Union Square just got a colorful summer makeover!
Along the pedestrian areas of the 14th Street Busway between Broadway and Union Square West is a brand new street mural by Brooklyn-based street artists GERALUZ and WERC. Titled “Collective Vision,” the vibrant piece of public art was installed over five days last week by community volunteers and officially opened to the public this weekend!
Like the recent Doyers Street mural in Chinatown, “Collective Vision” is part of the NYC Department of Transportation’s Asphalt Art Activations program, which repurposes asphalt that has been transformed into pedestrianized public space as large-scale murals with help from local artists. Of course, this one was done with the Union Square Partnership.
The mural is “inspired by the power of nature and unity as strong extensions of humankind and the Earth” and features a ruby-throated hummingbird to “illustrate the power of resilience in standing together against injustice and extinction,” and flowers that each depict an endangered native plant. There are also elements that highlight the history of social justice movements in Union Square.
The mural was painted on the sidewalk extensions that were first installed in 2019 to make more walking spaces along the public busway, that already crosses the center of Union Square.
“We’re overjoyed to continue pedestrianizing Union Square with the introduction of Collective Vision,” said Jennifer Falk, Executive Director of the Union Square Partnership. “While the creation of the 14th Street Busway was an incredible first step in rethinking public space prior to the pandemic, the installation of the street mural goes further to highlight the wide, open areas in Union Square created to provide New Yorkers with ample, safe space to walk and enjoy.”
Find out more on their website here!