New Art and Bike Racks Going Up Near BAM

Above is the rendering, courtesy of Community Board Two, of Brooklyn Academy of Music’s proposed wall for temporary art in the empty lot at 31 Lafayette Avenue, right across from the Howard Gilman Opera House. The wall will host a display of murals that will change over time. According to Community Board Two minutes, BAM was interested in the idea of street and gallery art merging in this space. Brooklyn-based artist KAWS will put up the first mural and BAM will continue to host artwork from emerging Brooklyn artists, although they’d also be open to featuring work from a well-known international artist. More bike racks designed by David Byrne will be installed in front of the art wall. Byrne also designed the racks outside the opera house. CB2’s Cultural Affairs Committee recommended that the Public Design Commission push the proposal forward. The full board will vote on the matter on February 13th. The temporary art wall seems like a cool idea we haven’t seen anywhere else in the borough and a non-intrusive way to make use of an empty lot.