The street mural on Water Street (at Pearl Street) in Dumbo was painted over yesterday. That’s the ephemeral nature of street art, and we’re suprised how long it’s been up. Over the years, we’ve seen various art on that wall. In 2007, Revok, Retna, Saber collaborated for their mural. In May 2008, a group of 15 visual artists called Concrete Alchemy replaced the mural with their colorful imagery. Then in September 2008, a project called The Monster Project painted a piece titled “eel goddess”.

From May 2009 until this week, Dumbo artist Craig Anthony Miller (“CAM”), with a group called 303 Collectives painted the now famous elephant mural. The new temporary paint job will be up until the developers demolish the building for new townhouses.

According to a Brownstoner post today, “Alloy, the firm that will be both designing and developing the townhouses on the site (and is also responsible for 192 Water Street and 182 Plymouth Street), confirms that his firm gave the building its new look.”

They told Brownstoner, “we wanted to put something up that spoke to the impact of CAM’s work over the past few years and also inserted some optimism at that particular spot. We view all our work as a contribution to the built environment, hopefully a positive one, and while certainly a change from the wall, we’re excited about what the townhouses might be able to add in this little pocket of DUMBO.”

CAM sent us a note of thanks to convey to the community:

The 303 Collective mural on Water street has come to the end of an amazing run, enduring almost four years. It was humbling to see so many people use the wall weekly for a backdrop. Videos, weddings, engagements, fashion shoots, Television Ads and hundreds of tourist visiting the neighborhood monthly. A mural with a message for a Brooklyn community and embraced by more. Dumbo is a place where change is expected and inevitable, and to be honest I did not think the wall would survive a year being such a popular canvas. The mural made a name for itself and within its own rights became synonymous with the neighborhood. Thank you to EVERYONE who showed love and support for the mural and most importantly thanks to Tom, Blue Barn Pictures and The 303 Collective… Coby Kennedy, John Breiner, TRON, and the last edition Sky Davison.

Craig Anthony Miller “CAM”

[UPDATE: The CAM mural was just painted over leaving the word "bright" on the wall (via twitter @jattenberg)]

(Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Paper)


No date has been set for the development of 55-57 Pearl Street, but the Craig Anthony Miller’s mural will have to go has already been painted over. Brooklyn Paper reported:

The builders at Alloy want to put up modern housing in place of a low elephant-adorned garage at Pearl and Water streets that, like much of the block, once belonged to the Industrial-era paint company J.W. Masury & Son, according to the Historic Districts Council.

Alloy, the developers unveiled its plans for the site to the Landmarks Preservation Commission last Tuesday (Brownstoner), but the LPC raised a few concerns about how the concrete would fit in with the predominantly brick structures in Dumbo. The proposal is expected to be approved, but one of the best murals in Dumbo will be is gone.

(Photo by Josh Derr)

Related:
{Facade Proposal Revealed for 55-57 Pearl St. Townhouses, 07feb2013, Brownstoner}
{New Building Proposed for Dumbo Graffiti Garage, 22Jan2013, Brownstoner}
{Housing planned for DUMBO’s elephant mural building, 11Feb2013, BK Paper}

(photo by tripill)

Pearl Street Triangle is getting a new coat of yellow paint. Yellow should be much more visible for the satellites.

UPDATE: According to the Dumbo Improvement District, yellow is not the final color. “Artist David Ellis is painting the Pearl Street Triangle in layers. The mural will be completed next week (weather permitting), and each day of the installation, the work will go through a new transformation as Ellis improvises and paints new layers of design onto the surface of the Triangle.” Cool.

(Photo by @ad454)

(Photo by @tripill)

Seen on Water and Washington Street:
“Your Facebook status update can wait” Metropolitan Etiquette Authority

New York City artist Jay Shells posted a series of brilliant official-looking etiquette signs around Manhattan and Brooklyn under the guise of the “Metropolitan Etiquette Authority,” including the one above in Dumbo (along with others.)

Around the web:
{blogs.villagevoice.com}
{laughingsquid.com}
{animalnewyork.com}

As seen in Dumbo – Russell King and Royce Bannon. See more Royce Bannon art at the Under the Influence art and photography exhibit (at powerhouse Arena) through August 7, 2011.

These photos by Josh Derr of Dumbo’s Stabber Alley (at the base of the Manhattan Bridge) got some new graffiti, Gothamist first reported. Stabber Alley got some recent fame when people competed for mayorship on Foursquare last year.

The complete tag reads “No tiene dinero pero tengo mi corazon…”, which according to Gothamist translates to “You have no money but I have heart…” which doesn’t apply to many of Dumbo’s residents, at least according to the latest census.

Found this ‘streetart’ on Water Street. Anyone know who and what this is?

Street art by Russell King on Dock Street betweee Front and Water Street.

Related:
{Img: Reality Killed the Video Star}
{posts tagged “streetart”}

Found in Dumbo: “Coach, cheerleader, 5’2″ 102lbs, has a posse…and a twitter feed” (@coachdearleader)

“Matt Foley lives in a van down by the river. 5’8″ 270lbs. Matt Foley motivational speaker”