It seems like this is the summer of murals in Red Hook. The newest will border some of our new ballfields. It will feature eight at-risk birds that are native to New York. It was made possible thanks to the work of Marlene Pantin, the founder and executive of Red Hook Conservancy who is also involved with the National Audubon Society.
The Conservancy, founded in 2011, was originally called Friends of the Red Hook Recreation Center. “This work led to a widening of our aims, which now include conserving, protecting, and advocating for 16 parks, open and recreational spaces in Red Hook, Brooklyn,” says Pantin, explaining the name change.
Speaking about the mural, Pantine explained. “Red Hook Conservancy had the idea to bring attention to both native birds and native plants. We talked to the Parks Department regional manager as well as the National Audubon Society and they were on board with it. Artist George Boorujy is making the mural and I am amazed with his work.”
Boorujy lives in Gowanus now but used to live in Red Hook and he still regularly swims in the pool.
He submitted a proposal calling for a mural the length of the concrete border separating the park form the sidewalk. “I decided to go with this idea of migration routes of these birds and each span represents sort of a summation of the routes of the birds that are depicted,” Boorujy said. “The detailed areas are focused right where you walk up to the fields. If you follow where the birds are flying in the mural, they’ll lead you right up to the fields. Before getting to the site I made preliminary paintings and premixed the paint so the process could go as fast as possible. I painted two of the detailed birds per day.”
He hopes to have the plants for the mural completed by the second week of July.
“The most challenging part has weirdly also been the most rewarding part but in different ways,” Boorujy said. “The challenge is everything is low down so I’m right on the sidewalk and its been really hot. The one cool day was super windy so I was getting hit with litter and cigarettes. That has been the challenge. But being right on the sidewalk has allowed me to meet so many people passing by. That was really cool.”
The Conservancy was able raise money to fund the project. Pantin also thanked Parks.
“They were instrumental in making sure this project happened quickly and successfully. We want to make sure everyone knows how important they are both in this neighborhood and make sure they get the funding they deserve.”
In addition to the artistic aspect of the mural, Pantin said that the hope is that the mural will educate people on the importance of native birds and plants. The mural will feature eight types of birds that migrate to New York from the south.
Birds are important in so many ways. For instance, they eat bugs. Pantin contued: “in addition to keeping the insect populations down, birds are also great pollinators. We want to use the mural to bring attention to these at-risk birds and make sure people know how they are important”
Two birds featured on the mural are the yellow-romped warbler and the rose-breasted grosbeak.
“I hope that people who are walking by get a little intrigued by the birds,” Boorujy said. “I hope that maybe they can develop a love of birding. Pretty much all of the birds I’ve painted, I’ve seen not only in New York State but in Brooklyn. I’m hoping it will spur more people to become birders.”
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