Friends from the Canal

With the collective effort of cleaning the canal, the hidden creatures of Gowanus are waking up to see what all the commotion is. Rumored to be slimy, scary monsters, the creatures are actually kind, gentle friends. To their surprise, so are we!Meet Shelby, Loofa, and Pebbles, the Friends from the Canal! Three cheerful mutants who playfully greet visitors and residents by day and radiate soft light at night.Created by local artist duo Mookntaka, Friends from the Canal is a multi-site public art installation. These inflatable, character-driven sculptures, inspired by Gowanus’ fauna, serve as friendly neighborhood ambassadors.Mookntaka was selected through an open call, and chosen by a committee of local residents and community leaders in collaboration with Van Alen Institute.Friends from the Canal is made possible by a $100,000 Public Realm Grant for Commercial District Lighting awarded through the NYC Department of Small Business Services.