Mural Illustrates Boricua and Italy Crossroad

The new mural commissioned by the Grand Street BID is nearly finished. Located on the corner of Grand Street and Graham Avenue, on the wall of T-Mobile. Italian section of Graham Avenue is represented here. The woman is artist Danielle Mastrion’s grandmother, Rose (Rosaria Anobile), who grew up in Williamsburg. *Photo credit: Lori Ann Doyon*

On June 13, the Grand Street BID announced a mural was coming to the corner of Grand Street and Graham Avenue and to “Watch this space!”

Tropical flora (Hibiscus and Bird of Paradise) native to Puerto Rico serve as a background to the mural and lend their vibrancy to the cultures this mural represents. This photo was taken at around 8 p.m. on the overcast evening of 06.23.23. *Photo credit: Lori Ann Doyon*

The Grand Street BID commissioned a mural collaboration from artists SON/HIJO and Danielle Mastrion. “Both artists have deep ties to our community and can capture the unique qualities of our neighborhood, tell the stories of new and long-term residents, our strong entrepreneurial history, and the diversity and cultural melding that are an important part of our past, present, and future.”

The Puerto Rico section of Graham Avenue is represented here by Puerto Rican artist Son’s fiancee in the guise of a character she calls, Musaraña and the “Boricua” earrings. *Photo credit: Lori Ann Doyon*

On May 25, the community was invited to a Zoom meeting that would discuss the content of the mural and welcomed ideas. Ideas could also be submitted by email through May 26.

Nearly finished (as of this writing), the mural merges the area’s Italian and Puerto Rican heritage. There are aspects of both cultures like Easter eggs hidden in plain sight throughout the mural. Even Williamsburg’s Giglio makes an appearance.

Graham Avenue is known as via Vespucci north of Grand Street, due to its influx of Italian residents that established themselves there in the 1880s. South of Grand street Graham Avenue is known as Avenue of Puerto Rico due to the prevalence of Puerto Rican residents in the area from the 1920s.

A unifying force, coffee and the moka pot. The moka pot originated in Italy but spread throughout Europe and to Latin America. More of the mural will be added to the blank section. *Photo credit: Lori Ann Doyon*

The Avenue of Puerto Rico sign went up in 1982. However, since the area started to become redeveloped (2013 and before), rumors have swirled that developers who wish to remarket the neighborhood want to remove this sign. This year on January 13, the Avenue of Puerto Rico sign at Moore Street was taken down (by mistake). The community went into action and within hours of its removal, the sign was returned.

SON/HIJO’s art comes from the streets of Santurce, Puerto Rico. His resume lists his mural work from 2004 to the present. For more information: www.sonhijo.com

Danielle Mastrion’s website (www.daniellemastrion.com) says, “[She] is a Brooklyn-born, New York City based painter and muralist. Danielle has been painting murals both locally & internationally since 2012. Her work has taken her to Europe, the Middle-East, Central America, South America, & the Caribbean. Her first aerosol mural painted in 2012 was at the historic 5POINTZ in Long Island City, Queens and she credits the institution & it’s curator, Meres One, for having her pick up a spray can.”