New York City's Department of Parks & Recreation Closes IN DIALOGUE 7/31

New York City's Department of Parks & Recreation is pleased to present In Dialogue, an exhibition of sculptures by Scherezade Garcia and Marcie Revens in St. Nicholas Park from June 16, through July 31, 2010. The West Harlem Art Fund, Inc., and the City College of New York (CCNY) are jointly hosting the installation, which highlights two contemporary artists that unite the park's history, community and landscape. Last fall, CCNY created a special "studio" as part of its Master of Fine Arts program and a panel of artists invited Garcia and Revens to participate.

The historic St. Nicholas Park, designed by George Browne Post, slopes below the neo-gothic campus of City College and overlooks both west and central Harlem. For decades, there has been little communication between the college and its West Harlem neighbors. The college's motto: Respice, Adspice, Prospice (Look back, Look at, Look ahead) suits this exhibition well as it marks the beginning of an important collaboration that will bridge new attitudes, forge bold artistic expressions and create an understanding of the past.

Revens' installation Closer: In Conversation will include a series of mailboxes positioned along the park's pathways, where visitors will be encouraged to interact with the exhibit by leaving their own stories about the park in the mailboxes. The letters will later be compiled into a ‘zine and distributed to the community. Garcia's exhibition of three wooden ribbons, titled Unity Ribbon, was inspired by the history and geography of St. Nicholas Park, which is known as one of Harlem's "ribbon parks" and references the "three ribbons" of Harlem (west, central and east).

The MFA program at CCNY provides an opportunity for students to study studio art in the heart of the art world-New York City. CCNY provides an intensive professional experience and affords students the opportunity to follow their creative vision in a collaborative environment. The MFA Program offers instruction in the theory, practice and teaching of the visual arts through a required sequence of courses as well as in-depth training in one or more of the following areas of specialization: drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture and ceramic design.

The West Harlem Art Fund, Inc., is a 12 year-old, cultural arts and preservation organization that offers exhibition opportunities for artists and creative professionals wishing to share their talent with residents in Northern Manhattan and around the city. The West Harlem Art Fund, Inc., showcases art and culture in open, public spaces to add aesthetic interest to our part of the city, promotes historical and cultural heritage, and supports community involvement in local development.

Parks & Recreation's temporary public art program has consistently fostered the creation and installation of public art in parks throughout the five boroughs. Since 1967, collaborations with art organizations and artists have produced more than 1,000 public art displays in New York City parks. Special thanks to the Friends of St. Nicholas Park, the Fund for Park Avenue and the Grand Central Partnership for their support of In Dialogue.

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