Freedom Village gets a colorful new mural from Scooter LaForge

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

A colorful new mural is nearing completion on the side of Freedom Village, Barrier Free Living's new supportive housing building at 270 E. Second St. between Avenue C and Avenue D. 

East Village artist Scooter LaForge said the project took about a year and a half of discussions before moving forward. 

Titled "Freedom, Community and Being Reborn," the mural draws on themes of emerging from darkness into light, second chances and optimism.

LaForge said the prominent use of purple reflects Barrier Free Living's signature color.

Once finished, the mural will receive the artist's signature and a UV-protective sealant. 

Freedom Village, a 13-story building that opened earlier this year, provides supportive housing and services for survivors of domestic violence, people with disabilities and others in need of stable housing.

A moment with East Village artist Scooter LaForge

Photo by Stacie Joy 

We caught up with East Village-based artist-designer Scooter LaForge yesterday. 

He is enjoying a moment in "The White Lotus" season three spotlight.

Fans of the HBO series, which people enjoy discussing and dissecting far too much (all in on the monkey theory, btw!), likely spotted two of LaForge's T-shirt designs that Chelsea (Aimee Lou Wood) and Chloe (Charlotte Le Bon), who suspiciously became friends way too fast, wore as party dresses during the full moon party episode that aired March 16. 

His upcycled design collection is available at Patricia Field's newish boutique on the LES or online.

LaForge talked about his art and designs with NBC 4's Ashley Bellman the other day. Watch that here.

Scooter LaForge's T-shirt extravaganza

Image via @scooterlaforge 

A collection of T-shirts created by East Village-based artist Scooter LaForge is the subject of a new exhibit at Howl! Happening. 

The opening reception of "Tee Hee Hee" is tomorrow (Thursday!) evening at 6. The show is up through Dec. 17 at the gallery, 6 E. First St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery. 

And the T-shirts will be for sale. Per Howl!: "On the spot block printing and painting will replenish the stock throughout the 'Tee Hee Hee' exhibition." 

Howl! Happening is open Wednesday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

'Public Art as Protest' debuts at Howl! Happening

Howl! Happening reopens today with a special exhibit titled "Bringing Back Bowery: Public Art as Protest."

The group show is an outgrowth of an effort organized by Bowery artist Sono Kuwayama in June. (Read more about it here.)

She received permission from store owners to paint on the plywood of the boarded-up businesses along the Bowery. She then reached out to some local artists to have them create murals, such as Love Power between Great Jones and Fourth Street...



... created by East Village-based artist Scooter LaForge along with Hitomi Nakamura and James Rubio.

The murals, which were started to feel the effects of the summer heat, will now find a second life at Howl! Here's more about the show:

After the tragic death of George Floyd, impassioned citizens in cities around the world rose up together in a call for justice. The streets became the backdrop for our collective mourning, our outrage, and our plea for change. Opportunistic agitators took advantage of peaceful demonstrations and forced many businesses to board up storefronts all over New York. On the Bowery ... the plywood barriers became windows into the hearts of the neighborhood’s artists.

"Bringing Back Bowery: Public Art as Protest" is a re-presentation of public artworks made in solidarity with the protest movement fighting for racial equality and police reform.

Howl! Happening, 6 E. First St. between Second Avenue and the Bowery, is open Thursday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The show ends on Aug. 23.

The gallery is limiting the number of visitors at any one time, and will require masks for everyone. Guests must also register upon entering and have their temperature taken. Find more details at this link.

Scooter LaForge's Love Power on the Bowery

East Village-based artist Scooter LaForge, working with Hitomi Nakamura and James Rubio, created this Love Power mural on the Bowery between Great Jones and Fourth Street earlier this week.

This was part of a larger effort organized by Bowery artist Sono Kuwayama. (Read about it here.) She received permission from store owners to paint on the plywood of the boarded-up businesses along this stretch of the Bowery. She then reached out to some local artists to have them create murals ...







And what will happen to the plywood when the businesses reopen?

Per Reuters: "When the boards eventually come down, Kuwayama’s plan is to store the art in a gallery, and later sell it, donating the proceeds to local homeless shelters."

As a P.S.

While we're on the Bowery and Fourth Street... Phebe's reopened yesterday for to-go food... they are open from 4-9 p.m. during the week and 2-9 p.m. today...

Behind the scenes of the new group show 'Love No Border' with Scooter LaForge at the Lower East Side Girls Club

On Monday evening, "Love No Border," a new group show, opened at the Lower East Side Girls Club on Avenue D at Eighth Street.

Per the official description:

How do we cope in a world with almost a billion refugees, migrants and internally displaced persons? How do we respond in a country that separates families, puts children in cages, denies basic human rights and dignity to tens of thousands of desperate people seeking refuge at our doors? It’s been said “Strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others.” Love No Border is an artists’ call to action.

In this show, "Love No Border," artists from throughout the United States and Mexico are using their time and talents to give voice, to give witness, to give love and support to those who, like them, are standing up for others.

East Village resident Scooter LaForge, known for his sculptures and large-scale graffiti-inspired paintings, is among the artists showing work here.

Leading up to the event, LaForge worked with members of the Girls Club and staffers Mary Adams and Amarilis Jimenez to create his contribution, a 12-foot sculpture created out of donated stuffed animals that were turned into "immigration-enforcement monsters." LaForge and the members also made signs for the protest installation.

EVG contributor Stacie Joy joined LaForge and the Girls Club members for two art workshops, first in April then in August...

April

August

And here's the final work, as seen on Monday...



"Love No Border" is on view through Nov. 30. There will also be events throughout the run of the show to raise funds for immigrant aid organizations. Find the schedule at this link.