Flatbush lights up with community-driven art project celebrating local culture
The Church-Flatbush Community Alliance is unveiling a new community-driven public art project.
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A public art and public light grant awarded to Flatbush reflects the community and shines a light on Flatbush (literally).
The Church-Flatbush Community Alliance is unveiling a new community-driven public art project. It includes things like a mural on the wall outside the Church Avenue subway station with photos of the community, as well as illuminated windows of the nearby Brooklyn nonprofit Camba, Inc. and illuminated sugarcanes made by the community. There are also pop-up designs throughout the neighborhood.
Executive Director for Church-Flatbush Community Alliance Lauren Collins says the mural was put together through submissions and smaller photos of things that represent the community.
“It’s just such a positive view of Flatbush. It's creative. There's a lot of Caribbean themes going throughout this, a lot of food themes, people's high schools. This station itself has really needed repair. So this is a way that we're doing something on the outside. It's also the hub. It's the way one of the main ways that people get to this part of Flatbush," said Collins.
The illuminated sugarcanes that now sit on the Q Gardens community garden were made by people from the community.
"Sugarcane is just such a strong reflection of Flatbush. And it's something that you get in the Caribbean. It is something that people come to Flatbush for," said Collins.
While art is the center of the project, Collins says it's meant to draw people in and the illuminated projects will also provide public lighting.
“The incentives behind this is to have more people out. So the businesses start staying open later, and then people have more resources at night. So that's it's kind of help. We're hoping it will be a snowball that will just keep on working," said Collins.
There will be an outdoor launch party on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Church Avenue and E. 18th Street. Collins says it's a way for businesses and communities to come together.
As of now, the project is through May 2027, but Collins says stakeholders are working on keeping it longer.
