New mural coming to Sunset Park’s Bush Terminal

July 18, 2018 By Jaime DeJesus Brooklyn Daily Eagle

The entrance to Bush Terminal Park. Eagle file photo

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t’s a team effort beautifying Sunset Park.

The New York City Economic Development Corporation and Groundswell, a not-for-profit organization that brings together artists and local communities, are teaming up to create a brand new mural for Bush Terminal, adjacent to the park, that area residents will help paint.

Angel Garcia, the Groundswell lead artist and a Sunset Park resident, will spearhead the design of the mural, whose theme will be accessing the waterfront, both the working waterfront and also its natural beauty.

Julie Stein, senior vice president and executive director of Sunset Park for EDC, discussed how the idea was conceived.

“We were really interested in doing a public art project and not only one that would be a beautification project of the campus but also something that could have people from the neighborhood help both in the conception of the idea and fabrication of the art,” she said. “We had been brainstorming about this and in consultation with Councilmember (Menchaca), we decided to partner with Groundswell, which has a long history of doing this kind of work within the community.”

On Monday, July 9, a large group of people from across the community in various age groups had a visioning session to talk about what that theme means to them and what kind of imagery they want to see represented on the mural to reflect that theme.

“We talked a lot about the meaning of the waterfront to folks, the history of working in Sunset Park, the history of enjoying the waterfront from a recreational perspective and what people’s experiences have been more recently, being able to access the public improvements we’ve made at the Brooklyn Army Terminal,” Stein said.

Garcia and his team of youth artists will come up with the specific imagery that is going to be put onto the wall. On Saturday, July 21, a Community Mural Wall Paint Day will be held.

“Anyone that wants to help us paint can,” Stein explained. “There will be paint brushes that everyone can use so everyone can make their mark on this wall. It’s really meaningful for the neighborhood to be able to participate. I think the theme of the working waterfront and access to the waterfront is something that really resonates with this community and at EDC we are trying to really continue to utilize our properties for the benefit of the public and neighborhood.”

Then, on Friday, August 3 from 4-6 p.m., the final mural will be unveiled.

“Anyone who enters the park from the [50th Street and First Avenue] entrance will be able to enjoy it,” Stein said.