Brooklynites gathered for some communal paint by numbers at Atlantic Terminal Mall on June 22, where the shopping center invited locals to fill in a new mural by famed Brooklyn artist Patrick Dougher with vibrant colors.
“I purposely designed it to be simple so that it would be accessible, and you didn’t have to be a great painter to participate,” said Dougher, who crafted the outline of the mural, which read, “Spread love.” “We had all skill levels helping. We had everyone from children to 80-year-olds helping out.”
Dougher — a lifelong Kings County resident — said about 150 people helped color the mural, which took its inspirational message from another famous Brooklynite.
“Spread love, it’s the Brooklyn way,” he said. “Biggie Smalls made the saying famous in the song ‘Juicy,’ and it’s just a nice motto that we live by.”
The group painting session was the marquee attraction of FamilyFest, a free event that invited passersby to kick off the summer with athletic events and board games, in addition to the art.
Throughout the four-hour event, guests listened to music and visited booths set up by local businesses, including an educational chess station hosted by New York Chess & Games, and immersive virtual reality tours from Yokey Pokey VR.
