Welling Court Mural Project

I’ve been missing 5Pointz something fierce lately, so after meeting some friends from the City for lunch nearby Astoria Park recently, we paid a visit to the Welling Court Mural Project. There is a LOT of street art going on here, and there has been since 2009, when the Ad Hoc Art group began the project.

Welling Court can be found here, btw.

There’s a lot of terrific stuff here. The comic guy in me loved Fumeroism’s Yellow Hulk.

As mentioned, this is a curated project which is in its fifth year of installation.

From Ad Hoc Art’s Facebook page:

The Welling Court Mural Project began in 2009 when Ad Hoc Art was invited by the community of Welling Court to slay some aesthetic blights in their neighborhood. The first project debuted in May 2010 with over 44 murals, fitting for the diverse and lively inhabitants. Each year since, spectacular crews of legendary and groundbreaking artists have come together to transform the neighborhood into a creative celebration and public art experience.

Many, many more images and lots of commentary after the jump.

also from Ad Hoc Art’s Facebook page:

Artists Include: Abe Lincoln, Jr., AM, Alison Buxton, Beau Stanton, Billy Mode, Cake, Caleb Neelon, Cern, Cey Adams, Christopher Cardinale, Clown Soldier, Col Wallnuts, CRASH, Cycle, Damien Mitchell, Dan Witz, Danielle Mastrion, Dennis McNett, Don Leicht, El Kamino, Ellis Gallagher, EpicUno, Eric Richardson, Free5, Fumero, Garrison Buxton, Gilf!, Greg Lamarche, Hellbent, Icy & Sot, Jamie Hef, Jamie Townsend, Jermz, Joe Iurato, John Carr, John Fekner, Katie Yamasaki, Kimyon Huggins, KROne, Lady Pink, Lexi Bella, Lmnopi, LogikOne, Mare139, Mensen, Mike Fitzimmons, Mr. Prvrt, Never, ND’A, NSCB, Pablo Power, Peat Wollaeger, Queen Andrea, R. Nicholas Kuszyk, Rene Gagnon, Rex Dingler, Royal Kingbee, Rubin, Russell King, Ryan Seslow, SeeOne, Sinned, Subtexture, Steven Cogle, Thundercut, TooFly, Topaz, Veng RWK, Vera Times, Vexta, Wane COD, Zam, Zed1 & more.

There is block after block of wild drawings and paintings on display here, adorning the walls of garages and businesses.

Welling Court is a couple of blocks from Socrates Sculpture Garden and a ten minute walk from Astoria Park.

The long holiday weekend is almost upon us, why not come on over and check this spot out if you’re in the neighborhood?

Some painterly stuff is also on display, street art isn’t just about aerosol.

Welling Court – believe it or not – is one of the older streets in all of Queens, let alone Astoria. The whole village of Astoria grew out from the area between here and Hallet’s Cove.

Every commercial garage door, and certainly every brick surface, seemed to be covered.

Even the sidewalk.

At the far corner, Main Avenue becomes Vernon Boulevard, and the NYCHA Astoria Houses are found across the intersection.

There were also applied prints. These kind of looked like… nah, couldn’t be Banksy… It’s Queens.

I will admit a particular fondness for the images offered above and below.

The current exhibition was unveiled and offered to the public on June 18th, and the artwork is available for any passing enthusiast to consider. The photos in this post represent a tiny fraction of what’s there, btw.

I still miss 5Pointz, but at least the Welling Court Mural Project made me feel a little bit better.

Newtown Creek Alliance Historian Mitch Waxman lives in Astoria and blogs at Newtown Pentacle.