The New York City Parks Department and the Japanese clothing company, UNIQLO, announced a new public art program today. They awarded grants to 10 artists to create installations in city parks this coming summer. Seward Park on the Lower East Side is one of the beneficiaries of the project.
Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong proposed, Constellation, “an architectural sculpture, performance and panel series that will activate the underused plaza” in front of the Seward Park Library. It will be made up of, “interlocked wooden modules that will be re-arranged and transformed seasonally in three different configurations over the course of the exhibition.”
The program is part of a larger city initiative to bring public arts to parks that have, according to a press release, “historically lacked cultural programming.” $200,000 has been made available during the next couple of years to 20 artists. They each receive $10,000.
The first wave of artists were chosen through an open application process by a committee of arts professionals, along with city and UNIQLO representatives. An application period for the second round will begin later this year.
Installation of the piece will begin in June.
