The Brooklyn Navy Yard has been reinventing itself for years. Known as a Naval Shipbuilding Facility for 165 years, it later became a center for manufacturing and innovation.

When COVID-19 arrived, manufacturing tenants at the Navy Yard pivoted to supply first responders and essential workers with personal protective equipment, or PPE. That same can-do attitude can be found in another tenant there, JC Cancedda. The Photographer is responsible for a wall size display of the Navy Yard’s own essential workers, 24 in all, at Building 77 on Flushing Avenue. 

"My first thought was this whole time I was thinking nurses, doctors, then working here I was like why don't we shoot security people and maintenance people and the people who don't get the spotlight on them ever”, said Cancedda. 

What You Need To Know

  • The Brooklyn Navy Yard has a public art program to help artist tenants get through the pandemic

  • Nine artists were chosen to display their work throughout Building 77 on Flushing Avenue and elsewhere

  • Photographer JC Cancedda captured images of 24 of the Navy Yard's essential workers

  • The Navy Yard has stayed open through the pandemic and some manufacturing tenants pivoted to make PPE

Cancedda has shared a studio at the Navy Yard since June, but lost his job as a TV Creative Director in November. He had been in the business 27 years. The Prospect Heights resident was already taking photos of street scenes through the pandemic when he was named one of nine artists to display work at the Navy Yard through its public art program.

"This was my way of being part of something bigger," said Cancedda. 

Artists in the program, all tenants at the Navy Yard, received rent credits, a commission, and were paid for materials and labor by the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation. 

"It's a great program, we have a number of amazing pieces that are on display at building 77 and it’s publicly accessible so anybody who wants to come by, grab a bagel at Russ and Daughters and then see the art work is welcome," said Johanna Greenbaum, Chief Development Officer at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Workers featured in the display say it’s nice to get some recognition, after coming to work day after day despite fears of getting sick and spreading the virus to their loved ones.

"I feel like they are very happy with the work we did here during the pandemic," said Senior Mechanic Julio Miranda, who added that it wasn’t easy, but they accomplished it. 

JC Cancedda feels he accomplished something too. Switching gears and changing his life like so many others during the COVID-19 era. 

"I feel great, you know I don't feel like I lost my job, or anything, I just moved on to something else," said Cancedda.