Central Park

The Daily Plant : Wednesday, November 13, 2002

THE GREEN I SEE: PORTRAITS IN NEW YORK CITY PARKS

On Wednesday, October 30, 200 people gathered in the Arsenal Gallery to celebrate the work of Parks Photographer Spencer T Tucker. Over the past two years, Spencer has recorded thousands of images at various ribbon cuttings and groundbreakings. As Spencer is known by Parks staff across all five boroughs, the crowd was enthusiastic at the opening reception for his exhibit entitled "The Green I See: Portraits in New York City Parks."

The show will run in the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park until December 5. It is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The show features 44 large-format vibrant color portraits which represent the cross-section of New Yorkers who use its green spaces. There are pictures of Parks workers, sunbathers, babies, and athletes—all of them New Yorkers.

"I am proud to say that we are surrounded here today by a vision of New York Parks that will survive for many years," said Commissioner Adrian Benepe at the opening reception. "These photographs show the people we see in parks all the time: kids, athletes, families, dog-walkers, friends…they also show the people who know the parks best; the people who work in the parks everyday, cleaning and maintaining them."

Thomas S. Johnson, Chairman and CEO of GreenPoint Bank that sponsored the show said he was proud to be a part of such wonderful art. Johnson said, "Though not as old as New York City’s parks, GreenPoint Bank has also been serving the great residents of New York City for over 100 years."

Spencer Tucker holds degrees in Photography from the Art Institute of Philadelphia and the Tisch School of Art at New York University, and a B.S. in Anthropology from New York University. He was photo editor at Temple News in Philadelphia.

Since 1934 the Parks Department has employed staff photographers to create an enduring visual record of its parks. This exhibit features the variety of contemporary park users, reaffirming the democratic ideals of America’s early park visionary Frederick Law Olmsted. The images are beautiful and are successful at their goal of capturing New York City’s parks. Every Parkie should be sure to visit the exhibit before it closes on December 5.

(Wednesday, November 22, 1989)

Big game hunters throughout New York City have bagged over 100 animal artifacts for Parks’ City Safari, and the hunt continues.

The City Safari is a search for animal art, sculptures, bas-reliefs, and mosaics on buildings and in the parks of all five boroughs. The best and most unusual examples will eventually be included in a "City Bestiary," an illustrated "ABC" of animal art in New York, to be printed by Parks.

"An actress can only play a woman.

I’m an actor, I can play anything."

(b. November 13, 1949)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center