration. Art facilitation and curation was provided by Brownsville native, Avilda Whittmore of Honeybee Arts Inc. On site assistance was provided by Susan Skidmore of P.S. 41, Ineisha Williford of SONYC After School Programs and Barry Cooper of the Bro Experience.

The project was funded and sponsored by NYC Small Business Service’s Neighborhood 360 Program and Brooklyn Arts Council Community Arts Grant. We are now accepting sponsorship requests for our 2022-23 banner installation.

Jackeline Richey

P.S. 41 Brownsville

Deji Salami

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Marquan Stanford

Frederick Douglas Academy

Odell Bartholomew

Frederick Douglas Academy

Samantha Nunez Gomes

P.S. 41 Brownsville

Abubakarr Bah

P.S. 41 Brownsville

Odell Bartholomew

Frederick Douglas Academy

Marquan Stanford

Frederick Douglas Academy

Odell Bartholomew

Frederick Douglas Academy

Donte Hampton

Frederick Douglas Academy

David Antoine

Frederick Douglas Academy

Anton Browne-Jacelon

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Deji Salami

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Deon Davidson

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Deon Davidson

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Deon Davidson

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Kira Robinson

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Kira Robinson

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Kira Robinson

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Oluwat Adeshina

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Osarienen Oronsaye

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Osarienen Oronsaye

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Osarienen Oronsaye

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Rayne James

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Rayne James

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Siraye Maximin

Brownsville Ascend Charter School

Kamiya Kearse

P.S. 41 Brownsville

Frankj Ventura

P.S. 41 Brownsville

Frankj Ventura

P.S. 41 Brownsville

Frankj Ventura

P.S. 41 Brownsville

Jada Edwards

P.S. 41 Brownsville

PS41 12 - Neifi Perez - Butterfly - Pic.jpg

PS41 15 - Ysairy Moncion - Butterflies - Pic.jpg

PS41 17 - Yvette Irizarry - Cubist Face - Pic.jpg

39F196D9-380C-4192-B5BE-398EFE1AC219_1_105_c (1).jpeg

TRANFORM/RESTORE: Brownsville

Launched with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts’ Our Town Initiative, Transform/Restore: Brownsville was a two-year participatory public art project focused on the transformation of vandalized Pitkin Avenue walls into painted murals by young adults on probation. The initiative resulted in the creation of five murals on Pitkin Avenue buildings. The walls were generously donated by Pitkin Avenue businesses and property owners.

The Wall of Reflect

1478 Pitkin Avenue

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.20.36 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.20.53 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.21.31 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.23.25 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-05-20 at 4.51.29 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-05-20 at 4.52.00 PM.png

This mural in particular utilized the tradition of the People’s Art practice through extensive interviews, youth-led design, and community painting days. The mural challenges the division of “high” and “low” art by using the template of a salon to paint Brownsville residents. Brightly colored designs span the length of the wall like wallpaper, incorporating elements of ironwork fence designs from around the neighborhood. Throughout, styled frames are painted to highlight portraits of Brownsville residents, created by Lead Artist Crystal Bruno, Assistant Artist Jose de Jesus Rodriguez, the youth participants, and Brownsville volunteers

The Women of Brownsville: Telling Our Story

1522 Pitkin Avenue

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.27.19 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.27.32 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 10.52.50 AM.png

The artist team behind this project, consisting of only women, explored the hidden treasures of Brownsville’s industrious women leaders through “The Women of Brownsville: Telling Our Story.” To create this message, the youth women participated in an intensive artistic training, presented with the support of the New York City Council through its STARS Citywide Girls Initiative.

Hidden Treasures of Brownsville

1747 Pitkin Avenue

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.33.01 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.32.44 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.33.18 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 10.58.23 AM.png

Inspired by the theme of hidden treasures, nine young people worked with Groundswell artists to complete an intensive mural research and design process, which included a field trip to the Brooklyn Museum. Through this process, the youth artists discovered one of the most important assets within the community – themselves. The resulting artwork invites other neighborhood young people and residents to discover new connections with one another as they celebrate the talents and treasures hidden in their own hearts and minds.

It’s Not a Dream if You Will It

62 Herzl Street

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.40.31 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.39.56 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.40.10 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 11.01.07 AM.png

Installed on Herzl Street, “It’s Not A Dream If You Will It” is inspired by Theodore Herzl’s famous quote – “If you will it, it is no dream” – and encourages psychological transformation within the participants and the viewers. As the third mural to be unveiled in the Transform/Restore: Brownsville series, the subject of the piece supports the transformation of the narrative of Brownsville through public art.

Brownsville Moving Forward

1788 Pitkin Avenue

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.44.30 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.44.04 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 12.45.37 PM.png

Screen Shot 2019-02-04 at 11.03.46 AM.png

Created by 17 young adult artists and 2 professional artists, this mural helps to create an inviting gateway at the east end of the Pitkin Avenue BID. The text-based image captures the cross-sector dynamism present within the neighborhood and reads “Brownsville Moving Forward.” Important community figures are highlighted throughout the mural, including renowned activist and educator Rosetta “Mother” Gaston, who founded local hidden treasure Heritage House, housed on the second floor of the Stone Avenue Branch of the Brooklyn Public Library.