Comments on: Knickerbocker Mural Paints 400 Feet of History http://bushwickbk.com/2007/10/19/knickerbocker-mural-paints-400-feet-of-history/ News and views from Bushwick, Brooklyn Wed, 16 Nov 2011 12:21:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1 By: Joe http://bushwickbk.com/2007/10/19/knickerbocker-mural-paints-400-feet-of-history/comment-page-1/#comment-13938 Joe Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:35:44 +0000 http://bushwickbk.com/archives/198#comment-13938 The mural is all Latinos and what appear to be illegals in baseball caps. Its a slap in the face to leave out all white people that BUILT that whole area and park ? I think its a crock of racist BS. I was born in that area. "Then and now" Nope WRONG !! It looks like something you would find in the ghettos of south central and east Los Angelos -Joe The mural is all Latinos and what appear to be illegals in baseball caps.
Its a slap in the face to leave out all white people that BUILT that whole area and park ?
I think its a crock of racist BS.

I was born in that area. “Then and now”
Nope WRONG !!
It looks like something you would find in the ghettos of south central and east Los Angelos

-Joe

]]> By: Joe Matunis http://bushwickbk.com/2007/10/19/knickerbocker-mural-paints-400-feet-of-history/comment-page-1/#comment-6041 Joe Matunis Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:08:25 +0000 http://bushwickbk.com/archives/198#comment-6041 Thanks for the comprehensive and insightful review of this mural. I just came across the piece on ArtCal today. Much of the style of the painting was determined by the collective, 5 adult artists and 20 youth. The themes were decided through a process of community forums, research by students at the Academy for Urban Planning, and 6 months of design meetings. Rolando Almonte, Crstal Bruno, and Alfred Cervantes lead the design of significant parts of the mural. It is true that not every one's story and perspective was told. It is definitely a selective history. We did try to honor the voices of the participants and be true to the community's rich history and cultures. There is only so much one can cram into a mural and have it remain visually and narratively coherent, (unless you're Diego Rivera...) The parodic figure of the hipster/vulture was our attempt to humorously portray the current status of Bushwick as New York's latest coolest zip code. As a long term Williamsburg resident and observer of the gentrification of Brooklyn's neighborhoods, I felt that the hipsters could stand a little ribbing. I don't equate the artist community with the hipster community. I do hope the new artists who are making their homes in Bushwick are reaching out and building bridges with their "indigenous" neighbors. I did meet a few during the summer who were doing just that. FYI, I also directed "Livin' In Peace", the mural that was painted at this location in 1993. Thanks for the comprehensive and insightful review of this mural. I just came across the piece on ArtCal today. Much of the style of the painting was determined by the collective, 5 adult artists and 20 youth. The themes were decided through a process of community forums, research by students at the Academy for Urban Planning, and 6 months of design meetings. Rolando Almonte, Crstal Bruno, and Alfred Cervantes lead the design of significant parts of the mural. It is true that not every one’s story and perspective was told. It is definitely a selective history. We did try to honor the voices of the participants and be true to the community’s rich history and cultures. There is only so much one can cram into a mural and have it remain visually and narratively coherent, (unless you’re Diego Rivera…) The parodic figure of the hipster/vulture was our attempt to humorously portray the current status of Bushwick as New York’s latest coolest zip code. As a long term Williamsburg resident and observer of the gentrification of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods, I felt that the hipsters could stand a little ribbing. I don’t equate the artist community with the hipster community. I do hope the new artists who are making their homes in Bushwick are reaching out and building bridges with their “indigenous” neighbors. I did meet a few during the summer who were doing just that.
FYI, I also directed “Livin’ In Peace”, the mural that was painted at this location in 1993.

]]> By: Army http://bushwickbk.com/2007/10/19/knickerbocker-mural-paints-400-feet-of-history/comment-page-1/#comment-3334 Army Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:00:45 +0000 http://bushwickbk.com/archives/198#comment-3334 It’s a lovely mural, and I’m keeping my fingers cross no one marks it. They should have cameras on that thing. Love how it’s above the recess area above. Leave a Reply yeah...it will be marked by one of the "so called", long time resident. (whatever that means!???) the mural doesn't depict a "RIP" theme! you know the drill; some thug getting shot over drug deal going bad or giving someone a dirty look probably!!! It’s a lovely mural, and I’m keeping my fingers cross no one marks it. They should have cameras on that thing. Love how it’s above the recess area above.

Leave a Reply yeah…it will be marked by one of the “so called”, long time resident. (whatever that means!???) the mural doesn’t depict a “RIP” theme! you know the drill; some thug getting shot over drug deal going bad or giving someone a dirty look probably!!!

]]> By: jay http://bushwickbk.com/2007/10/19/knickerbocker-mural-paints-400-feet-of-history/comment-page-1/#comment-3275 jay Sat, 20 Oct 2007 01:44:38 +0000 http://bushwickbk.com/archives/198#comment-3275 It's a lovely mural, and I'm keeping my fingers cross no one marks it. They should have cameras on that thing. Love how it's above the recess area above. It’s a lovely mural, and I’m keeping my fingers cross no one marks it. They should have cameras on that thing. Love how it’s above the recess area above.

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