2016 Arsenal Gallery Exhibits

December 7, 2016 – January 5, 2017

Wreath Interpretations

Celebrate the holiday season with the 34th annual exhibition of inventive, unconventional wreaths crafted by a diverse selection of more than 40 fine artists, designers, and other creative contributors. Enlivening this timeless holiday symbol, the participating artists employ a variety of unusual materials like beer cans, eyeglasses, kitchen utensils, and gardening tools to examine themes ranging from climate change to family heritage. This exhibition is an imaginative and fun way to experience the holiday season.

October 19 – November 30, 2016

My Father’s Son: Photographs by Irwin Silver and Mitchell Silver

For this unique show, a collection of photographs by Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP and his late father Irwin Silver are displayed side by side. The exhibited photos show a deeply personal connection between a father and his son. A photographer, Irwin’s works are stirring black and white slices of Americana: 1950s New York City life. Mitchell’s background as an urban planner honed his eye for natural beauty and shared public spaces. His photographs depict the contrast of hard and soft landscapes across the city, especially in parks.

June 23 – August 26, 2016

SPF16: NYC Pools and Beaches in Contemporary Photography

Every year millions of New Yorkers beat the heat in NYC Parks’ 55 outdoor pools and 14 miles of beaches. The Arsenal Gallery celebrates the 2016 summer season with an exhibition of contemporary photography that highlights the city’s most popular warm weather amenities–its public pools and beaches. Exhibited artists include Juliana Beasley, Damion Berger, Rona Chang, Bruce Davidson, Tobias Hutzler, Bruce Katz, Michael Kirby Smith, Wayne Lawrence, Greg Miller, Christine Osinski, Thomas Roma, and Lauren Welles.

April 28 – June 15, 2016

Chroma Botanica: Ellie Irons & Linda Stillman

Chroma Botanica: Ellie Irons & Linda Stillman showcases the work of two artists that use natural plant pigments in their artwork to explore wild and cultivated environments, as well as the complex relationships between people and plants. The show includes the artists’ ongoing personal work, as well as new companion pieces that utilize plant life and research gathered in New York City parks and public spaces over the past year.

Download the Chroma Botanica digital publication

March 10 – April 21, 2016

Great Outdoors: Selections from the Museum of American Illustration at the Society of Illustrators

Illustration has been linked to the printed word for centuries. The art form crosses cultures, class, time and education, giving visual form to the otherwise unimaginable. Great Outdoors showcases over thirty artworks from the Museum of American Illustration’s collection that depict the vast indulgences of outdoor life, including recreational sports, ice skating, biking, and quiet contemplation. The show features illustrations originally published in books, magazines and weeklies from the Golden Age of Illustration (1880-1920) through 2014.

January 21 – February 26, 2016

America: The Legacy of African American Public Service

The year 1619 marked the beginning of the slave trade in the Thirteen Colonies, but the first African American elected to office in the United States of America has been documented as early as 1768. Despite slavery, prejudice and Jim Crow laws, America has seen numerous influential African American leaders who shaped the social, legal and justice systems to provide equal rights to a disenfranchised population.

Artists in this exhibition offer broad interpretations on the theme of African Americans in public service. They focus on examples of noted government officials like President Barack Obama, as well as wider characterizations that includes members of the public who work for the greater good of the people.

This exhibition is presented by NYC Parks Ebony Society.

December 4, 2015 – January 7, 2016

Wreath Interpretations

NYC Parks celebrates the holiday season with its 33rd annual exhibition of unique, unconventional wreaths. A diverse selection of 50 fine artists, designers, and other spirited contributors enliven this ageless holiday symbol. Venetian blinds, surge protectors, Q-tips, forged steel and lost winter gloves are among the many varied materials used to examine diverse themes ranging from jellyfish overpopulation to the upcoming presidential election. This exhibition is an imaginative and enjoyable experience this holiday season.

Ghosts of Wreaths Past