A Cobble Hill dining dynasty sponsors students in an installation chronicling Marco Polo’s Silk Road travels
by Catherine Gigante-Brown
As a young man Joseph Chirico was inspired by 13th century explorer Marco Polo’s adventures. He was so driven, in fact, that he left his native Italy for America to follow his own dream. He worked hard, and in 1983, made a bold move in opening Marco Polo Ristorante in Cobble Hill. Almost 32 years later, it’s still thriving.
Chirico’s son Marco, named for that intrepid adventurer, loves to recount his father’s story. It’s no surprise, then, that the younger Chirico, Marco Polo Ristorante’s chef/owner and the driving force behind Enoteca on Court, recently supported another creative mission—spearheading an art installation that pays homage to Polo’s famed Silk Road. He recognized that it’s perfectly fitting that the voyager who brought noodles to Italy be honored in mural form at one of the borough’s oldest and most beloved Italian eateries.
The artwork was fueled by students at Long Island City’s Information Technology High School (ITHS). “Chefs are artists, too,” the younger Chirico pointed out at the unveiling. “So, my father has always been an advocate of education, especially the arts. This project seemed like a perfect match.”
When the restaurant went through an extensive renovation two years ago, its signature murals, which had been created by a local artist, were lost. Marco Chirico said he would look at the big, blank wall in the atrium and inevitably feel the absence. This sparked the idea to partner with a school to create a new piece for the restaurant. “We wanted to give a nod to the old murals but also reflect the vitality of our refurbished space,” Chirico explained.
The partnership between Chirico and ITHS began last November. “Every few weeks, the kids would send me pictures of how it was progressing. I never imagined it would be this beautiful,” he said.
Indeed, the thought, care, and skill that went into the work shines though. Roughly six-foot-square, the route of Polo’s epic journey is faithfully depicted in vibrant colors. Included are Venice’s unmistakable canals and a portrait of Kublai Khan, as well as an older Polo holding a map chronicling his travels. Some of the spices the explorer brought back from China—like saffron and curry—are displayed at the top of the work.
ITHS, which opened in 1983, promotes a creative curriculum, one which emphasizes a rigorous approach to both arts and academics. Explained Principal Joseph E. Reed, “This project ties into our cross-component of English and Global Studies, and of course also touches upon art. I’m extremely proud of the six students involved. They not only researched the era but had the skill to visualize and articulate their ideas. The result is phenomenal.”
Art educator Jorge Luis Cordero spearheaded the effort at the school. He drew upon his studies in France and Italy, as well as an intimate knowledge of painting technique. “The students designed the mural themselves and learned how to work with acrylic paint, which was similar to the fresco technique popular in Marco Polo’s day,” Cordero explained. “They were amazingly dedicated, putting in hours after class, and even some Saturdays.”
Cordero credits ITHS’s innovative leadership team with making community projects possible. “If you don’t have the proper supports in place, things like this don’t happen,” he said. “Our students are just as passionate about learning as we are about teaching. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
On a brisk May afternoon, the mural was displayed on Marco Polo Ristorante’s Court Street exterior, all six student artists were present, beaming, as well as their teachers, their families, both Chiricos, area residents, several Department of Education dignitaries, the press, and local politicians. ”I’d like to thank the teachers for encouraging their students to go out and explore this city’s rich gifts, much like Marco Polo explored the world,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. “That’s the Brooklyn way.”
Joseph Chirico has long been giving back to the neighborhood, sponsoring children’s sports teams in Cobble Hill, for example. He stressed the importance of both physical activity and art in young lives. “When they’re playing on a team or creating art, they’re not getting into trouble,” he said with a smile. “Doing something like this is for the children, for our future.”
In addition to sponsoring the mural, the restaurant donated $800 to ITHS art programs and $100 each to two students who put extra effort into the piece.
ITHS’s Silk Road mural will have a permanent home in Marco Polo Ristorante’s light-infused atrium. Visible from the street, it will be appreciated by diners and passersby for years to come. “I’m already thinking about what to do on the next wall,” Marco Chirico smiled.
Marco Polo Ristorante
345 Court St. / 718.852.5015 / marcopoloristorante.com