Art in the Parks: 2023 Grantees
/The Alliance for Flushing Meadows Corona Park announced its 2023 Art in the Parks grantees this week. The long-running program has given meaningful grants to up-and-coming artists in NYC so that they can contribute to the eclectic sculptural collections of FMCP.
The winning proposals for this year’s grants are Light Portal from Julia Sinelnikova and Hey Neighbor NYC from Jasmin Chiang and Kisha Bari. Thanks to generous support from the Alliance for FMCP, grants were doubled for this year’s artists, up to $10,000 per grant.
Sinelnikova had this to say about their installation: The park lacks a true contemporary art homage to the legendary Tent of Tomorrow, which will nw itself be lit at night for the city's new program. The Tent of Tomorrow was designed by Philip Johnson for the 1964 World's Fair, however it is modeled off its Russian predecessors, namelyo the Shukhov Rotunda for the All-Russia Exhibition of 1896. “Light Portal'' incorporates several elements of the original physical structure in a new design, with the many colors of the light disc above audiences to represent the diversity of languages and cultures in Queens. As a first-generation immigrant and nonbinary artist, I feel that it is important to bring the energy of a local femme, POC and immigrant fabrication crew to this homage, which interprets a complicated architectural legacy. During our current period of closed borders around the world due to politics, it is important to remember periods of greater international exchange of ideas, and collaboration. “Light Portal” envisions hope, progress, and growth, creating a meditative and playful space. The work will cast a kaleidoscope of healing colors onto viewers and the ground below during the sunlight, while also possibly incorporating solar-powered LED lights at night. The sculpture will measure at least ten feet square, comprised of steel and recycled acrylic.
Bari and Chiang offered this description of the upcoming sculpture: New York City is a rich patchwork of communities formed by ethnicity, culture, race, and shared experience – from networks of new immigrants to multi-generational communities. Although New Yorkers share a common physical space, proximity alone is not enough to create genuine connection, understanding and tolerance for each other. The work of connection and trust between communities requires continuous and deliberate work. Hey Neighbor NYC does this work by connecting cultural communities across the five boroughs through photography, storytelling, and public art.
Both installations will open to the public in Autumn 2023. They will remain on view for approximately twelve months. Check out the gallery below for previous artworks in FMCP. Full list of past artworks around the city and their descriptions are available at NYC Parks.
