NYC Parks Celebrates to Host 32nd Annual Wreath Interpretations Exhibit

Just in time for the holiday season, Wreath Interpretations celebrates its 32nd anniversary with more wreaths than ever before. A holiday custom at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park, this show puts an imaginative spin on the traditional symbol that has roots in antiquity. The exhibition opens to the public on Friday, December 5, 2014 and remains on display through January 7, 2015. An opening ceremony will be held in the gallery on Thursday, December 4, 2014 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m., with remarks from NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. Among the exhibitors are fine artists, designers, horticulturalists, and NYC Parks' former blacksmith.

This year's exhibition offers an astounding collection of 56 eclectic wreath interpretations that deviate from traditional organics into modern and eccentric styles. Participants use the customary circular motif as a springboard to experiment with unconventional materials, such as sponges, keys, Smarties, forged steel and insect specimens.

"It's a pleasure to once again welcome such talented artists to display their unique interpretations of holiday wreaths," says Commissioner Silver. "This is not only a treat for the public, but for the employees at the Arsenal, and we are grateful to continue this wonderful tradition. I want to thank our Director of Art and Antiquities Jonathan Kuhn and our Public Art Coordinator Jennifer Lantzas for all their hard work in putting this exhibit together for the holiday season."

Artists approach a number of different themes this year ranging from drones to damaging debris in our waterways. Jet Star by Jen Edwards focuses on the continued impact of Hurricane Sandy. She burned an image of the ubiquitous Seaside, NJ rollercoaster into a slab of wood from a 60' pine tree that was downed in the storm. In a tour-de-force, Robert Mitchell individually soldered 500 keys together to form his wreath. Graham Parker Ansell's wreath explores the Arsenal Gallery's history as the original home of the American Museum of Natural History. These visually and conceptually imaginative wreaths make this exhibition an essential addition to everyone's holiday celebrations.

The individuals and groups who created wreaths are: Carolyn Antonucci-Almedia, Solomia Antoniv, Graham Parker Ansell, Shari Atwood, Sharon Azark, Kirsti Bambridge, Emily Borges, Beryl Brenner, Claire Briguglio, Kathy Bruce, Arasely Caraballo and Rev2, John Clarke, Penelope Coe, Rita Coelho, Yvette Cohen, Oliver Corwin, Cucuy, Kaley Davidson, John DelGiudice, Jen Edwards, Hollis Fox, Sarah Frazier, Francis Gessner, Edward Gormley, Kaitilin Griffin, Larry Hagberg, Judith Hoffman Corwin, The Horticultural Society of New York, Gun Kim, Sam Kim, Roshni Kochner, George Kroenert, Alexandra Leff, Alexander Li, Vince Maximin, Charles McKinney, Elizabeth Meggs, Libby Meggs, Venus Melo, Robert Mitchell, NYC Parks Natural Resources Group (Wetland and Riparian Restoration Team), NYC Parks Queens Afterschool Programs (Vic Hanson, Detective Keith Williams, Sorrentino), Asaki Okamura, Adelia Pelegrin, Carolina Prinzivalli, Wendy Popp, Randall's Island Park Alliance Horticulture Department, Jo-Ann Raskin, Leonora Retsas, Phyllis Sanfiorenzo, Sage Young, Arlene Schulman, Renata Sokolowski, Anne Stanner, Vanessa Valdes, Barbara Wallace, Paula Beltrao Zanotelli, Audrey Zeidman and Deborah Zingale.

For a look at "Ghosts of Wreaths Past," visit NYC Parks' It's My Park website (http://youtu.be/o1MWX3yQBCg). The exhibition was organized by Parks & Recreation's Public Art Coordinator Jennifer Lantzas. Many of the wreaths are for sale with a portion of the sales benefiting NYC Parks' programs.

The Arsenal Gallery is dedicated to examining themes of nature, urban space, wildlife, New York City parks and park history. It is located on the third floor of the Parks Department Headquarters, in Central Park, on Fifth Avenue at 64th Street. Gallery hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission is free. For more information on the Arsenal Gallery, please call 212-360-8163.