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The Uniting Line is a multiphase project that transformed 500 feet of road under the Hoosick Street Bridge – an urban void that acts as a massive divider between downtown Troy and North Central Troy – into a space that draws people together, uniting what a highway divided. Through creative placemaking, the project is unifying the area graphically, revitalizing and beautifying the corridor, encouraging more pedestrian activity, and serving as a backdrop to activities that take place at the adjacent basketball courts and other open spaces.
The Uniting Line is a collaboration of the City of Troy, The Arts Center of the Capital Region, TAP, Inc., and Collar Works who are working together to transform the underpass area of the Hoosick Street Bridge (Rt.7) in Troy, NY. It is administered by the Arts Center of the Capital Region.
Location: The Hoosick Street Bridge underpass between River Street and 6th Avenue in Troy, NY.
Uniting Line is a collaboration between the City of Troy, The Arts Center of the Capital Region, TAP, Inc., and Collar Works.
The project leadership team includes: Barbara Nelson, Executive Director, TAP, Inc.; Deputy Mayor Monica Kurzejeski; Elizabeth Dubben, Executive Director, Collar Works; and Elizabeth Reiss, CEO, and Belinda Colón, Curator, of The Arts Center of the Capital Region.
The project’s artistic advisement committee includes Jamel Mosely, Daquetta Jones, Joshua Gyamfi, Judie Gilmore, Nicole Hayes, and Sharon Bates.
In the late ‘70s, New York State demolished nine blocks of a commercial district and hundreds of residences to build the Hoosick Street Bridge. Hoosick Street is now a dividing line. To the South is downtown Troy, a historic Victorian commercial district. North of the bridge is North and North Central Troy, our historically most disinvested neighborhoods, where activists and community organizations are now working to foster livable, walkable, and affordable communities.
Learn more about the area, the impact of the Bridge, and our project by watching Bridging the Divide, by WMHT, seen here: Bridging the Divide
In the late ’70s, NYS demolished nine blocks of a commercial district and hundreds of residences to build The Hoosick Street Bridge. It soars over the Hudson River, River Street, 5th and 6th Streets, and touches down on 8th Street. It was first built with landscaped areas, pocket parks, basketball courts, and an ice rink. Today, it is mostly paved for parking, punctuated by twenty-two massive piers.
East of 6th Avenue the barrier is a fast-speed on-ramp to NYS Rte 7. West of 6th is a slower, darker, expansive divide. Hoosick Street is a dividing line.
To the South is downtown, a historic Victorian commercial district.
To the North is our most disinvested neighborhood where activists and community organizations work to foster a livable, walkable, and affordable community.
In 2020, during our most challenging era in contemporary history, the Arts Center of the Capital Region surveyed hundreds of residents, pedestrians and community members to learn what they wanted to see under the bridge. We overwhelmingly saw our community opt for design choices that were “warm, “inviting,” “uplifting” and “bright.” This collective community desire informed our call for art and final artist selection.
Artist Jade Warrick was selected as the artist to develop the murals for the Hoosick Street Underpass.
Jade Warrick, known as TrashKiD, merges art and social advocacy in New York’s Capital Region. Originally from Los Angeles, she creates impactful murals and public art exploring community life, sparking conversations on development, healing, and rights. Founder of Amplified Voices, Warrick provides a platform for communities in underserved areas to express themselves through art and wellness programs. Her past role as Curator of Public Art in Troy, NY, alongside her current work with PBS’s ‘A House for Arts!’, underscores her commitment to integrating art into communities. With extensive experience in arts education and programming, her work strives to profoundly impact individuals and communities. As a fervent arts advocate, she champions public and private investment, viewing the arts as essential for economic growth and community vitality. She advocates for funding, inclusive planning, and artist support to enhance quality of life.
Click through to Bridging the Divide | PBS
Phase One of the project began with community engagement to design and paint a mural that unified the space. A call for artists was issued in 2021, and of the proposals submitted, three were chosen by a group of artists and community leaders as finalists. After receiving input from hundreds of members of the community, Jade Warrick was selected. Over the following months, Jade refined her vision in conversation with the neighborhood.
In October 2021, Jade and crews of professional and volunteer artists completed the mural.
Uniting Line accepted proposals from Regional Artists for The Uniting Line Phase 1 Mural project to transform the underpass area of the Hoosick Street Bridge (Rt.7) in Troy, NY, focusing on the cement pillars between the areas of River Street and 6th Avenue. Regional Artists are defined as artists who live within the core Capital Region counties of Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Washington and Warren counties.
Of the proposals submitted, three were chosen by a group of artists and community leaders to be finalists. After receiving input from hundreds of members of the community, Jade Warrick (@trashkid_art on Instagram) was chosen!
Jade Warrick is a visual designer who focuses on art accessibility, global design, and using art to bring healing and wealth to communities; especially among communities of color.
Some of Jade Warrick’s work explores ways to connect local stories and art into a communicative piece that in turn can bring equity and healing.
Jade has experience as a sculptor, muralist, illustrator, and community organizer within the arts.
Warrick is originally from Los Angeles CA but now resides in the Capital Region.
Instagram: @TRASHKID_ART
Gems of Troy was painted under the direction of site supervisors Kendra Farstad and Cynthia Fiorini, and painted by: Krystal Ang, Mark Blicharz, Noelle Dommasch Joshua Gwamfi, Chloe Harrison, Melody Howarth, Lauren Jacobs, Ashley Kitto, Maya Lewis, Rachel Lorimer, Melody Often, Mercedes Scott, Jumaadol Smikle, Trent Stokes, Vanessa VanZandt, and generous volunteers from the community, especially Troy Look, Inc.
Gems of Troy was funded with lead support from The Troy Redevelopment Foundation, and The Troy Capital Resource Corporation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Howard and Bush Foundation, The Massry Family, Troy Savings Bank Foundation, The Rosenblum Companies, Stewart’s, Gwen Krause, Chet and Karen Opalka, and many generous friends of the project.
Uniting Line is a collaboration of the City of Troy, The Arts Center of the Capital Region, TAP, Inc., and Collar Works. The project leadership team includes: Barbara Nelson, Executive Director, TAP, Inc.; Deputy Mayor Monica Kurzejeski; Elizabeth Dubben, Executive Director, Collar Works; and Elizabeth Reiss, CEO, and Belinda Colón, Curator, of The Arts Center of the Capital Region. The project’s artistic advisement committee includes Jamel Mosely, Daquetta Jones, Joshua Gyamfi, Judie Gilmore, Nicole Hayes, and Sharon Bates.
To donate to and support public art projects like this one, please click the button below.
The Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative recognizes Troy’s continued use of public art to bring together transformative change and shared community experiences. Troy was selected for a winning grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies for the 2016 collaborative public art project ‘Breathing Lights’ with Albany and Schenectady.”
The initiative funds public art projects that help improve street and pedestrian safety, revitalize underutilized public space, and engage local communities around public art.
The City of Troy was selected as one of 16 cities nationwide to receive a $25,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative to implement the project.
To learn more about the Asphalt Art Initiative and Bloomberg Philanthropies, click here.
To support public art projects like these, please click HERE.
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