Storefronts + Sidewalks: Activating Commercial Corridors with Art

By Hayley Eber, Shiloah Coley, and Joseph Messana-Croly (Van Alen Institute)

“Van Alen Institute showcases their partnerships with local stakeholders to enliven commercial corridors with art and design. See the behind-the-scenes processes of public art projects Friends from the Canal and The People Make The Place!

Created by artist-duo Mookntaka, Friends from the Canal is a multi-site installation coming to Gowanus in Spring 2026. These inflatable, character-driven sculptures are inspired by the aquatic fauna of the Gowanus and will serve as friendly neighborhood ambassadors emerging along 3rd Ave in Gowanus. They will playfully greet residents by day and radiate soft light after sundown. Friends from the Canal is a part of Van Alen’s Common Build initiative, which surfaces the work of emerging designers and tests new strategies to bring people together in public space.

Created by L&L Studio with the Grand Street BID, The People Make the Place! spotlights East Williamsburg residents and leaders. This photo-collage mural along Graham Ave featured archival materials from neighborhood partners, framed by questions in Spanish, Italian, and English that prompted reflection on how viewers shape their community. This was part of Van Alen’s Design Sprints program, a partnership with NYC’s Department of Small Business Services to explore the intersection between arts programming and economic development.

​​These programs were made possible by the NYC Department of Small Business Services.”