ShyMob Shrines on Rivington

For just a few short hours yesterday morning, an impressive assembly of street art was displayed on Rivington between Orchard and Ludlow.  Six different hand-crafted shrines were hooked onto the perimeter fence of the overgrown lot where the old First Roumanian-American Congregation Synagogue once stood [RIP 2006].

The shrines were carefully constructed with a distinct theme in mind – money, fame, love, youth, hope, and grace. And dangling from each was a laminated pink paper with a spiritual prayer. Everyone who passed by here stopped for a glimpse.  It was unavoidable. Some even scrawled their own messages, the most moving of which was, “I want true love, not just a one night stand.”

One man was casually sitting in the shade near the artwork.  On a whim, we asked if he was the talent behind the piece, and he nodded.  His name is Steve, but he goes by ShyMob.  Steve told us that the shrines were months in the making, and that the overall inspiration was addressing our primal cravings and desires. The ultimate goal is to find someplace permanent for the collection.

In the end, Steve said he was quite satisfied with the reception of yesterday’s exhibition.  Witnessing the collective neighborhood reaction to his artwork from afar is something in which he takes pleasure.  Check out his other work here.

As a fitting post script, Steve left part of the Hope shrine in an effort to elicit discussion.  A Sharpie hangs from the piece, inviting passersby to share their thoughts.