Hi devoogle-ga,
What you're looking for is not really a "mural." The city of New York
was a bit embarrassed at the condition of the South Bronx in the
1970s. The planned shrinkage
(http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/6353/su99plag.html) was
working well.
A visit from the Pope and the President, Jimmy Carter, spurred the
administration to do something about the burned shells of building,
many of which contained apartments that were still homes to families.
The solution? Cover the windows with metal and paint scenes on the
covered over windows. As you looked from your car - or from the
elevated train as it rumbled through the South Bronx, you saw suburban
scenes... windows with flower pots and curtains, interior scenes of
family tranquility, shades or blinds.
Many New Yorkers were appalled at the waste of money - what building
improvements could have been accomplished with the money spent on the
"beautification" will never be known. I think I may have pictures
somewhere, but I can't find any clear ones online.
http://palter.org/~subway/73-04-01/
…Takes you on a tour of the elevated train ride. The windows of the
buildings are not captured in these photos, but try to imagine looking
out at the buildings as you ride by. In the uninhabited apartments,
you’d see cheery scenes PAINTED on the sealed up windows. Bizarre!
http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/bureaus/bam/Images/B6.jpg
Shows a crew at work in the area for the beautification project
http://www.firenuggets.com/bronx.jpg shows a burning building. You can
see the windows covered, but there painted "pretty" scenes are not
seen.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/graphics/9904.block2.jpg
Another South Bronx building stands amid the rubble.
http://www.ralphmag.org/AM/south-bronx.html more scenes of the South
Bronx without the beautification.
These are more traditional "murals" complements of the neighborhood
grafitti artists. http://omega.resa.es/piotr/archivos/grafitty/
I searched google images for Bronx tenements then for Bronx windows. I
tried Mott Haven windows, Brook Ave, East Tremont... a very long list.
Tried searching the third ave EL since it went through some of the
beautified neighborhoods. No Luck.
The Bronx has begun a rebound and many of the shells have been
replaced with private homes and decent housing. But Jonathan Kozol was
acting in character when he was horrified by the facades. It was an
indictment of New York that such a solution would even be considered -
never mind applied!
If I dig up an old picture, I'll post it as an answer.
Hopefully soemone else will have better luck.
bcguide-ga |
