Bushwick locals and students from Sunset Park are joining forces to create a mural at DeKalb and Central Avenues. — Photos by Diego Cupolo
There is no shortage of vacant lots in Bushwick, and Daniel Aguilar has big plans for a small corner space that sits empty below the rumble of the M train.
Spray-paint can in hand, the Sunset Park middle school teacher has been working with his students and neighborhood artists for the last week to create a mural at the intersection of Myrtle, DeKalb, and Central Avenues. Once they finish covering the lot’s exterior walls, Aguilar hopes to use the space as an amphitheater for open mics, outdoor art galleries and other cultural events.
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“We want to bridge the gap between artists that are moving in and the artists that were already here,” said Aguilar, who is also the director of Buendia Productions, a non-profit arts organization. “I grew up in Williamsburg and as an artist, I felt really disconnected from the people that were moving in, I felt like I couldn’t take part in their projects. But, hopefully, this lot will become a gathering spot for all the artists in this neighborhood to collaborate.”
The vacant lot is currently owned by Jack D Associates, a local real estate company, and Aguilar was granted permission to use it until the property owners find another use for the space. Eli Davidovics, of Jack D, said they were originally looking for vendors to start small flea market on the lot, but when they heard Aguilar’s proposal they agreed to temporarily hand over the space for cultural programs.
“He’s a very nice guy who had a very good idea and we want to encourage more of these kinds of projects in the neighborhood,” Davidovics said.
In the next few weeks, students from Sunset Park MS 136 and the Turning Point arts program will be joining forces with local street artists to paint a mural about education, tolerance, and peace. Aguilar, who also works with NURTUREart, watches with a smile as his kids learn to paint together and does not worry about the mural’s lifespan.
“However long this stays up is not my biggest concern,” Aguilar said. “What matters is that we have a space to build an artistic community, to let people develop or discover their own talent and to give kids something positive to do during their summer vacations.”
herpes July 8th, 2009 at 7:10 am
I like this idea. It will be interesting to see what they come up with.
Cheryl July 8th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
yea, that’s next door to my place!
chillinoncentral July 8th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
It seems like such a treat to see creative murals painted by such talented artists from the community… such a far cry from the vandals who illegally tag a property with hideously obnoxious initials. WTG!
Diego July 8th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
I rolled by today to check on the progress and found Aguilar surrounded by seven cops. Apparently, they thought he did not have permission to paint the mural. Aguilar said it was the fourth time officers from the 83rd precinct had paid a visit to his project.
erika July 9th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I saw the mural on my way home and was pleasantly surprised. It already looked like they were almost done. I love watching this neighborhood grow and I love their idea of trying to integrate all the very different groups of people that make up the Bushwick community.
Jill July 15th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Thanks for the support everyone! We’ve gotten a ton of positive feedback from the community, and it’s just an incredible feeling. But, in my opinion, the real story here is that this definitely isn’t just, “another mural.”
This project is totally funded by out-of-school youth and young adults from Turning Point Educational Center’s Youth Leadership Program. A group got together, and started painting murals. They got the community involved, and put on the first Community Gallery in Sunset Park. We started collaborating with Buendia and City Councilmember Sara Gonzalez made a generous donation, and that’s what’s allowed projects like these to keep happening. Everything that’s going on here, from fundraising to painting to publicity, is being done by a group of young men and women, most of whom are under 21 and are working really hard to keep their lives on a positive track. They aren’t getting paid; all donations go to art supplies.
So although Bushwick definitely has an insane amount of artistic talent and a lot of really dope murals, this is more than just “another” one.
Jill Siegel
Youth Leadership Coordinator
Turning Point Educational Center