Talk about a pop of color!
The artist behind a new, multi-colored mural in Downtown Brooklyn is hoping his work brings hope to those who pass by it.
The piece, aptly titled “HOPE,” was commissioned by owners of the Atlantic Terminal Mall and painted by Brooklyn artist Jason Naylor on Atlantic Avenue near the corner of Fort Green Place.
Naylor, known for his eclectic and colorful murals, hopes the 20-by-24-foot piece — tucked between Old Navy and Marshalls — will bring joy to Brooklynites during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This mural is a tribute to the essential workers and true heroes who are on the frontlines of the pandemic, who are giving us hope,” the artist told Brooklyn Paper. “By injecting color, inspired by the current rainbow drawings, the goal is to stimulate the senses in a positive way and to spread hope, love and positivity.”
Evan Walke, portfolio manager at Madison International Realty, the group that commissioned the mural, said he hopes the artwork will help New Yorkers through some of the city’s darkest days.
“We believe this mural conveys the message of hope and that brighter days are to come,” he said. “The mural is dedicated to the essential workforce, the true heroes of this world. These heroes are the ones that give us hope that hold our community together. Through these trying times, it is important for our community to celebrate this sentiment of resilience and courage.”
“HOPE” is the third artwork commissioned by Madison International Reality. The group previously tapped local artist Patrick Dougher to create a mural inspired by rapper Notorious B.I.G., titled “Spread Love.” Soon after, the group partnered with a collective of emerging artists from the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts to create a calming mural titled “Take It Easy.”
“[We have] always shared an interest in public art and the presence it can have in the community,” Walke said, adding that the Atlantic Terminal Mall is an “integral part” of the Downtown Brooklyn. “We have welcomed art at our properties as way to help bring enjoyment to the neighborhood, while also contributing to the arts and urban landscape.”
And, “HOPE” isn’t Naylor’s only tribute to essential workers since the outbreak of novel coronavirus. On May 7, the artist unveiled a painted banner outside Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in Manhattan that reads, “You have always been essential.”
