crockery

The lampposts of the East Village, along Broadway and Astor Place, seem to be festooned with psychedelic crockery. What mad home decorator has glued broken plates, cups, dishes, sea shells, even broken toys in the form of mosaics to the lower parts of lampposts, no-parking signs and stoplights? And why?

These embellishments first appeared in the early 1990s (you can prove it by looking at the second pole from the left, which reads "Mayor David Dinkins"). Dinkins occupied City Hall between 1989 and 1993.

Many of the mosaics contain words spelled out. May of them have fallen off over the last dozen years, but this "Cooper Square" sign can be clearly seen.

By far most of the remaining pieces of this artwork project are seen on the bases of area lampposts. About ten of these survive.

Just think of all the assaults these 'mosaics' have taken from area canines.

Lamppost shafts have not been overlooked in the makeover. If anything they are even more colorful than the bases.

As a rule, you don't want to aim your camera directly at a New York City sidewalk.

But, the artist has actually embedded some art in the sidewalks in the Cooper Square area as well.

So who is the perpetrator of this lamppost makeover?

It's Irish-born Vietnam vet Jim Power, who is part of a coalition of East Village artists.

FDNY tribute in the wake of 9/11

Close-up view of mural at right on St. Marks Place and Avenue A

In the 1990s and 2000s, Jim Power has continued to build some new creations after the older ones had worn off or been painted over, with permission from the DOT. To date (2005) Power has constructed 80 mosaic murals in the East Village. In 2007 Power moved to East Williamsburg, but he will continue his work in the East Village.

E-mail me at erpietri@earthlink.net.