'Hideous' or 'Bold'? Ditmas Park Mural Draws Ire and Love

Dorchester Road's 9-day-old mural is not understated. The bright, geometric design that joined the neighborhood June 22 has been called everything from 'jarring' and 'hideous' to 'modern' and 'beautiful.'

The 9-day-old mural on Dorchester Road between E. 16th and E. 17th St. was proposed and designed by area artist Lev Zeitlin of Red Square Design. He wanted to brighten up the bridge over the subway line and thought the bold geometric design fit with Ditmas Park's vibe. 

"The rhythm of striation — shingles, vertical fluting. That energy of horizontals and verticals, I thought, was very unique to us, so I wanted to enhance that, make that a signature," he said at a Community Board 14 meeting in November, according to Ditmas Park Corner. 

The Flatbush Development Corporation pitched the project to the Department of Transportation who agreed to pay for the paint. The Ditmas Park Association  organized volunteers to put it up, the Corner said.

But two days after it went up, Snow Richardson, who has lived on Dorchester Road for more than 40-years, wrote a lament about the mural on Ditmas Park Patch's Opinion Board.

"... I think it's tasteless and takes away beauty of the neighborhood. ... I have walked around the neighborhood and heard people talk about how it's ugly and what if they painted there house red wouldn't that take away from [the] neighborhood! ...  I suggest putting a [mural] like the one on the side of the Food Coop. Not something that looks like a painting from a child's notebook," he wrote.

When Ditmas Park Corner first ran a rendering of the design in November, the post received 32 comments, roughly spit between supporters and dissenters. 

Supporters' comments ranged from loving it to saying it was better than the plain beige walls that preceded it (see photo gallery), while the other side pretty much agreed with Richardson's view, saying that something the blends in with the neighborhood, maybe an art nouveau design, would be more complimentary to its surroundings.

What do you think dear reader? Love it, or hate it?