Public Art

In Summer 2008, the Partnership launched the Myrtle Avenue Public Art Program, an effort to bring public sculpture, art installations, and creative street elements to the public spaces and sidewalks of the 20-block retail district, increasing access to art for the entire community. Current and past projects include:

• Temporary Public Sculpture - Request for Proposals
• The Tree Hugger Project
• Myrtle Windows Gallery

Click on the map to view precise locations of Myrtle Avenue's current public art installations with thumbnail images of each piece.

Click image for larger interactive version.

Temporary Public Sculpture - Request for Proposals

The Partnership has released an RFP for Temporary Public Sculpture (for installation up to 11-months) in order to bring new and vibrant creative energy to the streets of Myrtle Avenue. The four locations included in the RFP include public spaces at the Myrtle Avenue entrances to Fort Greene Park, the green streets triangle at Carlton and Myrtle, and wide sidewalks at specific intersections. Preference will be given to Brooklyn-based artists.

The Tree Hugger Project

The Tree Hugger Project was the first public art installation on Myrtle Avenue and kicked off the new Myrtle Avenue Public Art program. The Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership collaborated with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to inaugurate the program on Saturday, August 30, 2008 with the 11-month installation of pieces from the internationally-known Tree Hugger Project at the Green Streets Triangle at Carlton and Myrtle, and on the grounds of NYCHA's Ingersoll Houses near Myrtle and Prince. The installations were done as part of the Ingersoll Family Day celebration.

The Tree Hugger Project is an ongoing project of Environmental Art designed to help us re-discover our relationship with nature at a very personal and intimate level. The focus on the stewardship of public space demonstrates that standing up for the environment can be done in a fun and non-political way, and that contemporary art can be entertaining and make a difference in how we view our world. The Tree Hugger Project is a collaboration of artists Wiktor Szostalo and Agnieszka Gradzik who have installed the Tree Huggers in parks and public spaces all over the world. The Tree Huggers send a message of care for the environment and stewardship of public space. All of the figures are made out of twigs, branches, twine and recycled fabric.

Images of the four Tree Hugger pieces installed on Myrtle Avenue can be seen below.

Myrtle Windows Gallery

The Myrtle Windows Gallery is an initiative that aims to create an open-air art gallery that ‘breaks down the walls’ of the traditional private art gallery to bring two-dimensional art to the public arena via the storefront window, where it is accessible to anyone simply walking down the street. Ten Myrtle Avenue storefronts between Clinton Avenue and Hall Street will temporarily transform part of their storefront windows for a month at a time into to a gallery space for hanging the works of Brooklyn-based artists. The initiative helps bring together artists, local businesses, and the community in a dialogue about art in public spaces.

The Partnership collaborated with the Pratt Design Incubator on the design of a storefront art hanging system for use by this program. The Gallery program will host three to four month-long exhibitions per year with the first exhibition kicking off in October 2008.

The Myrtle Windows Gallery is located in the following storefronts (from west to east): Karrot Health Food (431 Myrtle); Karen’s Body Beautiful (436 Myrtle); Three Stars Laundromat (439 Myrtle); Thai 101 Restaurant (455A Myrtle); Joseph Tyler Salon (456 Myrtle); Anima (458 Myrtle); Five Spot Supper Club (459 Myrtle); Move with Grace Dance & Yoga Studio (469 Myrtle); Miracles Unisex Barber Shop (473A Myrtle); Optimum Care Rehab (474 Myrtle).

Myrtle Windows Gallery Exhibitions

Kennis Baptiste, Curator
September 6, 2009 - October 4, 2009
The fourth show in our inaugural year is curated by Kennis Baptiste, from The Rising Arts Gallery. This community exhibition includes paintings, photographs, printmaking, and mixed media artwork, providing a glimpse of the diverse range of creative style and visual presentation found in Brooklyn artists.

Prelude Exhibition of the 10th SONYA Studio Stroll
April 23, 2009 - May 17, 2009
This Prelude Exhibition offers a sneak preview of the work and artists featured on the 10th annivesary South of the Navy Yard Artists (SONYA) Studio Stroll, taking place on Saturday, May 16th and Sunday, May 17th, from 12-6pm. The Studio Stroll is a free, self-guided walking tour that includes 36 studios and galleries representing over 50 SONYA artists.

Trevor Brown
March 3, 2009 - April 1, 2009
The second artist to participate in our gallery program is Prospect Heights-based photographer Trevor Brown. Trevor's exhibit, ordinary wonderful, encourages all of us to take a moment to enjoy the beauty around us that we see every day, but too often take for granted. The photos capture colorful images of common things in our city, from railroad tracks to garbage cans, and are glossy c-prints mounted on gatorbaord. Images of the works hanging in the Myrtle Windows Gallery are below. For more information about Trevor and to see more images of his work, visit http://www.trevorbrownonline.com/

Anne LaFond
October 21, 2008 - November 18, 2008
The first artist to participate in this gallery program is local artist Anne Lafond. Anne’s paintings are dynamic and colorful depictions of everyday people on their daily commute on the New York City subway with a focus on how they interact with each other. The paintings are oil on canvas, often with collaged newsprint. Images of the works hanging in the Myrtle Windows Gallery are below. For more information about Anne and to see images of her work, visit http://annelafond.com/

If you are an artist or curator and are interested in participating in this program, please contact us.