MACY'S, BROOKLYN BOROUGH PRESIDENT MARTY MARKOWITZ AND THE DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN PARTNERSHIP ANNOUNCE PUBLIC ART PROJECT TO ENHANCE FULTON MALL'S STREETSCAPE
STEVE POWERS, WORLD-RENOWNED ARTIST, COMMISSIONED BY MACY'S TO PAINT MURAL ON THE FAÇADE OF MACY'S DOWNTOWN BROOKLYN GARAGE
Brooklyn's thriving art community will continue to flourish as residents, shoppers and nearby workers in Downtown Brooklyn will soon have a work of art to call their very own. Fulton Street will turn into a street art gallery by mid-July as Macy's announces its first-ever public art project for the façade of its Hoyt Street garage. Yesterday, Macy's Brooklyn flagship, Brooklyn Borough President, Marty Markowitz and CLS BID member and chair of the Curatorial Committee, Abby Hamlin, announced the commission of a mural to be painted on Macy's garage façade. Designed by world renowned artist, Steve Powers, the mural will be created with input from the community, and painted by some of Brooklyn's up-and-coming artists, in a continued effort to artistically beautify Brooklyn's most famous thoroughfare.
The community art project continues a series of planned upgrades Macy's has made to the exterior façade of its Brooklyn flagship to complement downtown Brooklyn's dynamic changes along Fulton Street. Since March, the retailer has renovated store windows and visually enhanced the store's façade on Fulton and Livingston Streets.
Larry Mentzer, District Vice President for Macy's New York City Metro Stores said, "Macy's is a destination for Brooklyn shoppers and a retail institution in the borough. Fulton Street is a unique retail corridor in the borough that brings vitality to the city, Livingston Street is witnessing historic levels of private investment, and Macy's Downtown Brooklyn is committed to investing in its future and serving the community."
"Bravo to Macy's for transforming the facade of its Brooklyn flagship store into something befitting the rejuvenated Fulton Mall streetscape," said Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz. "Brooklyn is the Creative Capital of New York City, and that's why I am proud, along with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, to give our talented creative community an opportunity to re-envision the garage façade as a canvas for public art. He added, "These improvements are more than just 'window dressing'--they show our commitment to Downtown Brooklyn, and will go a long way in solidifying our Downtown as a 24/7, live-work city center with diverse retail opportunities that give Brooklynites and visitors no reason to shop anywhere else."
"Macy's has a long-standing relationship with the Downtown Brooklyn community and it seems only natural that this public art initiative debuts here," said Abby Hamlin, CLS BID member and chair of the Curatorial Committee. "By re-imagining blank surfaces as a potential canvas, we want to enhance the public realm and create a more vibrant experience for shoppers and area residents. Steve Powers' proposal caught our eye and we're confident that the thousands of people who pass by it daily will agree."
Over the past two month's shoppers, business owners and residents alike have noticed the following improvements to the store: Fulton Street have been opened for merchandise visual displays; all of the stores 23 windows have received new lighting, carpeting, and paint; new window awnings along Fulton and Livingston Streets; new exterior store signs on Livingston Street marquee and Fulton Street façade and a new sign for the Hoyt Street garage.
In recent years, Downtown Brooklyn has experienced a residential and retail boom, especially along Fulton Street. As a witness to the evolution of Brooklyn, the store has remained an active community member, hosting fashion shows, culinary events and special events tied to the best art and cultural institutions in the borough. In addition to expanding its merchandise assortments to reflect the shopping trends of the neighborhood, Macy's Downtown Brooklyn will continue to offer the best brands in beauty, fashion, fragrance, and home.
About Macy's
Macy's, the largest retail brand of Macy's, Inc., delivers fashion and affordable luxury to customers at more than 800 locations in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. Macy's stores and macys.com offer distinctive assortments including the most desired family of exclusive and fashion brands for him, her and home. Macy's is known for such epic events as Macy's 4th of July Fireworks® and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®, as well as spectacular fashion shows, culinary events, flower shows and celebrity appearances. Building on a 150-year tradition, Macy's helps strengthen communities by supporting local and national charities that make a difference in the lives of our customers. For Macy's media materials, images and contacts, please visit our online pressroom at www.macys.com/pressroom.
About Steve Powers
Steve Powers is a world-renowned artist whose work has appeared in Coney Island, SoHo, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and internationally at Venice Biennale and Dublin. Powers will work with a team of up-and-coming Brooklyn artists to create a mural that highlights the rich and diverse culture of Downtown Brooklyn's residents, shoppers, students and employees.
About Curatorial Committee
The CLS BID Curatorial Committee is comprised of 18 community stakeholders and art enthusiasts and experts representing: BAM, Brooklyn Museum, Guggenheim Museum, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, BRIC Arts, and other groups. Powers was selected from 29 artists based on the visual impact, originality, participation of Brooklyn-based artists and the proposed level of engagement with local merchants, residents and workers.
