Public Art Displayed In 4 Manhattan Parks Through Winter

MANHATTAN, NY — Four Manhattan parks will house public art installations for the winter, city Parks Department officials announced this month.

Works were recently installed at Tribeca Park, Midtown's Dag Hammarskjold Plaza and Harlem's Eugene McCabe Field and Colonel Charles Young Triangle, parks officials said. These art installations are part of a larger Art in the Parks program that commissioned eight artists to create works for display in parks in all five city boroughs.

Artworks were installed as early as November, and most will be up until at least late April. Some installations will even be kept on display through the summer, city parks officials said.

Here's some information on each installation in Manhattan:

Dag Hammarskjold Plaza:

This East Midtown plaza is home to two artworks by sculptor Aileen Fields called "Once Upon a Time" and "The Frog Prince." Both statues were installed on Dec. 7 and will be on display through April 26.

Both works embody "whimsy and playfulness," according to parks officials. Many of Fields' works are created using as bronze and stone, transforming the tough materials into characters with gentle features. "Once Upon a Time" depicts a fairy perched on a branch and "The Frog Prince" looks exactly as it sounds.

Tribeca Park:

Brazilian artist Rubem Robierb's installation "Dream Machine: Dandara" was installed Nov. 4. The artwork is evocative of Robierb's signature style that promotes interaction between the artist and audience. Parkgoers are encouraged to position themselves between the oversized, metal wings. This piece is dedicated to the transgender/gender non-conforming community.

"Dream Machine: Dandara" is on display through May 4.

Colonel Charles Young Triangle:

Harlem's Colonel Charles Young Triangle may be the smallest park in this year's Art in the Parks program, meaning artist Nacinimod Deodee was able to incorporate most of the green space in her art. Deodee's two artworks — "A Long Walk to Freedom" and "Reflection" — have been up since Dec. 7.

"A Long Walk to Freedom," which stretches 100 feet along Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, is bookended by the number 1619 — the beginning of American slavery — and an infinity symbol. Deodee's second work "Reflection" brings a pop of color to the park's benches, lamposts and fences.

Both installtions run through June 19.

Eugene McCabe Field:

Naomi Lawrence and Capucine Boucart's installations at Eugene McCabe Field are two of the longest-running in this year's Art in the Parks program. The artworks have been up since July 9, 2019 and will run through June 25.

Both "La Flor De Mi Madre" and "EAT ME!" are attached to the fences surrounding the East Harlem sports field. Lawrence's installation, made by attaching crocheted flower petals, reflects the diversity of East Harlem's community and Capucine's installation offers a humorous take on healthy eating choices. Capucine created the work using 1,500 photo-printed aluminum square tiles printed with images of foods bought in the neighborhood.