Photos: Artists Transform Plywood Wall At E Harlem Train Station

EAST HARLEM, NY — Dozens of New York City-based artists flocked to East Harlem on Saturday to take part in one of the most ambitious mural projects the neighborhood has ever seen.

Over the course of three weekends more than 50 artists will transform a construction fence near the East 125th Street Metro-North train station into a massive 1,500-foot collection of murals — livening up more than three blocks of East Harlem's streetscape. The project, called Uptown Grandscale, was organized by the group Uptown Grand Central, a nonprofit that supports businesses on East 125th Street.

"Since we got our start a little more than five years ago, we have learned the power of public art to both uplift the neighborhood and inspire hopes for the future. We are so grateful for the strong community of artists that exists throughout Uptown, and for their dedication to making public space a place that brings us all together," Carey King, director of Uptown Grand Central, said in a statement.

Uptown Grand Central selected artists from all over New York City to participate in the mural project, but gave preference to applications from Harlem, Upper Manhattan and the Bronx. Each artist is allocated between 32 and 96 feet of space on the construction fence for their creation. Noted street artists such as TooFly, Marthalicia and Shiro are participating in the project.

When complete, the mural will span the entirety of 125th Street between Madison and Park avenues, 124th Street between Madison and Park avenues, Park Avenue between 125th and 124th streets, and 125th Street between Park and Lexington avenues. Artists will resume painting murals on the fence on Sept. 14 and 22, with the final day of painting coinciding with the annual Party on Park street festival on Park Avenue.