Harborview Terrace

It has been a busy and intense time creating murals all over NYC. Here are some pictures of my largest mural yet. 20,000 sq ft of canvas that took a lot of work, from everyone involved to kind of finish. It is a work in progress...

Co-Created by:
Harborview Terrace Residents under Teaching Artist Laura Alvarez

This Nudge Art installation involves a complete transformation of Harborview Terrace’s outdoor space.Working in partnership with The Public Housing Community Fund and the Harborview Terrace Tenant’s Association, we centered this Nudge Art program around community and belonging. . 
After four weeks of Nudge Art workshops and sessions with a small group of resident leaders, this transformative work of Nudge Art began to take shape. Three larger community-based design forums solidified the design and the messages residents wanted the space to reflect. Harborview is a community made up of differing backgrounds and the various murals and projects reflect this diversity and how the residents wanted the space to bring everyone together as one unit and ultimately showcase pride in their home.
The 20,000 foot installation comprises various areas, recreational spaces, and murals. A refurbished basketball court grounds the far side of the park in community-selected bright shades of pink and teal in a dynamic composition. At the center is a medallion painted by local Hell’s Kitchen artist KoolCat. Adjacent to the basketball court is NYCHA’s first pickleball court, a sport enjoyed by Harborview’s older adult population. Revitalized ping-pong tables and newly installed chess tables add more functionality to the space. New seating areas interwoven with planters filled with native foliage turn the area into a much-requested garden. A ramp has also been added to increase accessibility, allowing the space to welcome everyone.
The murals around the space, both on the asphalt and perimeter walls, truly showcase Harborview’s beliefs. The cornerstone message of every Nudge Art mural - “You Belong” - really resonated with the community, particularly in its cultural diversity. The phrase “You Belong” is featured throughout the space, repeated along the walls in languages spoken throughout Harborview. Another large wall consists of the name “Harborview Terrace,” showcasing the pride the residents take in their community. A set of stairs, formerly used by Alvin Ailey dancers for practice performances, is painted as a rainbow. Besides the steps, as an homage to the area’s theatrical past, the largest mural consists of silhouettes of residents engulfed in music notes, creating a kinetic and energetic environment. 
Harborview Terrace’s transformation is made by and for the community. The installation is about home, belonging, and sharing these emotions with others. The space is activated by bright colors inviting visitors into Harborview’s home, reminding them that they, too, belong.

​Text extracted from the genEquality website. LINK