The story of how a tropical storm materialized in Brooklyn near the Gowanus Canal, swept across Fourth Street, and delivered a luscious downpour of paint on Tom Otterness’s studio is the story of creativity, cooperation, generosity, and incredibly good energy. It began as a youth development project in the fervid mind of Jerry Otero, aka Mista Oh!, for Los Galeristas Adolescentes, the gallery club of his group Cre8tive Youth*ink. With the collaboration of painter Ray Smith, who instantly offered his studio as headquarters, it became an Art School without Walls, a venue to revive the spirit of apprenticeship and engage inner-city kids in the creation of a public-art project. The team launched a kickstarter fundraiser, ultimately raising more than $3,000. Meanwhile, supermuralist Sofia Maldonado created a stunning design for a wall 4th Street between Hoyt and Bond, on a lot being developed by architect Peter Moore. Over the course of three days, more than 25 young artists assembled at the site, working on the painting under Sofia’s good-natured direction. Click here to watch how the clouds roll in:
Roller Derby: After priming the graffiti-covered wall, the crew goes green as the first tropical colors make their appearance. Left, Chris and Trevonne. Center, Alicia, Sofia, Moise J, Lalita, Edwina. At right, Jesus.
Sofia makes a point with Chris.
Crystal!
Alicia!
Vince mixing it up.
Head in the clouds: Hupaul and Jabaree.
Teamwork! Vince, Jesus, and Edwina move like dancers in unison.
Details, details: Edwina.
Another Green World: Danny.
Mark paints it black.
Jaydree with wings.
Marveling over a line: Jaydree, Crystal, Hupaul, Danny, Jabari.
The Day One crew gets a visit from painter Ray Smith.
Sofia and Mista Oh! work it at the top of the ladder. Left to right: Mark, Moise J, Danny, Chris, Andrew, Jabaree, Nia, Hupaul, Vince.
Winged Victory: The clouds take color and sprout wings. On ladders: Jesus, Alicia, Andrew. Center: Sofia. Mixing: Mark. At right: Mista Oh! Seated: Vince, Chris, Crystal.
Seated, top to bottom: Sofia, Lalita, Edwina, Crystal, Trevonne, Hupaul, Vince. Standing, left to right: Chris, Moise J, Shahnee, Nia, Jazmyn, Sarah, Cherry, Jesus, Mista Oh!, Andrew, Alicia, Mark.
Top this: Mark puts finishing touches on the mural, now called 'Tropical Storm (Gowanus).'
Tom Otterness watched from his studio across the street as the mural materialized over 3 days and came over to chat with Sofia and the crew.
The Roar of the Cloud: Tom decided it would be nice if some of those clouds floated in his direction. He commissioned Sofia to paint on offshoot of the mural on his studio's exterior wall. She brought along assistants Mark and Chris (here with Mista Oh!).
It's raining paint! Bright cloudbursts make it easy to find Tom Otterness's studio--and direct the visitors' eye to the spectacular mural across the street.
Awesome work! I’d love to do more of this