Even Colorful New Murals Are Controversial at Pacific Park Development
A slew of local artists put up murals on the 16-foot-tall green construction fence — recently dubbed the “Green Monster” — along Dean Street in Prospect Heights during Saturday’s 10 Murals/1 Day block party thrown by Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park developer Greenland Forest City Partners. Headed by Broad City illustrator Mike Perry, the public artwork project was…
A slew of local artists put up murals on the 16-foot-tall green construction fence — recently dubbed the “Green Monster” — along Dean Street in Prospect Heights during Saturday’s 10 Murals/1 Day block party thrown by Atlantic Yards/Pacific Park developer Greenland Forest City Partners.Â
Headed by Broad City illustrator Mike Perry, the public artwork project was required of the developer by an environmental impact agreement with the state, according to DNAinfo.
While many enjoyed the free popcorn and bright additions to the fence Saturday, a group of locals complained the project, known as Pacific Park Arts, is less a beautification of the site than an attempt to distract from longtime controversy over the mega-development. The group, the Barclays Center Impact Zone Alliance, penned an open letter to Mayor de Blasio, Governor Cuomo, and developer Greenland Forest City Partners demanding, among other things, a 24/7 environmental monitor for the construction site as well as more transparency on the whole.
Pacific Park Murals [Field Condition]
See the 10 New Murals Painted on the Atlantic Yards Work Site [DNA]
As Murals Go Up, Residents Around Atlantic Yards Call for More Transparency [DNA]
Top photo by Field Condition
So excited to ride my bike down Dean St. and see the new murals that went up over the weekend. http://t.co/xMz6MpoawM pic.twitter.com/Ox2jSTEBnX
— Julie Whitaker (@julesdwit) August 17, 2015
Art = activation. Such great neighborhood vibes at #pacificparkarts on Dean St.! #nyc pic.twitter.com/H1NlFrJpwW
— Margo Sivin (@margosays) August 15, 2015
i get it–controversy sounds like a silly word for it. but i know one of the artists who made the mural. in artist circles he has a reputation as a bit of a sell-out these days, to put it kindly. and among artists, most of us who struggle constantly to afford this city, taking this particular developer as a client is seen as pretty fucking gross on their part. and really no one has the guts to call them out for it. so, controversy? not so much. sorta gross deal that should make you question the integrity of the artists? maybe.
also, in case you had any doubt–i PROMISE you the artists involved in this project were paid handsomely. probably 20x the amount of an average freelance job (but probably a drop in the ocean of funds on the developers part). mike perry makes himself out as hip Mr. Crown Heights, but he’s been a corporate shill long before broad city was even a thing
i get it–controversy sounds like a silly word for it. but i know one of the artists who made the mural. in artist circles he has a reputation as a bit of a sell-out these days, to put it kindly. and among artists, most of us who struggle constantly to afford this city, taking this particular developer as a client is seen as pretty fucking gross on their part. and really no one has the guts to call them out for it. so, controversy? not so much. sorta gross deal that should make you question the integrity of the artists? maybe.
also, in case you had any doubt–i PROMISE you the artists involved in this project were paid handsomely. probably 20x the amount of an average freelance job (but probably a drop in the ocean of funds on the developers part). mike perry makes himself out as hip Mr. Crown Heights, but he’s been a corporate shill long before broad city was even a thing