My 9 Brooklyn Lives, Red Hook Art Project & Running
Photo by Marques Jackson of a Runstreet Art Run in Red Hook.
Red Hook Art Project Connects Youth, Art in Brooklyn
In the almost 4 years that I've lived in New York City, I've moved more times than I had my whole life leading up to my Gotham adventures. From Harlem to the Upper East Side, my Manhattan foray ultimately ended in Brooklyn, NY. When I moved to Brooklyn, I fell in love with the beautiful street art, gorgeous architecture and lively (sub)cultures. From pole dance posses to my Runstreet Brooklyn running team, I finally felt at home somewhere. I felt abnormally normal in Brooklyn (as opposed to just feeling abnormal most of my life haha).
A student paints at Red Hook Art Project.
Until a random case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time landed me in the midst of a scene that could have been straight out of a TV show. The incident included automatic weapons, warehouses, SUVs signaling and sheer terror. I won't go into details, but I feel very lucky that I lived. This run-in with what I thought would be my hapless demise spurred some insight in me. In the incident, one thing that struck me was the young age of those involved. It made me sad that these kids were on such destructive paths already. And sad that I no longer felt safe running the colorful, art-lined streets of Red Hook.
But programs like the Red Hook Art Project work hard to bring positive outlets and encouragement to kids in under-served areas of Brooklyn like Red Hook, which includes the largest housing projects in Brooklyn. RHAP, a non-profit, is dedicated to helping Red Hook young people through art and music programs, as well as tutoring. So it seemed a fitting beneficiary for tour latest Runstreet Art Run.
I got the chance to visit Red Hook Art Project and see the vibrant young artists in action with projects that reflect their creative self-expression. Many are working on their portfolios to get into NYC art schools and colleges. Some RHAP alumni have had pieces displayed at the MET and some alumni are students at colleges such as NYC's Fashion Institute of Technology. The RHAP non-profit organization's programs also include tutoring to help students pass standardized test requirements in school.
RRed Hook is a beautiful, isolated, colorful place that has been painted by some of the best street artists in NYC and the world. Emerging artists from Red Hook Art Project will no doubt make their colorful marks with their artwork in the Red Hook landscape and NYC art scene. RHAP's mission to empower and inspire young people with artistic projects offers a transformative experience to local sttudents.
Join me in the next Runstreet Street Art Run - L.E.S. Edition - to celebrate the amazing scope of NYC street art and give future artists a chance to continue painting the city we love.
