“The People Make the Place” is on view through June 30.
On June 3, the Van Alen Institute and the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) unveiled the community-led exhibit: “The People Make the Place!” in the windows of 237 and 246 Graham Avenue. This artistic endeavor highlights East Williamsburg history and will be on view through June 30.
This art show will live on beyond June 30, as there is a digital component that invites community members to share their story, images, or their vision for the future. Those interested in sharing can submit at: https://www.grandstreetbk.org/blog/the-people-make-the-place/#story anytime.
The mural depicting elements of East Williamsburg’s past is complemented by two window activations at Grand Street BID’s headquarters, located across the street at 246 Graham Ave. Visitors will view a series of geometric sculptures by ReFrame Architecture that reference the forms of storefronts. Reflective surfaces place the image of viewers within the sculptures, emphasizing the vital role of community in sustaining place. Sylvia Riveros’ photo series Toñita provides an intimate look at the Caribbean social club — a long-time gathering space for Puerto Rican and Latin American communities — and its remarkable founder, Maria Antonia “Toñita” Cay.
This exhibit is the result of Design Sprints: Building Creative Capacity — a fast-paced community-led design program, which pairs local organizations with design professionals to activate vacant storefronts. Launched by Van Alen in 2024, Design Sprints has mobilized 60+ community leaders to date, equipping them with design training, technical assistance, and cross-disciplinary collaboration, which was made possible by a $100K grant awarded through SBS’s Avenue NYC.
“The Grand Street BID is excited to explore storefront activation as a community resource. Despite being private spaces, storefronts can serve critical public functions, from creating a sense of security and engaging the public, to promoting and civic life. We welcome this opportunity to highlight our local artists, leaders and histories with this project, while activating these impactful community spaces,” said Francesca Bruce, executive director, Grand Street BID.
The Greenline 