Art in the Parks

Description:

Citoyen du Monde, the park’s spring Broadway Billboard by the Beninese artist Meschac Gaba, is the artist’s vision for a global flag. Created by elongating individual flags from every country in the world into narrow triangles that converge at a central point, this optically spectacular work presents a humorous image of idealism and optimism for resolutions to the difficulties and crises that divide our world. The singularity of each flag is lost in the rhythm of the composition as is the case in the age of globalization where national borders merge into the international. Greeting visitors at the entrance to the park, this large scale utopic graphic broadcasts a message of unity that reflects Socrates’ mission to introduce art to the broadest spectrum of people possible.

This exhibition is presented by Socrates Sculpture Park, Stevenson, Cape Town and Johannesburg, and Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York.

Description:

The latest Broadway Billboard was designed by artist Wangechi Mutu. Located at the park's main entrance, Wutu's 11' x 28' billboard is a vibrant scene that can be seen as visitors approach the park from Broadway.

Broadway Billboard is supported through generous contributions from Agnes Gund, Charina Endowment Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Mark di Suvero, and Lambent Foundation.

This exhibition is also supported, in part, by public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and by public funds from the City of New York Department of Cultural Affairs.

This exhibition is presented by Socrates Sculpture Park.

Description:

Socrates is pleased to announce the opening of its fall exhibition featuring the latest works of artists to watch. In EAF13: 2013 Emerging Artist Fellowship Exhibition, 15 new commissions on view respond very specifically to the park's unique waterfront, urban environment with conceptual and formal artworks that are visually compelling, subtly mysterious and, at times, provocative. Local and global subjects are presented alongside one and other, with topics such as the history, ecology, and panorama of the park confronting broader topics of international politics, militarization, and culture. Rather than being a thematic exhibition, each artist has a distinct artwork (and in some cases performance) that embodies his or her innovative exploration of sculpture.

This exhibition features the collective works of the park's 2013 Emerging Artists Fellows, each chosen through a rigorous application process; they are: Thordis Adalsteinsdottir; Diann Bauer; Michael DeLucia; Tamara Johnson; Anthony Heinz May; David McQueen; Kenneth Pietrobono; Aida Šehovic Sandy Smith; Edouard Steinhauer; Christopher Taylor; Justin Randolph Thompson; Hong-An Truong; Gustabo Velazquez; and Myung Gyun You.

This exhibition is presented by Socrates Sculpture Park.

Description:

Socrates Sculpture Park and The Architectural League of New York are pleased to announce the selection of Toshihiro Oki architect for tree wood as the winner of this year’s “Folly” competition – an extraordinary opportunity for emerging architects and designers to experiment and build large-scale projects for outdoor exhibition.

tree wood will be a rigid yet airy geometrical wooden structure placed within a grove of trees – a lush and dense area at Socrates Sculpture Park. Visitors will peer into the structure through the floor beams where a formal, ornate chandelier will be suspended. The installation creates a dialogue between built structures and systems with the irregular and organic.

Toshihiro Oki architect consists of team members Toshihiro Oki, Jen Wood and Jared Diganci.

This exhibition is presented by Socrates Sculpture Park and The Architectural League of New York

Description:

The Dance consists of five figures floating 15 feet above the ground. The figures, formed with steel and wrapped in nylon, hold hands and dance whimsically within a rectangular steel structure.  At night the figures light up and cast a glow around the neighboring trees. The Dance is inspired by Henri Matisse’s painting by the same name. Similar interlocked figures can be found throughout art history, including Mayan art, African tribal sculptures, and ancient Mesopotamia, among others, to symbolize family, community, and spiritual or universal connectivity. Lampman uses this symbol for the coming together of the Staten Island community.

Lampman lives and works in Stapleton and has embraced the diverse community made up of residents from around the world. There is a large population from Shri Lanka, as well as immigrants from Liberia, Ghana, the Gold Coast, Mexico, and Central and South America.  In the exhibition, the five figures are entwined in a dance—they could be Flamenco dancers from Mexico, Kandyan dancers from Sri Lanka, or  a dance from West Africa such as the Yankadi, or the Makru.

Tappen Park and many other Staten Island neighborhoods were flooded during Hurricane Sandy, and sadly lives and homes were lost in the storm.  However, Staten Island came together during this crisis—strangers dropped everything and join people from around the island and all over the world to rebuild the community.  The neighborhood’s joint effort is an integral part of the inspiration for Lampman’s public artwork.  Additionally, Lampman hopes that the installation will inspire additional community development, as the informal pavilion can be used for public dance and music performances by community members.

Description:

Recipient of the third annual Clare Weiss Emerging Artist Award, Karlis Rekevics is drawn to the overlooked part of our urban landscape that we regularly see but rarely register: bridge supports, store facades, guardrails, signs, and scaffolding. After documenting notable forms and architecture around the park, Rekevics created a series of wooden molds that combine recognizable elements in altered scales. The monumental All-Too-Familiar Tangle references the wooden bollards that line the coast near the Staten Island Ferry, as well as the neo-classical limestone columns and rounded portico entryway of the landmarked Staten Island Savings Bank located at 81 Water Street. Further investigation reveals the dormer window details from the park’s historic Village Hall conflated with the defining form of the sculpture—a wall-like structure with three peaks and low windows that echoes the distinctive pink design that covers the face of 7 Beach Street.

More information on the Clare Weiss Emerging Artist Award or Park Art in the Parks program