Public Art

New York Exhibit 2010

What comes to mind when you think of public art? Public art to me usually consists of graffiti art or murals of some kind spray painted on public property, such as stores, restaurants, train stations, bodegas or record stores to name a few.  Public art symbolizes to me works of art that society needs to show unknown local artist feelings and emotions. It also gives them away to express themselves through art.

On November 14, 2010, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon I was walking in a predominately Puerto Rican neighborhood in Manhattan near to the City of New York Museum. I was walking around taking in my surroundings and I happen to notice this beautiful mural on a building that looks like an apartment building or a factory of some kind. It seems to say on the bottom Daily News and Amsterdam Cheese Co. Due to the fact the mural was on the side of the building I wasn’t able to tell what kind of establishment this mural was on. I was struck by this public mural because of its rarity and unique form; many public murals are usually graffiti or paintings on a wall. But this mural has a unique twist to it; it’s amazing how the artist incorporate windows with the art to catch the observer’s eye. Being that this is not my neighborhood, I was in awe from this mural and many other paintings this neighborhood has to offer.

I would definitely add this mural to my New York exhibit 2010 because it symbolizes a Puerto Rican community united as one. Looking at this mural the artist truly captured the heart and daily life of a Puerto Rican community. On the lower right hand corner they are six older Puerto Rican men playing a good game of dominoes an all-time favorite game to play in Puerto Rican culture. On the upper right hand side there are kids playing basketball at the park while people are standing around watching them play, which is common in an urban Puerto Rican community. Next to it I see a mother with their child in a stroller gathered around talking most likely gossiping, which I see all the time in every community.  The painting consist basically people in a community going by their day. Most likely the artist observed a day in the neighborhood and his surroundings and drew up with these findings and decided to paint a mural about the everyday life of a Puerto Rican community. It’s interesting how the artist incorporates the Puerto Rican flag on the bottom and a painting of a sea goddess with the words “Fantasia” which means fantasy in English. What was the artist illustrating to us with this saying? It leaves us wondering the artist intentions with this mural.

As we see in the Nueva York exhibit at the City of New York museum, Many Puerto Ricans art and artist are the main force and foundation of New York City art. The mural that I choose is a great way Puerto Rican art symbolizes unity and transforms to something beautiful. This mural will be an ideal choice for any art exhibit in New York City.

Here are some more interesting paitings in the neighborhood.....