I naively thought I could keep the mural I commissioned on my house from infecting the blogosphere, but no: I am simply too interesting to be left alone! But seriously, wtf was I thinking, it’s fucking awesome, and I am so lucky to have made contact with artist Erik Burke, the wunderkind of Bushwick murals (who worked on the Jefferson/Wyckoff mural). He made my vague ideas about what I wanted (“make it Bushwicky…something with maps”) into a beautiful piece that mixes street scenes and abstract treatments. I tossed ideas at him mid-painting and he incorporated them in.
Why a mural? I can’t afford the $40,000 it would take to restore my facade back to how it looked in the 1930s, so in the meantime, instead of just another coat of boring paint on the crappy stucco, why not a piece of art? It’s probably the only full-size residential mural in Bushwick, at least that I know of, and the neighbors have been supportive and even enthusiastic. It’s been a great experience. You can see better photos here.
PS: It’s strange to have one’s site posted about but not linked to. Is Curbed going old media?
Dillon September 24th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Sweet!
whisper September 24th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Jeremy, you are the king of Bushwick and this is your palace
Just hope you don’t wake up to Graffiti Free NYC outside your window giving your house a fresh coat.
Matt September 24th, 2008 at 8:15 pm
yeah, dood! A few weeks ago when your house sprouted the art it almost made me crash my car. Had one of those ‘wtf! over the shoulder, still moving, forgot the light was red, almost hit the car waiting at the light moments’. Nice.
And I think you need to continue the mural to your right!
james kennedy September 24th, 2008 at 8:22 pm
Nice dude. You are truly representing bushwick strong. I think Erik is spot on capturing the vibe of the neighborhood, some modern elements with a touch of the bushwick of old. Truly impressive.
chillinoncentral September 24th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
YOU OUGHT TO HAVE SEEN
You ought to have seen what I saw on my way
To my hood up on Central just the other day;
I saw rainbows and buildings and colors galore,
And it all came together with a train at the door
There were birds at the windows, someone’s home don’t you see
I stood there in awe of a site that could be
The first of true colors to come to unfold
On a block in the ‘wick, a dream to behold
With splashes of yellows, and blues, and some green
The most beautiful home that you ought to have seen
Dresden September 25th, 2008 at 1:13 am
holy shit that’s fucking awesome.
Dresden September 25th, 2008 at 1:14 am
I just – I love blue. it’s like, I’m going to cry.
Armstrong September 25th, 2008 at 1:20 am
I’m shocked you are this cool.. I’m gagging. What’s happened to you?
Caaah September 25th, 2008 at 8:09 am
Wow! What a great idea and refreshing change. I’m so happy that your neighbors are embracing your choice as well. Good sign that not all people are uptight these days. I can’t wait to ride by and check it out this weekend.
ricmac01 September 25th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Tee-hee to the Armstrong comment above! Your beautiful mural really transformed the appearance of your house. Even though it is Bushwicky it reminds me of Laguna Beach, CA. Yeah stucco! From lemon to lemonade.
Jeremy Sapienza September 25th, 2008 at 11:16 am
chillin — you are AWESOME!
The Changeling September 25th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
It’s gorgeous, Jeremy! Just gorgeous!
(And BTW, you’ll have to come over and see the backyard mural that Bed-Stuy artist Oliver Vernon painted for me on my back wall.)
MoyJoy September 26th, 2008 at 11:58 am
nice! awesome poem too chillin! that was really hot!
Way more eloquent than the oddly stated “The front of the train is the front door.” from Curbed…
mopar September 26th, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Whoa, dude, you are amazing.
das September 28th, 2008 at 5:09 am
Wow, Jeremy – -
I couldn’t imagine (at first) living with that on our house, for instance. But the shots you took show it to be so incredibly beautiful, detailed and vibrant that I am amazed – it is truly gorgeous. The house explodes with LIFE and beauty! It’s street and caribbean rolled into one . . .