Art from BIPOC artists at (mostly-unaffordable) Brooklyn Crossing tower said to "reflect the Black and brown roots of the people that originally lived in the area" (?!)

From New York Real Estate Journal, 2/22/22, Brodsky Organization and Greenland USA feature local artists at Brooklyn Crossing, citing "artwork from eight artists, all of whom are BIPOC and either live or work in the borough."

From the press release/article:

The new artwork is another perk among Brooklyn Crossing’s suite of amenities, access to public transportation, culinary scene and local cultural institutions. The Brodsky Organization worked with The Art Committee, a small woman-owned business, to help identify the artists and artwork.

The goal was to invest in works from local and diverse artists, putting money back into the pockets of small galleries and artists from the neighborhood. The works displayed differ from current European art typically seen in the community at public venues like the Barclays Center, and reflect the Black and brown roots of the people that originally lived in the area, giving residents a history lesson and a variety of interesting pieces to view from paintings to smashed glass to photography.

(Emphasis added)

There are two glaring ironies here. First, the art at the Barclays Center famously includes works by non-European artists, such as Jose Parlá and Mickalene Thomas.

Second, and more importantly, it's tone-deaf #artwashing to honor the "Black and brown roots" of original "area" residents in a building that will surely contain fewer BIPOC residents than initially contemplated, and in a project that has contributed to displacement of lower-income residents.

Brooklyn Crossing, from NYC Housing Connect

Consider: the 858-unit tower will contain 600 market-rate units, and 258 "affordable" ones, pitched at middle-income households earning 130% of Area Median Income (AMI), meaning most will earn six figures. 

The rents are: studio, $1,905; 1-BR, $2,390; 2-BR, $3,344.

While those rents are lower than market-rate, they're still appealing to a cohort better off than most city residents. As noted by ANHD, those earning 130% of AMI are in the top quartile of income. (Those earning slightly less, who might qualify for some units, are still better-off than most.)

Rather than "affordable," income-targeted units limited to middle-income residents, Atlantic Yards was promised to have a range, with 40% of those income-targeted apartments aimed at low-income residents and 20% aimed at moderate-income residents. 

Brooklyn Crossing market-rate units, from StreetEasy

Though race is not a direct proxy for income, it's a partial proxy, and housing advocates initially stressed it. As ACORN leader Bertha Lewis said in 2006, "If we can make sure that low-income, moderate-income Black and brown people can actually have a piece of this whole renaissance of downtown Brooklyn, we will do it."

One reason for that was that luxury development was expected to displace many such "low-income, moderate-income Black and brown people" in adjacent neighborhoods. Atlantic Yards has surely contributed to that.

More details

The press release/article cites the following artists and artwork:

Alteronce Gumby: Two works commissioned are made from pieces of tempered glass and gemstone — his speciality — and are currently displayed in the lobby.

Paul Miller aka DJ Spooky: DJ Spooky will have four of his pieces displayed on the 6th floor of the building in the lounge/game room. His work immerses audiences in a blend of genres, global culture and environmental and social issues.

Keisha Scarville: She will have three of her pieces featured on the 26th floor which will be a tribute to her mother who recently passed away, featuring her clothing and textiles. Keisha’s work largely weaves together themes dealing with transformation, place, and the unknown.

Jamel Shabazz: His work will be featured at the very top of the building on the 50th floor where the sky den/lounge and rooftop pool and terrace are located. Since the 1980s, Jamel has photographed vibrant NYC street scenes that capture Black joy and self-determination.

However worthy of greater exposure the talented artists are--here's more on Gumby, DJ Spooky, Scarville, and Shabazz--how is this not #artwashing? How far is the 50th floor from Shabazz's beloved Fulton Street Mall?

As to whether the project is "putting money back into the pockets of small galleries and artists from the neighborhood," that trail is unclear, but perhaps overstated in terms of "neighborhood." For example, Shabazz, known for work in Downtown Brooklyn, has roots in Red Hook and East Flatbush, and, while he surely works in Brooklyn, now lives on Long Island.