Across from McCarren Park, the Rip Aaron Swartz mural explodes with color and meaning. This isn’t just paint on a wall. It’s a testament to a man, a hero for the free and open internet. Aaron Swartz, the “internet iconoclast”, is immortalized here in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The artist, BAMN, chose this location carefully. He believed the media-savvy nature of the neighborhood and its appreciation for street art would amplify Swartz’s message. BAMN saw Swartz as a kindred spirit to Bradley Manning, another figure he honored in a nearby mural. He viewed both as heroes who sacrificed their freedom for truth. Swartz’s mural features images of guns, tanks, and surveillance cameras, alongside a powerful quote from Malcom X. A passage from a Jim Jarmusch interview also graces the wall. It encourages “stealing” inspiration, not in a literal sense, but by embracing influences that resonate with one’s soul, much like Swartz devoured knowledge and ideas. Another Rip Aaron Swartz mural exists at ThoughtWorks New York City. This was Swartz’s final workplace. The mural’s creation marked the one-year anniversary of his death. BAMN intended to honor Swartz’s tireless fight for open access to information, a fight that sadly ended too soon. Both murals offer a vibrant reminder of Swartz’s legacy. They urge us to remember his fight for a free internet, a fight that continues to this day.
Richard Rodgers Theatre
Ever felt the magic of a Broadway show? Right here stands the Richard Rodgers Theatre a beacon of theatrical history.