NDSM 3x3 Legacy Courts – PolyLester
BASKETBALL COURT AT NDSM
A new 3x3 Legacy courts at NDSM, in collaboration with 3X3 Unites and designed by Polylester
From April, with the support of the Municipality of Amsterdam, two new street basketball courts will shine at NDSM, depicting a colorful graphic design by the artist Poly Lester. With the fields, Stichting NDSM-werf wants to stimulate sports in the public space for everyone in an accessible way. The project was created in close cooperation with 3X3 Units, a foundation that uses 3x3 street basketball for empowerment among young people.
Over the past two years, there has been plenty of basketball at NDSM, by young and old, pro and amateur. The temporary 3X3 Unites field that was there, activated for and by young people from Amsterdam-North, deserved an upgrade. With the ambition to give 3x3 basketball and other urban sports a more permanent place on the shipyard, Stichting NDSM-werf, together with 3X3 Unites, is realizing two new 3x3 Legacy Courts with a graphic pattern by the Amsterdam artist PolyLester. The 3x3 courts have a pattern of orange and blue lanes that act as rays, inspired by the shadow lines of surrounding buildings and objects. The contrast between the complementary colors blue and orange ensures that the courts are clearly visible. In addition to the realization of the courts, PolyLester is working on a subsequent monumental art installation about basketball culture.
In the coming period, the field will be continuously activated by 3X3 Unites trained role models, 3x3 Leaders and the community from North. After training from 3X3 Unites, they organize activities and events on the field, enthuse the local community to participate, share lessons learned life skills and they monitor the quality of 'their' playing field.
About Stichting NDSM-werf
Stichting NDSM-werf programs and manages NDSM's monumental outdoor space as a cultural shipyard that focuses on the public character, creative experiment and polyphony. The foundation develops and presents location-specific installations and artworks by and with artists, designers and architects.
About 3X3 Unites
Since its inception in 2016, 3X3 Unites has inspired and supported young people who want to pursue their dreams. In order to have a positive impact on their lives and thus the world around them. By using 3x3 basketball as a tool to provide young people with tools and life skills giving, they encourage them to take ownership of their own success. Together with partners, they also develop employability for and by young people.
About PolyLester
PolyLester - founded by visual artist Gabriel Lester in 2013 - is a multidisciplinary studio that focuses on art, public sculptures, architectural interventions, landscape, interior design and stage design.
