I’ve never ridden a plane, not that I can remember. However, with word from my cousin Jasmyne about an opportunity in Brooklyn that I couldn’t refuse. My dad and I woke up early to catch the plane, and we made our way to the Charlotte Douglas airport. The airport was so futuristic to me, which made the experience even more surreal. I was horrified of the plane ride but the reward of being able to paint a mural in New York was worth it. I arrived at JFK my cousin was ready to pick us up with materials already in the back.
In the scorching Brooklyn heat, I found myself facing the façade of one of Broadway street’s many family-owned businesses. The owners wanted my dad, cousin and I to paint a mural about music; that was the only rule. We found ourselves excited and ready to start, yet first we had to gather more materials.
Unlike North Carolina, New York adds a sense of urgency to every situation, even to going to Walmart. There was traffic inside the store, and ironically the only place of peace was the paint aisle. When choosing the paint, we needed to consider whether it was exterior, or interior, gloss or no gloss, and most importantly, the color. We chose the primaries, with no gloss. It had to be exterior paint because the mural was going to be the outside. Next, we loaded up on paintbrushes at Lowes. We were now ready to start doing what we came to New York to do.
We made it outside as the sun decided to retire. We had to work quick, because my dad was precautious about the neighborhood. I wasn’t worried though, we were surrounded by a flush urban environment filled with new young faces, unlike the old Brooklyn my dad remembered from back in the day. It turns out that Brooklyn was changing more than I could imagine.
As my Cousin drove us back to my uncle’s house, we took a detour and checked out our old neighborhood. I don’t remember anything about the apartment I was born in, but apparently it was unrecognizable to my dad. They spruced up everything in Brooklyn, all the brownstones were lavishly refurbished and decked with shimmering metal gates. Not only that, but a lot of the people that lived in the neighborhood moved out because the property values skyrocketed. My cousin told me that you could buy a five bedroom four bath for the price of a brownstone in Brooklyn.
The next day We woke up early, in need of more paint. This time we decided to go to an art store we spotted on Broadway Street. The store was packed with so much art supplies that any artist would pass out from awe. After I recovered from gazing upon the bountiful supply of art I decided to explore the eclectic shop. There were two floors with spray painted walls and hand drawn signs. Downstairs, there was nothing but paper and canvases. Upstairs was where the paint was located.
After we got our paint we needed to finish the mural. My dad and I had to catch another plane the next day. We worked all day, often approached by onlookers that showered us with compliments. It really boosted my confidence, and gave me the energy to finish the mural. I was lost in the painting, and at times I would zone out into the work. Most of all it made me forget about how terrified on the plane ride.
Being claustrophobic really set me back when it came to this trip. My whole body was messed up and I couldn’t function like I normally do. I was nauseous as well as in a state of panic for most of the time I was in New York. I had no time to recuperate and the inevitable fact that I had to go back on the plane made my condition even worse. It was a more mental than physical issue for me. At the last moment my dad was fortunate enough to change the plane to a train ticket.
I was glad to have the opportunity to paint a mural in New York. I now have that neatly tucked into my file cabinet of experience. I feel that it has shown me more about New York than what is being advertised. Now however, I have a new fear to overcome. Overall, this will be a timeless memory that will springboard many events in the future.
