“Park of Dreams,” a new public art installation, is now on view at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza.
Photo courtesy of Prospect Park Alliance
The scaffolding surrounding the under-renovation Soldiers’ and Sailor’s Arch at Grand Army Plaza is being put to good use as a public art installation, thanks to the Prospect Park Alliance and Art For Change.
“Park of Dreams,” on view through this spring, wraps around the base of the arch, filled with paintings and artwork inspired by Prospect Park and all it offers to Brooklynites. The works – created by contemporary artists including Marcus Brutus, Maria Calandra, Alyssa Klauer, and John Key — pay homage to the “inspiration, rejuvenation, and reflection” creatives find in Brooklyn’s Backyard.
The project is one of Art for Change’s “most exciting projects to date,” said founder Jeanne Masel in a statement.
“Parks are a crucial part of any community and Prospect Park in particular holds a special place in my heart as a Brooklynite,” Masel said. “Parks not only connect city dwellers to nature and offer a respite from the hustle and bustle, they support an incredible ecosystem of flora and fauna … Curating and producing this project enables us to leverage our deep relationships with artists and, in turn, show our respect for a park that is both a vital aspect of the Brooklyn community and an important ecosystem in itself.”
The pieces that make up “Park of Dreams” explore the park literally and in a more metaphorical way — Kelly Beeman’s work “Park Bench” shows a woman sitting serenely on a winding pathway in a lush green space, while Jules de Balincourt’s “Are You An Insider or Outsider,” depicts a sharp city skyline in the background of a calm park — and the “delicate relationship between urban and rural,” as Balincourt said.
“The beloved Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch at Grand Army Plaza is a Brooklyn icon…
Read the full article here
