Over the course of a week, muralist Shei Phan painted the tower of the Brewster Street Garage. A champagne toast took place on Aug. 11 to celebrate the completion of the new mural that now brightens up downtown Glen Cove. It took Phan just seven days to finish the project, which brings a striking blast of color to the highest point of the parking garage that can be seen from School Street. The project, funded by the Glen Cove Downtown Business Improvement District, transformed the bare wall into a design that represents the musical aspect of Glen Cove: Downtown Sounds.
“This community has had live music downtown for 25 years now,” said Patricia Holman, executive director of the Downtown Business Improvement District, “and we wanted to mark that milestone with something that people can enjoy for decades to come.”
The Downtown BID was in the process of creating a mural in the fall of 2021, but the funding fell through. In July, Holman returned her focus on the mural project when it became clear there would be enough money in the budget to cover the cost. Thanks to grants received from PSEG LI for the flower baskets and string lights that currently decorate the downtown streets, capital improvement funding was available, allowing the BID to pursue the project.
Holman collaborated with various artists and the BID board of directors on a design. Inspired by the idea of incorporating music into the mural to represent Downtown Sounds, Holman worked with Glen Cove resident and Chaminade High School student Ryan Houghton, who created a rendering of a keyboard going up the length of the tower for the original design last fall. The piano keyboard remains the backdrop of the final design, though several changes have been made through Phan’s vision.
A fan of Phan’s since season 21 of “America’s Next Top Model,” Holman was familiar with her work as a muralist. She contacted Phan and learned she would be in New York this month and was available for the job. Holman immediately put the wheels in motion to move forward with the painting. She showed Phan the design that the board approved last year, and Phan enhanced it, adding images of people dancing on top of the keyboard.
Phan, 32, was one of the top five contestants on “America’s Next Top Model” in 2014, which brought her international fame. Soon after the show, she quit modeling to return to her first passion: art. Phan developed a love of art as a child, and realized she had talent by middle school. She went on to major in art education at the University of Central Oklahoma, and has painted murals in New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, and throughout Oklahoma.
Phan, who lives in Oklahoma, arrived in Glen Cove on Aug. 4 and began painting the next day. Using a lift, Phan tackled the 50-foot tower one section at a time, enduring long days in the summer heat in order to complete the mural. She finished on the afternoon of Aug. 11, just in time for the celebratory toast.
“It turned out beautiful and I enjoyed every challenge brought to the table,” Phan said. “I was so happy to meet the community and now be a part of it.”
During the week, Phan connected with several community members who helped make her stay in Glen Cove more comfortable by offering rides when no car service was available or assisting with any challenges that arose. Half of the paint used for the mural was generously donated by Aboff’s Paint, and Vinny Martinez from the Department of Public Works helped with issues that came up with the lift. Phan said she was thankful for the opportunity to take on the project.
“This mural not only memorializes 25 years of Downtown Sounds,” said Holman, “but exhibits the music that weaves our diverse community together.
