ArtBridge, a Manhattan-based nonprofit that transforms urban spaces into a canvas for art, recently commissioned 59 local artists through a citywide open call to design new, original, site-specific works, and produced nearly two miles of public art. Shown here is "South Beach Celebrates Nature," by Janice Patrignani, which is featured on a piece of scaffolding at 100 Kramer St. (Photo courtesy of Lloyd McCullough)
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- There are more than 300 miles of construction fencing and sidewalk scaffolding in NYC, and if you’re a true city dweller, you probably rarely notice them. Made of plywood and smudged with dark green paint, they’re a ubiquitous eyesore, but are also considered a universally accepted part of life in the five boroughs.
But ArtBridge, a Manhattan-based non-profit whose purpose is to transform those prominent urban spaces into gallery-quality exhibitions, is changing the way we look at that unsightly scaffolding. Here on Staten Island, the group has recently embellished the exterior of two prominent public housing buildings.
Nurture of Color, by Staten Island artist Amari Hines, is a mix of digitized patterns made from poured paintings that were created during workshops that centered around discussions on mental health. (Photo courtesy of Lloyd McCullough)
“While these temporary protective structures and fencing are part of the urban landscape, in most instances they are unappealing and represent the inconvenience of construction projects,” the organization notes on its website when describing “Present Power / Future Hopes,” a group exhibition that aims to amplify the voices of New York City’s 400,000 public housing residents. “[The installation] celebrates 50+ outdoor exhibitions by 59 New York-based artists at 16 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments in all five boroughs.”
The work is diverse and colorful, a mixture of bold colors and themes. On Staten Island, the work of seven artists can be seen on NYCHA buildings in Todt Hill and South Beach.
Vibrancy, by Imara Moore, presents silhouettes of South Beach residents captured during photography workshops at the UAU Cornerstone. (Photo courtesy of Lloyd McCullough)
“We held a series of workshops before the art went up, and it was during those workshops that the artists hashed out their ideas,” noted Alexandra Shoneyin, a project manager for ArtBridge who also happens to be a Staten Island resident. “The whole point of this process was to make sure that the community was engaged from inception to completion.”
Chosen through an approval process that garnered over 200 applications for Staten Island alone, the seven artists were selected for this project based on their experience, portfolio and connection to the community.
World Piece, by Staten Island artist Christian Penn, showcases the flags of over 50+ countries to represent the melting pot that is NYC. (Photo courtesy of Lloyd McCullough)
“Most are early career artists who have lived in the borough at some point and have some sort of connection to public housing,” Shoneyin said. “We wanted the artists to be representative of the locations they were beautifying.”
The work at the Todt Hill Houses was designed by Amari Hines, Christian Penn Reinsch and Misha Tyutyunik, while the South Beach Houses are adorned with the work of Imara Moore, Joseph Riccio, Janice Patrignani and Darielle Rogers “Jodi Dareal.” According to Shoneyin, each piece of art is entirely unique.
“At Todt Hill Christian decided to represent the diversity that exists in the building,” Shoneyin said. “His work features a variety of flags that represent the nationalities of that building’s residents.”
Tyutyunik’s art is filled with a lot of bright imagery, the result of his conversations with local residents.
A View of the Hill, by Misha Tyutyunik, is a visual representation of the collective efforts of Todt Hill residents to articulate their thoughts and feelings about their community. (Photo courtesy of Lloyd McCullough)
“He talked to people in the building about their connection to the neighborhood,” Shoneyin said. “Whether it was the pizzeria next to the houses or a nearby laundromat -- he used residents’ recollections and memories and told their stories on the scaffolding.”
Other installations promote unity and love, Shoneyin explained, while some are centered around wellness and healing.
“There’s a lot of colors and symbols that represent interconnectedness,” she noted.
Essential Care, by "Jodi Dareal," at 84 Lamport Blvd. stands as a tribute to essential workers and first responders, 12 of whom are depicted, including a teacher, a garage attendant, a grocery store clerk and a waiter. (Photo courtesy of Lloyd McCullough)
At the South Beach houses, health and self-care was a focus, as “Jodi Dareal” honored essential workers and their role in the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Riccio worked in playful images of Staten Island’s famous turkeys, while Moore, the only photographer in the installation, shot silhouette images for her portion of the project.
“This was a labor of love,” Shoneyin said. “These artists poured a lot of passion into this project, and it shows.”
U.N.I.T.E.D., We Rise, by Joe Riccio, was conceptualized and developed in partnership with South Beach residents. Building upon the theme of unity, the artist intertwined various colorful symbols to portray peace, love and strength in the community. (Photo courtesy of Lloyd McCullough)
The scaffolding will be on display for at least a year. Here’s a summary of each artist’s design:
Vibrancy by Imara Moore presents silhouettes of South Beach residents captured during photography workshops at the UAU Cornerstone. The silhouettes, rendered in various tones, are layered over muted photographs of the landscape and buildings of South Beach Houses. The juxtaposition of solid figures over a soft background adds depth and dimension to the artwork. Raised in the houses herself, the artist created this piece to reflect the energy and vitality of the neighborhood.
Artwork Title: South Beach Celebrates Nature
South Beach Celebrates Nature by Janice Patrignani was co-created with youth and adults from the South Beach community. It invites viewers to engage their senses by visualizing a meandering journey through various landscapes, culminating at the Staten Island Greenbelt. Imagery depicting wafts of air and wind bellowing up from fields of flowers suggest the movement of floral fragrances. The foundational imagery for this work was created by community members who painted directly onto silk fabric.
Artwork Title: U.N.I.T.E.D., We Rise
U.N.I.T.E.D., We Rise by Joe Riccio was conceptualized and developed in partnership with South Beach residents. Building upon the theme of unity, the artist intertwined various colorful symbols to portray peace, love, and strength in the community. The imagery in the artwork takes viewers on a journey of South Beach from a walk in the park to a passage on the beach. The wild turkeys of Staten Island and the various lighthouses visible from the Island are also depicted.
Title of Artwork: Essential Care
Essential Care by Jodi Dareal was designed for the South Beach Community to feel seen. Representing diversity within the mural was of utmost importance to the artist. The artwork stands as a tribute to essential workers and first responders, 12 of whom are depicted, including a teacher, a garage attendant, a grocery store clerk and a waiter. The mural is also a memorial for Tre, a United Activities Unlimited worker and former director of the South Beach Cornerstone who passed during the pandemic.
Artwork Title: Nurture of Color
Nurture of Color by Staten Island artist Amari Hines is a representation of Todt Hill. The digitized patterns that make up the background of the piece refer to poured paintings created during workshops that centered around discussions on mental health. The mural’s repeated central panel was painted by the artist. It presents Todt Hill’s seven buildings. In addition, roses signify love and courage and a butterfly represents hope and new beginnings. The hands holding the earth symbolize the community’s ability to create change through working together.
World Piece by Staten Island artist Christian Penn showcases the flags of over 50+ countries to represent the melting pot that is NYC. Blending together varying design styles, the artist’s colorful tapestry portrays a diversity of aesthetics and cultural identities. According to the artist, nations’ flags share similar features, just like all humans share likenesses. Every flag represented in the artwork was suggested by a Todt Hill resident, either in person at a workshop or by responding to a flier asking people to email or text the artist.
Artwork Title: A View of the Hill
A View of the Hill by Misha Tyutyunik is a visual representation of the collective efforts of Todt Hill residents to articulate their thoughts and feelings about their community. The artist’s final composition is based on the drawings and discussions generated during workshops. It also portrays the community’s multiple cultural backgrounds. The composition includes local landmarks, pastimes, and people of all ages. The mural connects these elements through color, shape, and form, to create a timeless tapestry of symbolism specific to Todt Hill.
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