Two Harlem Parks Receive New Art Installations

HARLEM, NY — Two Harlem parks received new art installations in recent months through the city Parks Department's Art in the Parks program — which grants artists permission to paint temporary murals in under served parks.

The murals can be found at the Jacob H. Schiff Playground on West 138th Street and the West 140th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue basketball courts within St. Nicholas Park, according to city officials. Both murals will be on display through fall 2019.

"Artistically painted surfaces can have an especially transformative effect on undervalued parks, making them welcoming, vibrant community spaces that spark residents’ emotional reinvestment and create enthusiasm for park improvements," a Parks Department press release reads.

The mural at Jacob H. Schiff Playground was designed by artist Jessie Novik as part of the Audubon Mural Project to raise awareness about climate change's effects on bird species. "Migrations" wraps around the exterior wall of the playground and depicts four threatened species: The Bank Swallow, Common Redpoll, Northern Shoveler and White-faced Ibis.

"Migrations" was completed in August and will remain on view until Sept. 8, 2019. The mural was installed with help from community groups such as the Jacob H. Schiff Playground Neighborhood Association and Creative Art Works.

The artist Mark Paul Deren, also known as MADSTEEZ, installed the mural at St. Nicholas Park. Deren's mural was completed on Oct. 19 and will be on display until Oct. 18, 2019, according to the parks department.

The St. Nicholas Park mural depicts an abstract and colorful depiction of basketball players featuring vivid shades of green, yellow, blue and purple. Beverage company Mountain Dew sponsored the artwork, according to the Parks Department.

Photos of Jessie Novik's “Migrations” and MADSTEEZ's “BTN x MADSTEEZ Basketball Court” courtesy New York City Department of Parks and Recreation