Public Art Coming to Lower Manhattan’s Storefronts, Lamp Posts This Fall

Local artists will transform Lower Manhattan’s storefronts and lamp posts this fall for two exhibitions focused on resiliency. The projects are led by NYC-based arts nonprofits Art on the Ave NYC and ArtBridge, and presented by the Alliance for Downtown New York, the nonprofit that manages the Lower Manhattan business improvement district. 

“New York City has always been a place that publicly celebrates talented artists and we wanted to use our natural canvases in Lower Manhattan to continue this tradition,” said Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin. “The art, which is centered around the theme of resiliency, will welcome New Yorkers back Downtown with inspiring works. All of the gallery pieces are for sale and 100% of the proceeds will go directly to the artists.”

Art on the Ave NYC, a nonprofit community initiative, will display work by 27 local artists at The Fulton Center and seven other locations along Broadway from September 7 through November 28. Each piece of art in the collection is guided by the notion of “resiliency,” the ability to demonstrate adaptability and the capacity to thrive in changing or challenging environments. The work spans across mediums using collage, paint, charcoal and textiles to explore the driving theme. Participating artists include Nicolas Albarracin Garzón, Shanequa Benitez, Paola Bermudez, Nell Breyer, Kevin Byrd, Joan Aglaia Choremi, Kadiatou Coulibaly, Dennis Redmoon Darkeem, Miguel de la Cruz, Ari Espay, Kate Fauvell, Deb Fong, Sarah Gilbert Fox, Yen Ha, Adrian Hashimi, James Hsieh, Al Johnson, Lance Johnson, Kevin Kinner, Julie Kim, Chandle Lee, Richard Mourant, Harvey Potter, Sherwood Schwarz, Natsuki Takauji, Dan Williams and King Yan “Fina” Yeung.

Artists were selected through a public application process. The curatorial team, headed by Jackie Graham, included Adefolakunmi Adenugba, Assistant Director, James Cohan Gallery and Liza Torrence, Arts Educator. The curators worked closely with a local selection panel that included Bora Kim, Director of Residencies, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council; Dara McQuillan, Chief Marketing Officer, Silverstein; and Tammy Meltzer, Chair, CB1. The program is made possible through the generous support of local property owners. 

To learn more about the individual artists and their work, visit: https://www.artontheavenyc.com/lower-manhattan-artists

“Every time we put out a call for artists, we’re flooded with creativity —- the proposals for Lower Manhattan and their takes on the concept of resiliency resulted in some of the most compelling work yet,” said Barbara Anderson, Co-founder and Executive Director of Art on the Ave NYC. “Each of the artists had a captivating story and we’ve curated a show that really reflects their breadth of experiences.”

Additionally, the Alliance will launch a second project this fall that will wrap 65 lamp posts along Broadway with vibrant art in collaboration with ArtBridge, a local nonprofit that has brought art to over 50,000 square feet of public space. Through a public design competition, ArtBridge received over 150 applications that were reviewed by a panel of esteemed judges including Gary Carrion-Murayari, Curator, New Museum; Lili Chopra, Executive Director, Artistic Programs, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council; and Claire Gilman, Curator, Drawing Center. Frances Smith and Michelle Weinberg were selected as the two artists chosen to display their works, which will be installed in Lower Manhattan on September 8 and be available to view through November. The lamp post project is presented in partnership with the NYC Department of Transportation’s Art Program. 

“Artists can play a central role in New York City’s cultural and economic recovery, as we slowly emerge from the pandemic, said Stephen Pierson, Executive Director of ArtBridge. “The 168 applications we received for this project speak to the extraordinary opportunity that the Downtown Alliance has provided, and also to the fact that NYC’s artists are standing by, eager to contribute to our collective recovery from COVID.”

To learn more about the individual artists and their work, visit https://downtownny.com/lower-manhattan-lampposts-2021