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Argentinian Artist Brings Color to Pacific Street Construction Sites

 The Argentinian street artist has completed two murals in Cobble Hill.
Magdalena Marcenaro Paints Murals at Construction Sites in Cobble Hill
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COBBLE HILL — Walk down Pacific Street and on construction sites dotting the area, you’ll find a bit color.

Hoping to bring a little zest to the neighborhood, Argentinian artist Magdalena Marcenaro has been creating murals and paintings on the façade of construction areas.

The artist, who lives in the Columbia Waterfront District, specialized in mixed media, using photographs, stencils, spray paint, among others, to craft two works of street art between Court and Smith Streets on Pacific.  

Marcenaro, 34, known as Magda Love, said she loves street art because it involves “creating and interacting with people.”

Public work, she said, “has a lot of impact on people,” often surprising passersby and drawing in those who rarely visit art galleries.

“It’s a little more magical,” said Marcenaro, who moved to American six years ago and has her work displayed in the Nu Hotel and the Gowanus Print Lab.

The artist has two murals on Pacific Street, both on temporary wooden panels that cover construction areas.

Working with the Pacific Street Association and the owners of each building, she was able to get permits to complete the pieces.

“Just no pornography,” she said she was told.

Marcenaro’s work on Pacific Street between Smith Street and Boerum Place, which she completed a couple of months ago, shows a heart connected to two human brains – the artist’s representation of relationships between people.

The mural, titled “Think with your Heart,” also features large-sized printed photography portraits of two men, a rarity for street art, which usually features beautiful women, she said.

Marcenaro’s murals are not typical of what you find in New York City, said Lois Stavsky, editor of Street Art NYC, a blog that documents street art throughout the city.

Stavsky also said that she also hardly notices men in public art and Marcenaro’s use of mixed media in outdoor work is unusual, particularly for an area that has so little of it.

“It’s a neighborhood that sorely lacks street art,” said Stavsky. “It makes the city a much more pleasant, humane place.”

While the piece is already tearing in places and fading after heavy rainfall, the artist said it’s a part of the charm of street art.

“It’s the beauty of the piece growing with the environment.” Marcenaro said. “It’s out of your power.”

On Pacific between Court Street and Boerum Place, the second mural, which she finished last week, features three separate images – a Venus de Milo-inspired woman whose face is covered, an open mouth that symbolizes the artist’s talkativeness, and prints of a famous Argentinean singer, which reminds her of home.

“It’s always good to talk about the things that you know about,” she said.

Marcenaro plans to do more murals in DUMBO, the Waterfront District, Red Hook and even another Pacific Street construction site. She hopes her work will add a little spice to the neighborhood and resonate within the community.

“It’s very important to be able to inspire everyone,” Marcenaro said. “Not just other artists.”