Historical pictures of the original mural painting from 1972.
From studio to wall, Arnold Belkin creating maquette for the mural Against Domestic Colonialism, 1972
artist arnold belkin 1930 - 1992
Arnold Belkin was a painter credited for continuing the Mexican muralism tradition. He met David Alfaro Siqueiros, one of the three famed Mexican muralists, “Tres Grandes” Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orzo and David Siqueiros, which lead him to assisting Siqueiros in the painting of two Siqueiros murals. The experience influenced Belkin’s style and taught him the level of quality expected in Mexican muralism.
From the late 1960s to mid-1970s, Arnold Belkin lived and worked in New York City; during this time is when he painted our Hells Kitchen mural. To complete this nearly 40,000 sq foot mural, he enlisted help from the entire community. The result Against Domestic Colonialism, belongs not only to the history of the artist but to the deep historical memory of the community.
neighborhood pride a completed mural
Hells Kitchen mural, Against Domestic Colonialism, completed by Belkin and the community for the Mathews Palmer Playground NYC 1972.
And Today:
The new Mathews Palmer Playground renovation was completed in 2019 but marred by the delay in wall repair. A sidewalk shed has been erected to catch falling debris while we await the repair and resurfacing of the wall. Once this is complete the mural painting can commence.