The Uptown Grandscale Mural Project is back! Uptown Grand Central unveiled canvas fencing extending all the way to Third Avenue, kicking-off the opening of our City with color and fun. In this second edition of Uptown Grandscale, murals were painted by more than 100 artists in May, June and July, with a closing celebration ~ The Roller Jam ~ on Saturday, July 10th from Noon to 7:00pm at the newly renovated 125th Street Plaza at Park Avenue.
The Roller Jam will be headlined by D.J. Ted Smooth, D.J. Arson, the World Famous Brucie B. Kool D.J. Red Alert, Ninoflex and D.J. Kenny Maneuver. Roller skates will be available for rent, and the African-American Roller Skate Museum will also be on hand to share historical perspective. Participating artists will give a tour of the murals ~ art tour at 3:00pm.
Sign up for the free closing party murals tour Here!
Now, two years later, Uptown Grandscale brought together over 100 artists who have a connection to Harlem the Bronx and Uptown, to paint all the way to Third Avenue.
#BLAZAYny, above and below, can be found on 125th Street, just east of Park Avenue. We found him finishing up his mural, part of Uptown Grandscale, on May 22, 2021. Follow him on Instagram.
The canvas will stretch from Fifth Avenue to Third Avenue, along 125th Street (the old Pathmark lot). Each panel is approximately four-feet wide by eight-feet tall. We look forward to tagging along and posting what we see.
Above, #Socialicon putting finishing touches on her mural, located on Park Avenue between 124/125th Streets. We noticed this mural yesterday, and almost got off the bus to get a closer look. Today we met the artist. Follow her on Instagram.
Below, artist, designer, diviner ~ teacher, alchemist, herbalist ~ #Jenevieve.
Below, painter and graphic designer Jennifer Jimenez. Follow her on Instagram at #lust4life.
“The Grandscale Mural Project is more than just painting a fence. It’s a way of bringing joy and bright color to everyone who travels through the East 125th Street corridor, and creating an outdoor art gallery that is accessible to everyone. The murals are a statement of the resilience and creativity of both Uptown artists and our neighborhood, and are a reminder that East 125th Street is worthy of the investment and policy changes it needs to really shine.”…… Carey King, Director of Uptown Grand Central.
Each artist was offered an honorarium in support of their work. The project was made possible thanks to support from City Council members Diana Ayala and Bill Perkins, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, Materials for the Arts, and Mushtari Hardware.
“The Grandscale Mural Project offers local artists the rare opportunity to create freely in the public space. The majority of our artists are people of color and women, with preference given to applicants from Harlem, Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. The artists range from the pioneers and bigger names in street art to younger creatives who are first beginning their careers. We are thrilled to be able to showcase and support such a diversity of Uptown talent.”….. Ayana Hosten, Project Coordinator.
Follow Marthalicia Matarrita aka nycm2 on Instagram and check out her cool video, creating the above mural.
On the street today, #WIZDOM above & below.
The Let’s Paint! Community Mural and more was held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 ~ below
Wow ~ it’s more than 90 degrees out there today, but friends & neighbors, along with local artists ~ cans & brushes in hand ~ were painting! Above and below, East 125th Street, corner of 125th Street and Lexington Avenue, looking east.
The above section is an 80-foot-long community mural that was painted in June by neighborhood residents under the leadership of teach artist Gera Lozano aka geraluz.
Moving further east, we walked to Third Avenue, turning south ~ we found Geo “Bowz” Rodriguez aka @geobany (below) half-way through a beautiful and very thoughtful mural.
Getting a closer look (below) @geobany. We’ll go back next week to update this.
Rounding the corner on 124th Street (between Third Avenue & Lexington) we found one of our favorite street artists, @AdamBombNYC, who you will remember from #100GatesProject East Harlem, 2017-18, and an old favorite on the El Barrio Guerrilla Wall on 116th Street.
Just beginning her panel, we were thankful to catch Sandy Perez chalking out her initial sketch. She shared what it will be ~ and we’re looking forward to going back early next week to catch her progress.
Further down the block on 124, we found @jec_star + @One7One , graffiti pioneers from the 1970s Miami/NYC (below).
Continuing on 124th Street, we found Mark A. West aka @HouseOfMarkWest between Park and Madison Avenues (below).
Back up to 125, we found Mark Muster aka @markmusters1 working on five panels between Madison and Park Avenues (below).
and taking a closer look…..
Continuing east, we crossed Park Avenue and caught up with LostCreedCulture.
@lostbreedculture, above and below, on Instagram.
Just a few panels east we found Evan Bishop, who collaborated on the BLAZAYNY panel ~ working on his own panel, below. Find Evan Bishop Art on Instagram.
This will be a fun summer, filled with art stretching from Madison Avenue to Third Avenue, between 124th and 125th Streets.
Each and every artist participating in Uptown Grandscale can be found on the Uptown Grand Central website, 2021 Grandscale Mural Project, along with a connection to their sites.
The Grandscale Mural Project is organized by Uptown Grand Central, a nonprofit that works to transform East 125th Street into a thriving corridor by delivering programs that pub advocacy into action through collaborations with small businesses, residents and neighborhood organizations across East Harlem.
The project building upon Uptown Grand Central’s past work in street art, including murals and banner art with NYC DOT Art at 125th Plaza, the 100 Gates Project, and the first edition of the Grandscale Mural Project in 2019.
Follow Uptown Grand Central‘s Grandscale Mural Project. Check out #100GatesEastHarlem and #100GatesEastHarlem Behind the Scenes.
While you’re there, stop into Ginjan Cafe’ in the historic Harlem Corn Exchange Building, serving lunch as of May 24th.
East 125th Street, a work in progress.
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.