A new mural honoring local and global Indigenous communities has been unveiled at P.S. 958 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. The unveiling was celebrated Patty Mills, the Brooklyn Nets and the creative agency Street Theory. The new mural was painted by Victor “Marka 27” Quiñonez and takes inspiration from Mills’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander roots in Australia.
“The idea for this mural came about a year ago in conversations with General Manager Sean Marks,” said Mills. “We thought of a creative idea to give something to the community that could make them feel proud and that they could have ownership of. This mural is something that can bring us all together no matter where you’re from and honor Indigenous people both around the world and here in Brooklyn. It’s a generational masterpiece that communities around the world can be proud of.”
The mural celebrates Mills' ancestry and also pays homage to the RedHawk Native American Arts Council, Ramapo Munsee Lunaape Nation and other global Indigenous communities in the New York Area. The Team Mills Foundation and the Nets worked with local Mexican artist, Marka27 to design the mural. Mills was also advised by the RedHawk Native American Arts Council, a non-profit maintained by Native American artists and educators residing in the tri-state area.
“Art has always been a catalyst for social change,” said Quiñonez. “Working with Team Mills, the Brooklyn Nets and The Redhawk Native American Arts Council was an honor and perfect opportunity for myself and Street Theory to celebrate our ancestors and Indigenous communities at the highest level through street art.”
The mural was unveiled during a community block party headlined by Mills on Sat., June 24. The event featured a cultural blessing and dance performance by Redhawk Native American Arts Council, as well performances by the Nets’ Team Hype and Brooklynettes.
"As a school committed to representing the diversity that makes up New York City, this mural is an important tool to deepen the understanding of Sunset Park’s history. We are so grateful for this opportunity to collaborate with Patty Mills, the Brooklyn Nets and other organizations that align with our school's mission to center the experiences of historically marginalized groups. We look forward to teaching our students about all that it signifies for years to come,” said Emily Shapiro, principal for P.S. 958.
