The following
photograph-rich article is about mermaid artworks and artifacts
found in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York from the viewpoint of
visual anthropology and cryptozoology.
All photographs featured here were taken by Takeshi Yamada.
Yamada is one of the most active artists in New York City and
has had over 400 fine art exhibitions internationally. This
manuscript was produced by Dr. Eriko N. Bond, an active art
critic and author in New York City, as told by Takeshi Yamada.
MERMAIDS IN CONEY ISLAND 2007
Article by Takeshi Yamada
and Dr. Eriko N. Bond
Part 5
Mermaid on Surf Avenue traffic signal by Astroland Amusement
Park. Takeshi Yamada says, “it is a form of a street vandalism
art and graffiti art. A well-crafted custom-made color stickers
were (illegally) posted on the real traffic signal here.”
(September 4, 2007)
(left) Mermaid banners on pole on the Coney Island Boardwalk
(August 29, 2007)
(right) Mermaid Avenue at Stillwell Avenue. Two stores
(convenience store and furniture store) have come and gone at
this location but this mermaid has been here since I first saw
her in 2001. (August 24, 2007)
Mermaid on Neptune Avenue near Stillwell Avenue. She can be seen
from the window of Takeshi Yamada’s residence across the street.
There are over a dozen auto body shops located on Neptune Avenue
near the subway station. This hand-painted blond mermaid wears a
bikini top for modesty.
(August
29, 2007)
Five mermaids in a mural painted in 2006 by a group of local
spray-paint graffiti artists on Stillwell Avenue by the Coney
Island-Stillwell Subway Station. This is one of the
government-funded community upgrading projects called Coney
Island Renaissance. Takeshi Yamada said it is a typical graffiti
style found in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. (August 29, 2007)
A larger mermaid on the metal shutter of an auto body shop on
Cropsey Avenue by Neptune Avenue. This is one of eight murals
there.
This large swimming mermaid wears a bikini top for modesty.
(September 9, 2007)
Professional sign board (3x4 feet) and a flyer for “FREE! Monday
Movie Madness” (8.5x11 inches) at a temporary outdoor movie
theater. (August 13, 2007)
Suggestion postcard. Summer of 2007 by Thor Equities, Inc.
Free Fright Fest Saturday Movies”. flyer. (8.5x11 inches) Fall
of 2007 by Thor Equities, Inc.
A flying witch mermaid in Coney Island! Brilliant!
“1st Annual Trick or Treat Walk and Party”. flyer. (8.5x11
inches) Fall of 2007 by Thor Equities, Inc.
Takeshi Yamada, Sea Rabbit (“Seara”), and pink mermaid at the
Coney Island Beach (September 7, 2007)
(Continue to Part 6)
Copyright by Takeshi Yamada, Museum of World
Wonders in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York, October 2007.
Revised in March 2008. All Rights Reserved.
E-mail: yamada108@aol.com
Special thanks to Dr. Eriko N. Bond, Lauren D.
Travis, Maremi Kakushina, and Abraham Morris.
Also special thanks to Kris Roth (Senior
Proofreader)
http://www.sideshowworld.com/SSA-15.html
http://www.roguetaxidermy.com/members_detail.php?id=528
http://www.horseshoecrab.org/poem/feature/takeshi.html
http://www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/events/exhibitions/other/worldwonders.jsp
