Barrier Reefs Mural
The Barrier Reefs mural, by artist Alison Cynamon, is inspired by the abundant flora and fauna found in the New York Harbor Estuary. Each abstracted shape depicts a different sessile species: eastern oysters, blue mussels, northern quahogs, sea lettuces, barnacles, sea grapes, chain tunicates, and red beard sponges. Alison’s mural concept was inspired by Billion Oyster Project’s Species Identification Guide. The mural is located on the Clinton Street Bike path and stretches half a mile — from Delancey Street to South Street in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan.
Barrier Reefs was commissioned by NYC Department of Transportation’s Art Program as part of their Barrier Beautification initiative in the spring of 2022. The mural was completed in July of 2022 with the help of over 40 volunteers from the Lower East Side community.
Upcoming Events
Join artist Alison Cynamon and Billion Oyster Project’s Agata Poniatowski on Tuesday, August 9, from 5-6:30pm, for the “grand opening” and walking tour of the Barrier Reefs mural!
Please RSVP for the event here!
We will meet at Pier 35, located off of South Street near the intersection with Clinton Street. Agata will share information about the Billion Oyster Project's restoration efforts and the abundant species that call the New York Harbor Estuary home. Alison will lead a walking tour of the mural, beginning at the intersection of South Street & Clinton Street and Ending at Delancey & Clinton Street, where she will identify the abstracted shapes that were inspired by the sessile species in the Billion Oyster Project's Species ID Guide.
We hope you can come celebrate the Barrier Reefs mural with the 40+ volunteers that made it possible!
Press
Read through more media coverage of the Billion Oyster Project.