Photos: Creatures from the Canal block party

Well, we did it! When artist duo Mookntaka first responded to our open call for a public design project in Gowanus, they envisioned their Friends from the Canal on the water at some point. We all agreed: this had to happen.

On Saturday, April 20, we pulled together with our neighbors Arts Gowanus, Gowanus Dredgers Canoe Club, The Shop BK, and Council Member Shahana Hanif’s office to host the Creatures of the Canal block party. This day of cross-canal connections celebrated the reopening of the Carroll Street Bridge. Built in 1899 and closed for repairs since 2021, the Carroll Street Bridge is one of the city’s oldest, and one of only four retractable bridges remaining in the US. We marked the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Council Member Hanif, art activities, a costume contest, and much more fun.

And to close out the event, Mookntaka and the Dredgers paddled the Friends along the Gowanus Canal, to everyone’s absolute delight. We’re so grateful to the Dredgers for their willingness to help and ingenuity to make it work, and to everyone to participated, stopped by, and contributed to the festivities.