Slope Stoop Photos a Response to Atlantic Yards
The Times has fleshed out the story behind the large portraits of local shopkeepers that were pasted to stoops on Bergen Street between 4th and 5th avenues, and it turns out the installation was organized by a resident who is concerned that mom-and-pop businesses may be forced out of the Slope by Atlantic Yards. Dana…
The Times has fleshed out the story behind the large portraits of local shopkeepers that were pasted to stoops on Bergen Street between 4th and 5th avenues, and it turns out the installation was organized by a resident who is concerned that mom-and-pop businesses may be forced out of the Slope by Atlantic Yards. Dana Eskelson, an actress, got people on the block to participate in the Inside Out Project, which is the brainchild of Paris-based street artist JR. The artist was awarded $100,000 via the TED Prize for the project, which has an aim of “rallying communities and telling stories of the anonymous” via the photographs. Eskelson says the following about the subjects she wanted to highlight: “It’s really hard for their businesses to stay in our neighborhood because the stadium is coming.”
In Park Slope, Portrait Project Draws Block Together [NY Times]
Bergen Stoops Face Off [Brownstoner]
lol
*rob*
What MM and tiptoe said ^^^
Hey Martis – you need to lay off the apostrophes. Oh, and your attitude sucks too.
I don’t see what’s “jejune and puerile” about people doing what they can to draw attention to concerns in their neighborhood. Who said it had to be profound?
I think, first of all, that the portraits are fantastic and a brilliant idea, and the execution is really well done. It’s something new that hasn’t been done before, at least not here, and it’s interesting. Who cares if the artist is French? Who cares that he used his grant money? It’s his grant money.
Secondly, there is only so much the average person can do to get the attention of media, politicians and the community at large. Petitions? Everyone does that, and no one really cares. Rallies? You can’t get people to come out, unless you have a huge grass roots organization that practically drags people out of their homes. Then you need a first class publicist to assure press coverage. Mailings and flyers? You need money and people to distribute. Even with, so what?
This project has quietly gotten media attention, it’s been on Brownstoner twice, it’s different; serious, yet whimsical and personal enough to be affective. Neighbors recognize store owners, maybe those that don’t will look them up. People walk by there to see them, if only to see how it’s done. I think its great, and quite effective.
did we really need this explanation? i mean the pieces speak for themselves. their message is so obvious and effective.
Are these concerned citizens going into the small mom and pop stores and buying anything? I doubt it… The only way to keep these stores going is by utilizing their shops. Shop Brooklyn, isnt that the motto. Stop going into Manhattan for a cop of coffee.
completely jejune and puerile
*rob*
oh my! an actress is concerned about mom-n-pop’s and get’s a french artist to make a statement with his grant money. very profound. and important.
This is a matter of great concern. The huge pressure on the blocks around the Arena will cause rents to rise in ripples for a mile around.
At the same time, 7th Avenue has all these vacancies and the retail market is very much back in brooklyn (7th is an exception to quick re-leasing, for a variety of reasons already discussed in Bstoner in detail).