Artist Lady Pink paints a vibrant mural. Photos Teresa Barile The community of Welling Court in Astoria is a surprising go-to spot for public art in New York City. For the second year in a row, The Welling Court Mural Project, organized by Ad Hoc Art and the residents of the tiny block just off the intersection of 30th Avenue and 12th Street, have transformed the large, industrial walls in the neighborhood into a world- class street gallery. In May of 2010, Ad Hoc Art, a creative collective and artistic social think tank run by Garrison and Alison Buxton, organized over thirty muralists from all over the world to create a project “fitting for the diverse, enthusiastic, and energetic inhabitants”, Garrison Buxton said. In June of 2011, “Another spectacular crew of legendary and groundbreaking artists, spanning more than fifty years of activity was assembled,” he added. According to Buxton, the project has received remarkable global acclaim since its launch in 2010, and continues to garner support as more walls, artists, and enthusiasts are added.

The children of Welling Court create their own art out of chalk. With permission from the owners of the walls of a school bus depot, an auto repair shop and other buildings, the project brings art from around the world directly to the community. “Renowned artists with deep roots in the street movement have created site-specific works for this project,” commented

Alison Buxton. “This array of visual experiences provides fresh contexts for how people working, visiting, and living in this diverse cultural gem of Queens think about and interact with their environment.”

The project was coordinated to coincide with the annual Welling Court block parties of 2010 and 2011, a neighborhood get-together that the residents have been throwing for themselves since 2007. This year, some artists started painting as early as a week before the party. But after the event really got underway around 4 p.m., June 25, the atmosphere on the street began to buzz with creativity, and various festivities cropped up everywhere, such as a group of children creating their own art with colored chalk, a sculptor creating plaster busts of everyday citizens, and the disc jockey who provided a soundtrack for the event. The aroma of home cooked food reflecting this multicultural nook in Astoria, as well as barbecue, filled the air with delicious smells.

A tribute to a young friend by artist Katie Yamasaki. Mural artists Bunnie Reiss and Ezra Li Eismont came all the way from Oakland, California to participate in the project. Reiss, who just completed a masters degree in fine arts, loved the idea when she heard about it from her friends and collaborators, the Buxtons. “We love working in a community,” Reiss said, “and Astoria is a great place. No one [participating in the project] gets paid for their work or their time, not even for supplies or anything,” she added. “We do it because it feels good and Astoria is an amazing neighborhood.” Bunnie’s house mural can be seen now on Welling Court, in addition to other themes of community and fresh air, animals, aliens, and abstract design.

Artists who participated in The Welling Court Mural Project this year include: Alice Mizrachi, Alison Buxton, Beau Stanton, Bunnie Reiss, Caleb Neelon, Chris Mendoza, Chris Stain, Celso, Cern, Cey Adams, Chor Boogie, CR, Cycle, Dan Witz, Darkclouds, Don Leicht, Ellis Gallagher, Ezra Li Eismont, Free5, Garrison Buxton, Greg Lamarche, Jesse Jones, JMR, Joe Iurato, John Ahearn, John Fekner, Jordan Seiler, Katie Yamasaki, Lady Pink, Leon Reid, Matt Siren, Michael De Feo, Michael Fumero, MIMEO, Mr. Kiji, Neko, Nuria, OverUnder, Pablo Power, R. Nicholas Kuszyk, ROA, Ron English, Royce Bannon, Sinned, Sofia Maldonado, TooFly, Tristan Eaton, Veng RWK, Zam, and more.