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On August 12, the Public Housing Community Fund, Artolution, NYCHA, and the Red Hook East Resident Association unveiled Red Hook Dreams — a striking, 925-square-foot mural that now graces the newly constructed boiler plant at Red Hook East Houses. Located at Clinton Street and Hamilton Avenue in the heart of Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood, this unique and massive work of art was designed and created through a community-led process which brought residents, artists, and volunteers together in a celebration of local identity.

Co-created by residents of Red Hook East and lead artist Max Frieder, along with many local artists and volunteers, the mural is both a visual landmark and a testament to the power of such collaborations.

The mural’s imagery includes depictions of the Statue of Liberty, shooting stars, butterflies, and a young girl
blowing bubbles—each one containing butterflies that symbolize her dreams for the future.

“Red Hook Dreams represents the beauty that can come from community-led projects within NYCHA, and this public art installation is even more special as it is brought to life through Snapchat’s augmented reality technology,” said Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Public Housing Community Fund. “As an organization dedicated to empowering 91Ӱ�� to create spaces that truly represent them, we are grateful to have been a part of this meaningful project.”

A Visual Story of Resilience and Imagination

The mural’s imagery reflects the resilience, imagination, and pride of Red Hook East. Its composition includes depictions of the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn coastline, shooting stars, butterflies, and portraits of community members. In the center of the scene is a young girl blowing bubbles — each one containing butterflies that symbolize her dreams for the future. Lady Liberty can be seen reaching out to catch the bubbles, while another girl sits on a crescent moon, gazing through binoculars at her own dreams, which are unfolding in a rainbow-filled sky.

Additional imagery — the sun, sea, cityscapes, animals, and fantastical sea monsters painted by local children — add layers of meaning and community spirit. Over the course of two weeks, residents collaborated on the design’s concepts, which Mr. Frieder then transformed into a cohesive model for the mural. Two Red Hook East artists helped install the piece over a five-day period, with volunteers pitching in to complete the work.

“T��� Red Hook Dreams mural is a wonderful addition to the Red Hook East campus, capturing the resilience and aspirations of this community,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “I’m awestruck by the artistic talent and the profound sense of pride that is present within NYCHA. We are grateful for the partnership and support from the Public Housing Community Fund, and our partners who were all essential in bringing this inspiring vision to life.”

The creative communal process that gave birth to Red Hook Dreams
was every bit as important as the finished product.

A Mural Made by and for the Community

The creative communal process that gave birth to Red Hook Dreams was as meaningful as the finished product. Two community painting days invited residents of all ages to take part, from toddlers to grandparents. The sense of community ownership this helped to create was vital, according to Mr. Frieder: “This artwork brought together all ages, from 3 years old all the way up to grandparents in their 70s, and is a physical artifact created by all of the community members who participated from the Red Hook East public housing community, the Miccio Center, and people who walked by. This mural will live on as a symbol of hope created by and for the community to be living on every day.”

Blending Art with Technology

Another important, quite modern aspect of this project is that Red Hook Dreams can also now be appreciated via an immersive augmented reality (AR) experience. Youth from Red Hook East used Snap’s Lens Studio to animate the mural, merging technology, storytelling, and local creativity. By scanning the mural on location using the Snapchat app and selecting the filter, viewers can watch as elements of the painting come to life, adding an unexpected dimension to the sense of wonder and engagement the mural creates.

Powered by Partnerships

The Red Hook Dreams project was made possible through a network of partnerships and funding support. Alongside the Public Housing Community Fund, Artolution, NYCHA, and the Red Hook East Community, the mural received backing from Snap Inc., the makers of Snapchat.

For the community, Red Hook Dreams is much more than another example of public art — it is a shared story, a daily reminder of community strength, and a vision for the future shining from the walls of the place they call home.