Peace Bridge

  • Beneath the imagery of hands coming together and bridges making connections, the overpass ramp reads, "We're Connected."
  • One side of the bridge reads "Peace Bridge," to further emphasize the powerful metaphor that the overpass represents.
  • During their research process, the artists created 3-D maps to explore the notion of an ideal and functional city block. They share their ideas about how structural factors can influence the lived experience of shared space.
  • In order to develop design ideas, the artists explored how body gestures can signify unity, sharing, and compassion. They used typography to further explore their ideas, and created images with corresponding words.
  • The team of artists must add several layers to their mural to make the colors rich and powerful. As they work side by side, they embody the mural's message of peace and unity.
  • Youth artists use the overpass as their scaffolding in order to fabricate their design on this dynamic site.

Project Description

Through “Peace Bridge,” youth artists transformed a pedestrian overpass connecting the Ingersoll and Whitman residential communities. Their design celebrates how the bridge connects and unifies these two communities. Over the course of seven weeks, they explored what makes an ideal city block and what it means to navigate shared space. Inspired by these dialogues, the team used the image of two hands coming together to form a heart in order to represent the relationship between unity and compassion. The light of hope, healing, and a bright future projects out of this symbol of love and connection. To one side of the bridge, in large lettering, reads the title of the mural, “Peace Bridge,” and the other side reads, “Fort Greene,” which honors the greater neighborhood. Because the bridge structurally embodies the metaphors of “coming together,” and “bridging gaps,” the artists decided to emphasize this quality, and used bridges in the imagery as well. On top of the bridges are pedestrians and cyclists navigating the streets, sharing space, and moving  throughout the city, echoing the activity in the community in which the mural resides. This imagery deepens the significance of this overpass and emphasizes how, like a bridge, our paths intersect and our lives depend on sturdy relationships and connections.
 

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Project Info

Location: Fleet Street pedestrian overpass at Navy Street Brooklyn, NY 11205

Fun Facts

Research
According to the New York City Housing Authority, the Ingersoll and Whitman residential communities are home to 3,366 housing units between them.
Fun Fact
Fort Greene is home to the The Paul Robeson Theater, The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts, Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Music School, BRIC Arts|Media|Bklyn, and 651 Arts performing center for African-American presenters.
Research
Council Member Letitia James, a partner on this project, founded the Urban Network, which is a coalition of primarily African American professionals and organizations, which gives college scholarships to inner city youth.