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FABnyc Call for Artist Proposals To Honor the former Chrystie Street African Burial Ground and Advance Public Understanding of the History and Presence of Black Communities in the Lower East Side

From FABnyc:

APPLICATION FORM & additional information
Deadline for submission:  Saturday, January 21, 2023 (midnight)

OPEN CALL
NYC’s Lower East Side has always been shaped by the history and presence of Black communities.  Yet for most New Yorkers, these histories are hidden or unacknowledged.

The creation of the Chrystie Street African Burial Ground by the African Society after the Chambers Street burial ground was closed, the early legacies of ‘half freedom’ and Black land ownership, the African Free Schools of the 18th century, the mixed-race dance halls on the Bowery, and the impact of the Draft Riots are central narratives for building a true understanding of the Lower East Side and New York City.  These stories require new and creative methods for being shared with the general public.

As part of this effort, FABnyc is issuing an open call to artists to create an art installation at M’Finda Kalunga Community Garden to memorialize the Chrystie Street African Burial Ground.

PROPOSALS
The proposed project should honor the former Chrystie Street African Burial Ground and advance public understanding of the history and presence of Black communities in the Lower East Side.
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Here is more information from the historian and archivist Emilyn Brown without whom none of this history would be well known.
“Archivist Emilyn Brown works in an annex of the Library to process the personal and professional papers and mementos of Dorothy I. Height, a major architect of the 1963 March on Washington, close confidant of Martin Luther King Jr., and world-renowned civil rights and women’s rights activist.”

 

Read MoreFABnyc Call for Artist Proposals To Honor the former Chrystie Street African Burial Ground and Advance Public Understanding of the History and Presence of Black Communities in the Lower East Side
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It’s My Park Day!! Halloween! Stanton Building Activation!

A beautiful weekend Sunday, Halloween, bulb and tree stump removal and new tree planting, live gorgeous music by the Eric Paulin Quartet and the Judette Elliston Trio (thank you FABnyc), plans to move forward with activating the Stanton Parkhouse, Free Store Face-painting, Labyrinth-making, Halloween art-making, Stanton CSA info, neighbors and local non-profits meeting and working together to make the day go well.

And…

A warm and gracious welcome from our local neighborhood-raised Park advocate Council Member Chris Marte (or was that Julius Cesar?) and our local community to our vibrant, well-informed, new Manhattan Borough Park Commissioner Anthony Perez!

With words of encouragement, promise and excitement for a new phase of community partnership!

Favorite comment of the day: “This is so much fun”

Thank you to our Task Force members FABnyc and the Eric Paulin Quartet and the Judette Elliston Trio, University Settlement and their artist and crafts -maker, Sara Roosevelt Park Coalition, GreenMap, and Pratt. And the countless volunteer efforts of this community like  Stanton CSA, Myles’ FreeStore face painting arts, Diane Carulli’s Labyrinth, Urban Park Ranger (off-duty volunteer), Steve Elson, Allen/Pike Volunteer Gardener Justen Ladda, M’Finda Kalunga Garden, Neighbors to Save Rivington House’ long-time activists Lisa Kaplan and Harriet Cohen, and Buro Happold, and Marvel our pro-bono architects and engineers vis a vis FABnyc!

We could have this here.

Take a look at what we got to do:

The day starts with NYCParks Staff dropping off supplies from Partnerships for Parks set up with our partners and volunteers.

The planting of a new tree in the Tree Pit here!

By the determination and energy of Keena Suh (Pratt Design School Professor) the steady hard labor and effort of Jake (volunteer-for-the-day) who broke through the cement-like tree pit surface (with the help of composer/musician Steve Elson), and the expertise and commitment of Daniel Tainow (off-duty Park Ranger volunteer) and help from our newest “volunteer” Park Commissioner Perez.

Check out that old busted tree stump!

 

and the ‘back’-story:

 

Long, long, long time Park advocates Bob Humber and Jim Pender

Read MoreIt’s My Park Day!! Halloween! Stanton Building Activation!
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A Day in the Park

Beautiful days in Sara Roosevelt Park –

Fairy Homes, Bob at his post, Ganesh, flowers, Ken rushing off to Clean Up Forsyth Plaza, Free Store, Photography, Neighbors meeting, (trash on Houston could use a little work DOT)

Read MoreA Day in the Park
  • Post category:News