Thrive embarks on monumental Loisaida mural

On the southwest corner of Avenue C and Sixth Street, in the heart of Thrive Collective’s multigenerational work, the new “Loisaida Thrives” mural is taking shape. Although Thrive Collective has now painted over 750 murals across New York City, Dallas, Oakland, and more, this one is arguably the most personal and significant yet.

The early stages of the mural on Avenue C, which features integral and lasting community members like Adela Fargas.

“This corner means so much to me personally, and my family,” said Thrive’s co-founder and executive director Jeremy Del Rio. “My parents started Abounding Grace Ministries half a block from here in 1982 and have literally given their lives in service of the community. My father is currently battling cancer from his time as a 9/11 first responder at Ground Zero. This mural celebrates the thriving neighborhood they and their generation built for generations to come.”

Headed by Murals Art Director Marissa Molina, this mural honors the neighborhood’s legacy, its rich immigrant history, and notable figures who positively impacted the community. The mural will cover almost 1,300 feet of wall space at the geographic center of the Alphabet City section of the East Village. Furthermore, in 1987, the city renamed Avenue C ‘Loisaida Avenue’ to honor the neighborhood’s distinctly Nuyorican heritage — a term coined by poet Bimbo Rivas.

In furtherance of its aim to best reflect the neighborhood’s values, Thrive held an open community gathering on November 17 at the Lower East Side/Chinatown Family Enrichment Center. The gathering drew on diverse perspectives from longtime community members and directly contributed to the mural’s themes and imagery.

Photos from the community gathering held on November 17 that guided the mural’s themes and images.

The mural will be officially unveiled to the public during the Loisaida Festival on May 24, which is celebrated on Memorial Day Sunday, dating back to 1987. Funding for the mural came from a Public Realm grant from the NYC Small Business Services to beautify this section of the neighborhood. Previously, this wall featured the long-running “Alphabet City” mural, which lasted nearly 11 years before multiple taggings — a pattern that has continued in recent years.

Alongside Molina, NYC-based artist OuterSource is also contributing to the piece, along with a rotation of Thrive artists, apprentices, and community volunteers. We look forward to celebrating with the community at the Loisaida Festival!

Images showcasing the transformation of a frequently graffitied building into a massive, community-centered mural.

• EV Grieve: “Art returns to a familiar wall on Avenue C“
• EV Grieve: “Wall prep on 6th and C“