Patty Mills and Brooklyn Nets Unveil Mural honouring Indigenous Communities Painted by Marka 27, Brooklyn 2023

Posted by Donna on 1st July, 2023
Filed under: From the Street

Patty Mills, the Brooklyn Nets and creative agency Street Theory celebrated unveiling a new mural honouring local and global Indigenous communities in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.

The mural ‘Indigenous Flow’ was painted by internationally renowned artist Victor “Marka 27” Quiñonez and takes inspiration from Mills’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander roots in Australia, as well as the RedHawk Native American Arts Council, Ramapo Munsee Lunaape Nation and other global Indigenous communities in the New York Area.

…

“The idea for this mural came about a year ago in conversations with General Manager Sean Marks,… 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 honour Indigenous people both around the world and here in Brooklyn.”
Patty Mills

…

This mural’s mission was to emphasize the importance of Indigenous representation and our connection to water and each other. The mural features water flowing around the two influential figures, and surrounding native symbols and patterns, displaying that water is life and nature is what connects us all.

The Team Mills Foundation and the Nets worked with local Mexican Artist, Marka27 and Street Theory, to produce, design and paint 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, …Working with Team Mills, the Brooklyn Nets, and The Redhawk Native American Arts Council was an honour and the perfect opportunity for myself and Street Theory to celebrate our ancestors and Indigenous communities at the highest level through street art.”
Victor “Marka 27” Quiñonez

The mural was unveiled during a community block party by Mills on June 24th 2023. The event, which took place at P.S. 958 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, featured a cultural blessing and dance performance by Redhawk Native American Arts Council and performances by the Nets’ Team Hype and Brooklynettes. Also on hand was Jackie Wilson, who joined the Nets parent company, BSE Global, as Chief DE&I Officer in 2020.

“BSE Global and the Brooklyn Nets are thrilled to join Patty and all the groups that played a role in bringing the mural to life, … This mural is a great showcase of our organization’s commitment to Brooklyn and the larger New York City area, and we’re excited to have been a part of a project that brought the community together to celebrate art and culture.”
Jackie Wilson

…

“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 centre the experiences of historically marginalized groups. We look forward to teaching our students about all that it signifies for years to come,”
Emily Shapiro, principal for P.S. 958.

Check out the community block party below …