A historic frieze in a Crown Heights NYCHA complex was restored to its full glory, thanks to a program that enhances physical and social connections between residents and their communities.
The Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF), New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the Mellon Foundation were joined by NYCHA Kingsborough resident leaders, state Senator Zellnor Myrie, Assemblymember Stefani Zinerman, Council Member Darlene Mealy and others on Thursday to officially unveil Exodus and Dance, a historic 80-foot frieze created by renowned artist Richmond Barthé in 1939. The work was installed on the Kingsborough NYCHA complex in 1941 and depicts scenes of biblical imagery and dance motifs to convey spirituality, community and joy.
Commonly referred to as “The Wall” by Kingsborough residents, the restoration preserves the community's deep connection to Black migration, theater, and dance history. The frieze is the largest piece of art created by Barthé, who is widely recognized for his sculptural work collected by and displayed at the Whitney Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The restoration effort is a part of NYCHA’s Connected Communities program, which is focused on transforming and modernizing open spaces by implementing public-private partnerships.
"The project is a powerful example of how placemaking and public art in open spaces can foster community connection and deepen residents’ engagement with their surroundings," Alex Zablocki, executive director of the Public Housing Community Fund said in a statement. "The documentation and historical preservation aspect will serve as a blueprint for future projects that seek to empower communities and honor the legacy of NYCHA."
The restoration involved carefully removing the frieze from the wall and transporting it to a conservation studio and building a new wall to serve as the base for the frieze. The work is the recipient of the 2025 Moses Award for Preservation Projects by the New York Landmark Conservancy.
“The restoration of Exodus and Dance means everything to our community," said Kingsborough Houses Resident Association President Angeline Whitaker. "For years, we called it ‘The Wall’ and it symbolizes who we are and where we come from. Seeing it restored is like seeing our stories come back to life."
Whitaker thanked Larry Weekes, president of Fulton Art Fair and a longtime neighbor who passed away, for his efforts to get the restoration project started.
The second phase of the project includes the creation of storywalks, improved lighting, seating, and new community-inspired murals on the backside of the wall.
