Uptown Grand Central Unveils Blocks of Canvas Fencing ~ Continuing The Uptown Grandscale II Mural Project in East Harlem, 2021

 

 

 

Uptown Grandscale on East 125th Street ~ BLAZAYny

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!

Uptown Grandscale! East 125th Street.

Two years ago, Uptown Grandscale 2019 brought 50 artists together to transform 1,500 feet of fencing across a three block area along 125th Street and adjacent streets along Park Avenue over three weekends that summer.

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 @125 & Park Ave, East Harlem

#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.

#BLAZAYny. May 22, 2021

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.

#socialicon

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.

Uptown Grandscale by #socialicon

Below, artist, designer, diviner ~ teacher, alchemist, herbalist ~ #Jenevieve.

Uptown Grandscale ~ #Jenevieve713

Below, painter and graphic designer Jennifer Jimenez. Follow her on Instagram at #lust4life.

Uptown Grandscale on Park Avenue between 124/125th Streets painted by 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.

Uptown Grandscale painted by QUA

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.

Uptown Grandscale ~ Work in Progress on Park Avenue between 124/125th Streets

“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.

Uptown Grandscale by #nycm2

Follow  Marthalicia Matarrita aka nycm2 on Instagram and check out her cool video, creating the above mural.

Uptown Grandscale #WIZDOM

On the street today, #WIZDOM above & below.

#WIZDOM

The Let’s Paint! Community Mural and more was held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 ~ below

Uptown Grand Scale, a community mural on 125 between Lexington & Third on June 5th!

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.

East 125th Street on June 5th with Uptown Grand Scale & the Let’s Paint Community Mural

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.

No matter the heat of the day, these friends were bringing lots of color to East 125th Street

 

Moving down to the middle of the block, 125th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, with the Uptown Grand Central tent in the background

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.

@geobany for Uptown Grand Scale, june 5 2021,  124th Street between Third & Lexington Avenues

Getting a closer look (below) @geobany. We’ll go back next week to update this.

@geobany on 124 bet 3rd & lex

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.

@adambombnyc, June 5, 2021 for Uptown Grand Scale

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.

Sandy Perez aka artbysandyperez for Uptown Grand Scale

Further down the block on 124, we found @jec_star + @One7One , graffiti pioneers from the 1970s Miami/NYC (below).

Graffiti Piioneers jec_star + One7One on 124th Street between Third & Lexington Ave.

Continuing on 124th Street, we found Mark A. West aka  @HouseOfMarkWest between Park and Madison Avenues (below).

The artist, Mark A. West

Back up to 125, we found Mark Muster aka @markmusters1 working on five panels between Madison and Park Avenues (below).

Mark Musters

and taking a closer look…..

Mark Muster on 125, June 5, 2021 for Uptown Grand Scale.

Continuing east, we crossed Park Avenue and caught up with LostCreedCulture.

LostBreedCulture on 125, just east of Park Avenue.

@lostbreedculture, above and below, on Instagram.

@LostBreedCulture on the corner of Park Ave & 125 for Uptown Grand Scale

 

#lostbreedculture. Image courtesy Uptown Grandscale. 

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.

@evanbishopart

This will be a fun summer, filled with art stretching from Madison Avenue to Third Avenue, between 124th and 125th Streets.

Uptown Grand Scale

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.

Uptown Grandscale

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.

Subway now open at Lexington Avenue and 125th Street. The Smile in the background.

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.