36th Street station (BMT Fourth Avenue Line)

IN RESPONSE TO THE BROOKLYN SUBWAY SHOOTING, ARTIST CHARLIE HEWITT SHARES A MESSAGE OF HOPE TO NYC STRAPHANGERS WITH "HOPEFUL" BILLBOARDS

Retrieved on: 
Monday, April 18, 2022

BROOKLYN,N.Y., April 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Artist Charlie Hewitt, originally created an art project, "Hopeful," to inspire optimism for Americans coping with political polarization and pandemic stress.  Giant sculptures and billboards began to appear in the Northeast, first in Maine, and subsequently displayed on buildings, highways, storefronts, and subway stations in the Northeast. Recently, "Hopeful" has taken on new meaning; last month Hewitt added six digital hopeful billboards to Bronx subway stations after receiving an Instagram direct message from a Bronx resident saying that her home borough needed "Hopeful"   with the goal of spreading positivity.

Key Points: 
  • Giant sculptures and billboards began to appear in the Northeast, first in Maine, and subsequently displayedon buildings, highways, storefronts, and subway stations in the Northeast.
  • And now the message is being spread againin Sunset Park, Brooklyn, after the horrific shootings that occurred in a subway station in that neighborhood.
  • "I felt a need to spread a message of true compassion and optimism during these traumatic times."
  • Today, the billboards, with just one word "Hopeful" in radiant red, yellow, green, and purple colors, will be lit.