2007 Arsenal Gallery Exhibits

December 3 - 28, 2007

Wreath Interpretations: 25th Anniversary Exhibition

Parks & Recreation celebrates the holiday season with its 25th annual exhibition of 30 nontraditional wreaths. Fine artists, craftspeople, horticulturalists, graphic designers, landscape architects, engineers, preservationists, environmentalists, and other creative spirits put a new spin on this timeless circular form, using materials as varied as glass, ceramic, flowers, fir, forged iron, natural fibers, compost, circuit boards, bicycle wheels and papier-máché. This witty and diverse collection of wreaths is composed of often very personal conceptions that comment on larger public concerns.

Image: Kitchen Wreath, Ann Schaumberger

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September 13 - November 23, 2007

The Outdoor Gallery: 40 Years of Public Art in New York City Parks

This exhibition is a retrospective and celebration of 40 years of temporary public art programming in New York City’s Parks.  In 1967, a solo show of Tony Smith’s sculptures in Bryant Park, followed by the landmark group show Sculpture in Environment, organized by Doris Freedman, launched an effort in the words of then-Parks Commissioner August Heckscher, to let works of art “loose in the city.”  Since then Parks has hosted more than 1000 art installations.

Through the use of archival photographs, original works of art, and ephemera, the exhibition provides a representative sampling of the diverse themes and media which have characterized temporary art, and pays homage to the non-profit partners (such as the Public Art Fund, Creative Time, and CITYarts) as well as the many independent artists who have left a rich legacy.  The show includes drawings by Christo, Tom Otterness, Chryssa, and Mel Chin, sculptures by Keith Haring and Roxy Paine, a view finder by Robert Taplin, a collage by Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely, a light box by Karin Giusti, maquettes by Alejandro Diaz, and working studies by Vito Acconci, Lina Puerta, and Nancy Cohen, among others.  There is an exhibition catalog by curator Jonathan Kuhn, Parks & Recreation’s Director of Art & Antiquities.  The show is timed to coincide with 40 art installations citywide in the parks this fall.

Image: Freedom of Expression National Monument by Laurie Hawkinson, John Malpede, and Erica Rothenberg, Art on the Beach, Battery Park City, 1984. Photo by Robin Holland. A project of Creative Time.

Download The Outdoor Gallery catalogue

July 12 - September 5, 2007

One Day I Will Control the Sun

The eleven contemporary artists in "One Day" re-imagine nature, utilizing the conventions of landscape, portraiture, still-life, abstraction, and representation as a jumping-off point to reach their own visual interpretations of the tug of war between manmade and natural environments. "One Day" features works in a variety of media including painting, drawing, sculpture and collage – by Ben Beaudoin, Lorenzo de Los Angeles, Matthew Fisher, J.J. Garfinkel, Joy Garnett, Min Kim, Michael Lazarus, Elissa Levy, Gordon Terry, Eric Trosko and, Jeff Williams. Curated by J.J. Garfinkel.

Image: Joy Garnett, House, Brushfire, oil on canvas, 2006

May 3 - June 27, 2007

The Players

"The Players" features sports in art as a means for addressing a variety of issues including identity, power, heroism, nostalgia, popular culture, gender, and the process of making art. It looks at athletes as icons, and fans as participants. Included is contemporary art in a variety of media - painting, drawing, photography, video, and performance - by Jack Balas, Patrick Barth, John Berens, Michelle Elzay, Orly Genger, Luis Gispert and Jeffrey Reed, Nancy Hwang, Tim Laun, Kadir Nelson, Susannah Ray, David Rathman, Freddy Rodriguez, Lee Walton, and Scott Zieher. Curated by Clare Weiss.

Image: Susannah Ray, Dominic, 2005, c-print

March 5 - April 6, 2007

Silent Migration: An Installation by Eco-Artist Brandon Ballangée

Using various mediums, the exhibit explores issues that threaten local bird populations. New York City's position along the Atlantic Migratory Bird Flyway draws thousands of birds from places as far away as Patagonia and Greenland each spring and fall. Many species migrate at night and can be disoriented by illuminated structures—particularly when weather conditions force them to fly at lower altitudes.

As in all of his projects, Brandon Ballengée explores the boundaries between art, science and technology, creating multidisciplinary works out of information generated from ecological field trips and laboratory research. His work has been exhibited around the world and appeared in numerous publicaitions and television programs.

Image:: Brandon Ballengée, Lowland Tropical Rainforest Displacement(detail)

February 1-28, 2007

Black History Month Celebration

This exhibition features paintings, drawings, collage, quilts and fiber arts, ceramics, and photographs by Parks & Recreation employees, retirees, and participants at the City's recreation centers. The show is organized by Parks & Recreation's Ebony Society Black History committee.

Image: African Shield from the Brownsville Recreation Afterschool Program

January 3-25, 2007

Greenbelt Naturally Award-Winning Photographs of the Staten Island Greenbelt

The Greenbelt's 2,800 acres of natural areas, forests, parks and trails are a treasure in the heart of Staten Island. This exhibition features award-winning photographs of the Greenbelt.

Image: Jessica Paliswiat, Native Ferns along the Greenbelt Nature Center Trail