CITYarts, Inc.

CITYarts, Inc.
Non-Profit
Founded 1968
Headquarters New York, NY, USA
Key people
 Tsipi Ben-Haim, Director
Website www.cityarts.org
Tsipi Ben-Haim 2013 at the opening ceremony of CITYarts' Berlin Peace Wall

CITYarts, Inc. is a nonprofit public arts and education organization founded in 1989 by Tsipi Ben-Haim. The organization takes its name and inspiration from Cityarts Workshop which closed down after losing its funding in 1989. With a new name and new mission Tsipi Ben-Haim created CITYarts, Inc. in 1989.[1] CITYarts, Inc. brings together children and youth with professional artists[2] to create public art.[3] CITYarts seeks to empower children to affect their own lives and their community through public art projects that address social and civic issues.

The current director of CITYarts, Inc. is Tsipi Ben-Haim, who has been with the organization since 1989.[4]

History

CITYarts, Inc. founded in 1989, takes inspiration from Cityarts Workshop. Cityarts Workshop grew out of an education program set up by New York City Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs Administration in 1968. In 1968 the New York City department now known as the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs hired Susan Shapiro Kiok to create a "beautification and education program" for the New York City Community Arts Workshop.[5][6] In 1971 Cityarts Workshop was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization.[7][8] When Tsipi Ben-Haim took over in 1989, she renamed the organization CITYarts, Inc.[9]

About

CITYarts' purpose, as stated on their website, is:

Thinking globally and acting locally, CITYarts’ projects build bridges of cultural understanding, giving youth the opportunity to take an active role in shaping their own future. Since 1968, CITYarts has created over 278 projects that have transformed communities and affected over 100,000 kids, collaborated with more than 500 artists, partnered with over 1,500 sponsors, and engaged over 500,000 volunteers in the process. CITYarts’ projects frequently foster community revitalization by galvanizing businesses, schools, and community organizations into developing youth programs and constructing playgrounds and gardens.

[10]

Projects/Highlights

The Rolling Bench

The Rolling Bench at Grant's Tomb, CITYarts, Inc., 1972

One of CITYarts' most visible projects is The Rolling Bench at Grant's Tomb. A 400-foot mosaic bench, The Rolling Bench was the largest public arts project in the country when it was built between 1972 and 1974.[11] The Rolling Bench was designed by a group of artists and children, and the work on the bench was led by Chilean-born New York artist Pedro Silva[12] and the architect Phillip Danzig. The benches were not universally popular and there was much debate over whether or not to destroy or move the benches, citing architectural conflict between the neoclassical tomb and the modern, colorful bench.[13][14][15][16][17][18][19] In 1997, the benches were nearly removed by the Park Service as part of 100th anniversary celebration renovations of Grant's Tomb. The Park Service had even gone so far as to cut out a small section of the benches and lift it a few inches to assess how difficult it would be to move them.[20] However, The Rolling Bench was not removed and was restored in 2008 with the help of one of the original artists and many of the original volunteers, together with a group of young artists.[2]

Pieces for Peace

Pieces for Peace is CITYarts' flagship project, started in 2002. Pieces for Peace is designed to create a cultural dialogue between children at an international level.[21] Youth from around the world are invited to submit artwork about peace and hope for a better future. These works have been displayed in an exhibit which has traveled to the UN in New York City and the EU headquarters in Brussels, among other places. As part of this project a 213-foot-long (65 m) mosaic was installed in the Jacob H. Schiff Park at 138th St and Amsterdam Ave. The mosaic design was created by artist/illustrator Peter Sís[9] in collaboration with youth works from around the world, and was completed in 2005.

Forever Tall

Forever Tall was a mural completed in 2001, as a response to 9/11, overlooking Cooper Square in the East Village of Manhattan. The mural depicts the skyline of Manhattan at night with the twin towers as two columns of flowers.[22] The Forever Tall mural project was initiated prior to 9/11 as a project of a different nature, but the theme was changed following the events of 9/11. The lead artists on this project were Hope Gangloff and Jason Search[23] in collaboration with students from the community and across the city. The mural no longer exists as the wall was subsequently painted over to be used for advertising.[24] However, a monumental print-on-board was installed at the 9/11 Foundation downtown which many family members visit.

Making a Difference Through the Arts Awards

Every year, CITYarts presents "Making a Difference Through the Arts" Awards at their annual benefit fundraiser. Each award is unique as it is individually designed around a brick by a different artists for each recipient. The brick reflects the CITYarts motto of "We go brick by brick changing the neighbourhood".[25] Past recipients include: Faith Ringgold, artist and author of Tar Beach; author and civil rights activist Maya Angelou; the founder of the Jackie Robinson Foundation Rachel Robinson; and photorealist painter Chuck Close.

People

Artists CITYarts has worked with

Recipients of "Making a Difference Through the Arts" Awards

See also

References

  1. ↑ "'Pieces for Peace' Exhibit Opens at United Nations Headquarters". M2 Presswire. 2009-12-11.
  2. 1 2 Akasie, Jay, "Teaching Children the Benefits of Restoration",The New York Sun, August 27, 2008, "", August 12, 2010
  3. ↑ Simon, Stephanie, "Artist Helps Students Complete Mural At Manhattan School", NY1, January 2, 2007, "", August 12, 2010
  4. ↑ McClintic, Miranda,"Art Changes Minds and Hearts", The Jewish Post, June 26, 2009, Page 7
  5. ↑ Braun-Reinitz, Janet (2009). One the wall: four decades of community murals in New York City (1st ed.). Oxford: The University Press of Mississippi. p. 18. ISBN 978-1-60473-111-8.
  6. ↑ "Power to the People in Washington Sq.", New York Post, August 31, 1971
  7. ↑ Braun-Reinitz, Janet. ibid. p. 19.
  8. ↑ "New Benches Set at Grant's Tomb", The New York Times, September 3, 1972
  9. 1 2 3 Inberg, Tara, "CITYarts, Making a Difference Through the Arts", SoHo Journal, page 20
  10. ↑ CITYarts, ["www.cityarts.org"], August 19, 2010
  11. ↑ Huff-Hannon, Joseph, "Echoes of Gaudí in a Place That Honors Grant", The New York Times, July 20, 2008, "", August 12, 2010
  12. 1 2 Silva, Pedro, "", August 12, 2010
  13. ↑ Mayo, Anna, "Cleansing of the Temples", The Village Voice, February 4–10, 1981
  14. ↑ "Grant's Tomb Clash", The New York Times", November 16, 1980
  15. ↑ "Recommend Moving Benches at Grant's Tomb: Park Service", Artworkers News, October 1980
  16. ↑ Lloyd, Leo, "Argue to Keep Benches", The Westsider, October 9, 1980
  17. ↑ Johnson, Rishard, "Gen. Grant's Nude Neighbors Face Ax as Obscene Eyesore", New York Post, July 18, 1979
  18. ↑ Johnston, Laurie, "Skirmish at Grant's Tomb Over Benches", The New York TImes, July 23, 1979
  19. ↑ "Benchmark Case", ARTnews, November 1979
  20. ↑ Allon, Janet, "Mosaic Benches Face Unseating At Grant's Tomb", The New York Times", March 30, 1997, "", August 13, 2010
  21. 1 2 3 4 "HH Sheikha Manal Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will be honored by CITYarts", AMEinfo, April 27, 2009, "", August 13, 2010
  22. ↑ Cotter, Holland, "Amid the Ashes, Creativity", The New York Times, February 1, 2002, pages E33 and E35
  23. ↑ Palmer, Joanne, "About the cover: Writing on the Wall", The New Jersey Jewish Standard, September 6, 2002, page 3
  24. ↑ Malone, Michael, "Something There Was That Did Not Love This Wall", The New York Times, October 10, 2004
  25. ↑ "CITYarts honours Sheikha Manal with specially crafted 'Royal Simplicity' award", UAE Interact, May 20, 2009, "", August 19, 2010
  26. ↑ Susan Inglett Gallery, "Biography: Hope Gangloff", "", August 26, 2010
  27. 1 2 National Museum of Murals and Mosaics,"Murals","", August 26, 2010
  28. ↑ Duda Penteado, "Resume", "", August 26, 2010

External links

Further reading

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