Coney Island captured my attention and imagination from my very first visit in 2001 to this storied beach destination at the bottom edge of south Brooklyn. The light, the colors, the sounds and most importantly the incredible collection of people from all over the world who come to relax at “The People’s Playground.” At a time when New York is becoming more and more a city of the wealthy, Coney Island remains a destination for folks from all walks of life. It is, in some ways, a little piece of paradise you can get to with a swipe of a MetroCard.

For several years I was also involved in a rezoning fight to prevent the condo-ization of the amusement district and to preserve the aspects of Coney Island that I felt were so essential to a New York that I believed in. As a result of my involvement with Save Coney Island and my time spent painting and relaxing with friends and family on its sandy shores, Coney Island continues to hold a special place in my imagination, inspiring a new body of work exploring a slice of American history through the lens of Coney Island itself.