SUNSET PARK, Brooklyn (PIX11) -- Have you ever had your portrait painted?
More than 200 South Brooklynites got the chance as part of the Free Portrait Project. They had their portraits painted by artist Rusty Zimmerman and got to tell their stories. The portraits are now all on display in Industry City in Sunset Park.
“I’m pleased to be here with an incredible set of Brooklynites,” said Gabrielle Gatto, one of the portrait subjects. “My mom is happy about it."
Gatto is just one of more than 200 people selected by lottery to have their portraits painted for free to illustrate the diversity of South Brooklyn.
While being painted, each person told their life story to Zimmerman, which can now be accessed by the QR code.
“If you listen to my clip, I play sax. I play with the Metropolitan Music Community Band,” said Ty-Lucas Kelley, another portrait participant.
Among the faces are some well-known ones such as rapper Gorilla Nems of Coney Island. There’s also King Henry from Coney Island.
Rita Lee even included her pet pooch Charley in her portrait. PIX11 asked where Lee’s portrait will go.
"I feel like if I’m going to be honest, I’m just going to put it in storage,” Lee said. “And then in 10 or 20 years, I will look at it and think, 'Wow, I was young once.'"
It was a year-long labor of love for Zimmerman.
“We took a historically fancy thing and gave people a portrait,” said Zimmerman, the creator of the Free Portrait Project. "It was also an elaborate ruse to trick neighbors to say hi to each other."
The portraits will be hanging at Industry City until March 24. There will be a closing reception and everyone will get to take their portraits home.
For more information about the closing night reception, which is open to all, go to the Free Portrait Project website.
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