Coney Island Aquarium Mural

  • The design maquette used for design approval from the community partner.
  • Participants studied marine exhibits at the New York Aquarium to find inspiration for the mural.
  • Youth participants compare their drawings from the aquarium visit.
  • The artists at work. The mural is actually a giant collage made of cut out shapes from parachute cloth that was then fixed onto the wall.
  • Participants with Amy Sananman at the dedication ceremony in May, 2009.
  • Detail of the completed mural, depicting the character of the shapes and the intensity of the colors used.

Project Description

"Coney Island Aquarium Mural" adds even more color and life to the New York Aquarium. It is a large-scale mural created by a youth group from the South Brooklyn Youth Consortium (SBYC) in partnership with Groundswell artists. Flowing across a span of 100  feet along the boardwalk, this giant collage celebrates the ocean and includes many endangered species. From the Aquarium staff, the mural team learned about the habitats of sea animals. The team then picked out colors and patterns they found in aquatic exhibits. Team members used color to create intensity and movement, and to draw the viewer in from a distance. The mural’s vibrant colors and simplified shapes convey the childlike delight spectators feel at the aquarium, when viewing the wonders of the sea.

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Project Info

Fun Facts

Suggested Activity
Did you know you can attend a shark feeding at the New York Aquarium? This weekend, see this firsthand for yourself and then sketch details from the experience.
Question about the Mural
How many fish can you spot in the completed mural? Can you name some of the different species?
Research
It has been estimated by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization that over 70% of the world’s fish stocks are either fully exploited or depleted due to over fishing in the last 50 years.