GreenPoint Innovations (GPI) named Federico Massa a.ka. Iena Cruzwinner of the GreenPoint EARTH 2020: Screens2Streets 'Streets' Awardcompetition, who has just completed a large-scale thought-provoking mural in NYC that addresses how human activity impacts nature and how we can build a better future. The mural honors nature and its essential role as a resource in humankind's past and present era of industrialization.

In addition to the messaging of the art, the GreenPoint team has taken a variety of measures to ensure the sustainability of the activation throughout the painting process and also by working with teachers and students at Hunters Point Middle School to achieve carbon neutrality.

As an official part of Climate Week NYC and the SDG Action Zone during the UN General Assembly, the aim of GreenPoint EARTH 2020 and this mural is to highlight the necessary role of natural climate solutions, as we build a better future and tackle climate change. Elements in the art - smokestacks, gantry, blue heron, cormorant, sassafras, grasses, are inspired by its Long Island City, East River, and Newtown Creek location.

Mural Production and documentation GreenPoint Innovations

Photos: Stephen Donofrio of GreenPoint Innovations

Inspired by a comic book story (Tre, by Sathviga ‘Sona’ Sridhar) about a climate change superhero and threaded together with messages about solutions and hope, THE POINT is a unique collaboration between the Comics Uniting Nations, Greenpoint Innovations, Hypokrit Theatre Company, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to bring together artists, producers, educators, and local environmentalists for a series of artistic activations that include a comic book, public murals / street art, a theatrical experience, open dialogue, and an educational toolkit.

By leveraging the arts to bring together a local and global representation of children, youth, dignitaries, business leaders, and the general public, our goal is to recognize and act on the human impacts of climate change and the power and role of all people, particularly the youth, to take action for a better future.

Watch the videos

Learn more about the Yawanawa - the indigenous people of Acre, Brazil, the subject of SONNY’s mural, ‘KIN’, and watch our short docufilm about the Yawanawa: ‘Stewards of the Forest’.

LIGHTING THE POINT,
solar energy installation

Opening Night (09/22) @ Kingsland Wildflowers
Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Midweek Event (09/26) @ The New School
Union Square, Manhattan

Closing Night (09/28) @ Castillo Theatre
Midtown East, Manhattan

Greenpoint Innovations teamed up with Brooklyn SolarWorks and the Brooklyn Expo Center to illuminate Greenpoint’s iconic water tower in solar-powered green LED lights for the 2nd Climate Week NYC. Visible from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, this installation serves as a ‘Beacon of Green’ to help raise the profile of Climate Week NYC, and climate-friendly energy solutions.

THE greenest POINT

Public ‘ART + Purpose’ FOR CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY DURING CLIMATE WEEK NYC 2016

The Greenest Point, presented by Greenpoint Innovations, was a community-focused sustainability awareness project. We brought together artists, musicians, celebrity advocates, and, the general public to experience trending arts and technology, while concurrently learning about local and global sustainability issues.

Many thanks to everyone who graciously volunteered their time, expertise, talents and resources to make this project a success! Scroll down for a list of all Partners & Sponsors. Artists: Faile, Askew1, Vexta Director: Stephen Donofrio Project Manager: Mark MacInnis Creative Director: Yvette Vexta, Director of Photography: Martin Hoffman, Lead Graphic Designer: Chet Purtilar.

Our Partners & Sponsors

watch the videos

“We try to create images that let the viewer experience a visceral emotion and give room to project into the work. The idea was the timeless theme of “love me… love me not”—aiming to depict a moment that asks the question of what kind of relationship we have with nature. Are we here to love it and take care of it or not? The frog represents nature, cleansing, rebirth and metamorphosis. We used part of a traditional polish pattern in the socks as a nod to the Polish community in Greenpoint. The orientation of the image facing the city suggests a place for thoughtful meditation within our modern age.” -Faile

“I wanted to paint portraits of local people doing interesting things around sustainability within the Greenpoint area. I think it’s great to paint local faces, people with a genuine connection to the neighborhood and acknowledge their good work. Accompanying these paintings are additional short video pieces that can be accessed via a QR code that have each of the subjects speaking about what they do in their own words” -Askew

“…we are not the only ones effected by climate change. I painted the Common Loon, Bohemian Waxwing and Purple Finch all of which are native to the NY state area. Each of these birds is climate threatened or endangered according to the Audubon report. The icebergs they fly above are constructed of geometric melting shapes which are representation of the sub atomic particles that make up all matter. Further connecting us to our changing world.” -Vexta

'Beacon of Green'

Greenpoint Innovations collaborated with Brooklyn Expo Center, Reveal Design Group, Philips Color Kinetics US, Brooklyn Solar Works and expert-rigging company CAN to illuminate Greenpoint's iconic water tower in high-energy efficient green lights, powered by a pop-up solar system, to demonstrate a practical and available example of how individuals within communities can be low-carbon and sustainable.