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Student mural celebrates Greenpoints history and future

May 14, 2014 Heather Chin

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The past, present and future of Greenpoint comes alive in a new mural researched, designed and painted by Brooklyn students on one wall of local film studio Broadway Stages.

Entitled Stages of Greenpoint, the 16-foot-by-12-foot mural features a series of snapshot-like images of people, places and icons, from McGolrick Parks shelter pavilion to Saint Anthonys Church on Manhattan Avenue and Greenpoints maritime and immigrant histories to its growing role in NYCs film and television industry.

It’s amazing how much Greenpoint has evolved, saidGroundswell Lead Artist Esteban del Valle.Creating the mural has been a way for us to learn about the immigrant families who first settled here, but also embrace the newpeople who are coming in, the exciting evolution of Greenpoints restaurants, and its role in the film industry, through new shows like ‘The Good Wife.’

Beginning in October, 2013, del Valle and Assistant Artist Angel Garcia led the team of nearly a dozen student artists from Groundswells after-school Teen Empowerment Mural Apprenticeship (TEMA) program in weekly workshops on mural-making and historical research. Together, they created the design that would eventually go onto the Broadway Stages wall.

I’m glad thatIgot to do this forthe community, saidSafiyyah Wilkerson, 17,BrooklynHigh Schoolof the Arts.Iwantpeople to know there’s a place for everyone and everything in ourmuralof Greenpoint.

Broadway Stages President Gina Argento enthused that the students put so much hard work into recreating, evenre-imagining, our entire neighborhood. Theirmuralwill be a constant reminder that Greenpoint is at the heart of who we all are.

Were committed to supporting the local non-profit and community organizations that helpNorth Brooklynflourish, Argento added.

Among the other North Brooklyn supporters of the Groundswell/TEMA mural are Greenpoint Chamber of Commerces Elaine and Norm Brodsky, Lori and Kevin Thompson, Greenpoint Center for Court Innovation, Williamsburg High School for Art and Design, and Two Trees Management.