Uptown Grand Central has stepped out from under the 125th Street viaduct along Park Avenue to transform fifteen hundred feet of construction fencing into a canvas for fifty artists.
We followed Carey King, Director of Uptown Grand Central and Project Organizer, Ayana Hosten, a veteran from the #100GatesProject in East Harlem, when the project began on August 3, 2019 with the artist Gera Lozano (@geraluz) and fellow-artists, WERC, Crow, Jill Folino and Kristy McCarthy, painting the entire south-west corner at Park Avenue and 125th Street.
Beginning Saturday, September 7th, the GrandScale Mural Project will kick-off the first of three weekends, transforming construction fencing on both sides of the 125th Street viaduct, to conclude in time for the annual East Harlem Event ~ Party on Park.
On Saturday, September 7th, painting will begin at 10am and continue to 7pm, with DJ Tedsmooth arriving at 3pm to begin celebrating the end of the day.
The dates include Saturday, September 7; Saturday, September 14th and Sunday, September 22nd during Party on Park.
Let’s start with the most recent.
Saturday, September 14, 2019
Above, Neequaye Dreph Dsane @dreph, who lives and works in London. This was the artist’s first trip to the U.S.
Saturday, September 7, 2019
Below are a few images taken on August 3, 2019, the first Uptown GrandScale murals.
Carey King, Director of Uptown Grand Central, said: “Since we got our start a little more than five years ago, we have learned the power of public art to both uplift the neighborhood and inspire hopes for the future. We are so grateful for the strong community of artists that exists throughout Uptown, and for their dedication to making public space a place that brings us all together.”
Uptown Grand Central’s Carey King, along with Ayana Hosten were the organizers of the #100GatesProject, which extended throughout East Harlem. Take a peek behind the scenes in 2017.
Above and below, the first of the Uptown GrandScale murals, artist Gera Lozano (@geraluz) and fellow-artists, WERC, Crow, Jill Folino and Kristy McCarthy, painting the entire south-west corner at Park Avenue and 125th Street.
In the background, above, the historic Corn Exchange Bank building on the north/west corner of 125th Street and Park Avenue
Above, looking south from 125th Street to 124th Street, along Park Avenue.
Above, Project Organizer, Ayana Hosten helping to pack up after this one-day mural painting.
Moving across Park Avenue, East:
Continuing with the summer event, Uptown GrandScale, Uptown Grand Central steps east on Park Avenue, with a new mural by San Diego-based artist, Isaias Crow.
@IsaiasCrow steps across the street, after working on Gera Lozano’s Uptown GrandScale earlier this month, to take a canvas of his own. In his Uptown GrandScale mural, the artist’s image of a panther signifies the strength of the community, and the community agrees ~ with locals stopping to comment and take pictures. Follow the artist on Instagram.
Below is an image of the south-east corner on Park Avenue at 125th Street.
Moving around that same corner on 125th Street (below), we found Kristy McCarthy @dgaleart preparing a wall.
…… and a few hours later ~
Below, 125th Street, just east of Park Avenue
“We are thrilled to support a project that is making such an important contribution,” said Andi Potamkin, President of Potamkin Development, a sponsor of the project. “People are strongly affected by their surrounding space where they work and live. Bringing vibrant art into public spaces within the community helps enhance and celebrate the diversity of New York City and its neighborhoods.”
In addition to Potamkin Development, other sponsors of Uptown GrandScale include the Harlem Community Development Corporation, the Durst Organization, Potamkin Development, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, NYC & Co. & Blick Art Materials.
Have you notice ~ East Harlem’s Metro North station is getting a facelift!
Support Uptown Grand Central and the East Harlem Merchants.
Check out East 125th Street, a work in progress.
More going on locally at GothamInHarlem including the crochet mural, La Flor De Mi Madre by artist Naomi Lawrence on Park Avenue at 121st Street, and EATME! by artist Capucine Bourcart on Park Avenue at 120th Street.
Want more #StreetArt? Check out The Mural Project and Graffiti in the Sky at 4 World Trade. View images from 2019 Graffiti Wall of Fame and El Barrio’s Guerrilla Wall on 116th Street + more.