RHAP paints mural

The Red Hook Pool has two new murals thanks to the work of Red Hook Art Project artists Aspen, Felix, Rosana, and Angelly. Both murals were summer-themed, one featuring a fire hydrant with water coming out and the other depicting sea life.

“Art is a way of healing and of bringing so many people together,” said Tiffiney Davis, the co-founder and Executive Director of RHAP. “We have four emerging artists here at RHAP who have been with us from about the time they were 10 years old and are now between ages 19-21. They worked very hard on this mural, and it was intense, so I really want to tip my hat to them for doing this. They were out here in the heat and it was tough at the end but they still got it done in time.”

“We had a lot of fun over the last two months and learned a lot about public art and mural painting,” said Jacqui Painter, who launched RHAP’s emerging art council. “We came up with two designs that represent the Red Hook summer experience.”

According to Aspen, the artists also had to deal with some challenges, including making the murals on a brick wall which is an uneven surface. They also had to work hard to make sure both murals were done in time despite the unforeseen challenge of poor air quality from the Canadian wildfires, which forced them to stop working on the murals when the air quality was at its worst.

“I just want to say thank you for all of your hard work, and I want to see art all over the neighborhood,” said District 38 Council Member Alexa Avilés. “Like Tiffiney says, ‘Art saves lives!’”