In an era where racetracks are struggling to hold onto their valuable property, managers of the tracks have come up with creative solutions to try and keep their land, including promotions, themed nights, and merges with casinos. In the case of the Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York, the answer is street art.
Paul Kelleher, a corporate development executive at the New York Racing Association, which operates the Aqueduct Racetrack, employed his friend and street artist Joe Iurato to put together a group of 13 street artists. The international group, including James Reka, Logan Hicks, Chris Stain, and David Flores among others, set to work on a variety of murals inside the track.
“All we told them was to do something that was in the spirit of the place,” Kelleher told The New York Times. And "The Aqueduct Murals" project definitely stays true to the theme of horse racing. The works include powerful steeds, determined jockeys, and representations of speed.
While it's unclear if the murals will lift the racetrack out of its slump in attendance and betting, they definitely bring new life to the walls of the track.
REALTED: The Best Murals of 2013 (So Far)
[via The New York Times]
