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At left, the left wall of the mural, 1986, photo by Eva Cockcroft. At right, the left wall of the mural, 2007, photo by Tomie Arai.
The park scene depicted in the mural is particularly appropriate for its location: two 30 feet by 30 feet portions of the walls of an apartment building that abuts Hope Stevens Garden, a small but lush oasis in the middle of the city. The Rescue Public Murals assessment revealed that part of the mural had been covered by new stucco to repair cracks and leaks in the wall. The assessors also noted how much the paint—particularly the color red—had faded, which is evident when comparing the present state of the mural to photographs of the mural when it was completed in 1986. The artist’s signature dedicating the mural, clear in the original photographs, has now almost completely faded.
Detail of the left wall of the mural,
2007, photo by Kristen Laise.
In proposing a treatment, Irgang and Braun-Reinitz hope to restore the mural to its former colorful intensity. They are seeking answers to why the mural was painted without any primer under the colored paint layer or any top coat over the mural, both of which could have protected it from fading, flaking, and chipping. Using Irgang’s expertise as a paintings conservator and Braun-Reintz’s experience with mural materials and techniques, the assessment team is researching innovative solutions to preserve the artistic intent of the mural, while making the repainted mural more durable.
At left, both walls of the mural, 1986, photo by Eva Cockcroft. At right, both walls of the mural, 2007, photo by Tomie Arai.
Homage to Seurat is a fixture in the neighborhood, with a style and message that are still relevant to the community. The mural’s creation was sponsored by Artists in the Gardens, a project of GreenThumb, New York City’s community gardening program. GreenThumb continues to provide support to the garden with training, supplies, and infrastructure improvements.
Janet Braun-Reinitz (left) and Harriet
Irgang (right) check paint flaking on
right wall of the mural, 2007, photo
by Kristen Laise.
Currently the garden is open to the public several days a week, has 25 active gardeners, and hosts holiday events such as a Mother’s Day plant sale fundraiser. On the day of the assessment, the garden was full of tomatoes, basil and other herbs, and flowers, and the gardeners report that in July the peach tree amply supplied neighbors. As the plants and community around Homage to Seurat flourish, Rescue Public Murals hopes to bring the mural new life as well.