Images courtesy Art on the Avenue, Creating Tomorrow exhibition
The Columbus Avenue BID, a business improvement district that works to improve the quality of life and promote commercial activity in one of the world’s most vibrant, diverse communities, launched its “Creating Tomorrow” exhibit in partnership with Art on the Ave NYC, a New York City-based arts nonprofit. The program will feature local artists’ work that will transform Columbus storefronts into an interactive walking art gallery. Art will be on display from April 22 to June 30.
Art on the Ave NYC, the public arts program originating on the Upper West Side by founders Barbara Anderson and Jackie Graham, is a community-based initiative, supporting local artists with a view towards revitalization of our neighborhoods.
We’ve been following the initiative up and down Manhattan, from the Upper West Side and the West Village, to Downtown and its current neighborhood ~ Midtown East, with the exhibition ‘Intersections’.
Art On The Ave has taken a giant step south with a new exhibition, in collaboration with the Downtown Alliance. The Downtown artwork will take you from Park Row, past the Fulton Center and the Oculus, down Broadway past Maiden Lane and Liberty to Bridge Street. Here is a sneak-peek at the exhibition, aptly named ~ Resiliency.
A Kevin Kinner mock up of potential West Village locations. Images courtesy Art on the Ave.
Art on the Ave was an idea conceived in 2020 by teachers struggling to find a way to discuss the trauma and tragedy of a year living in the middle of a Pandemic. They wanted an opportunity to provide a platform for their students to have a meaningful discussion about what was going on all around them. Asking artists to express this in a creative way, and showing the work in an outdoor environment, socially distancing, seemed like a great way to benefit not only their students and the artists, but also provided a nice artistic adventure the the local community.
Working with local property owners and businesses on the Upper West Side, Art on the Ave filled empty windows with works created by local artists ~ giving all proceeds to the artists, who had also been severely hurt by the Pandemic. That first edition was so well-received, Art on the Ave was encouraged to create a second edition. The theme for the next edition, Awakening ~ the location ~ the West Village.
Art on the Ave has been working with local property owners and businesses on the Upper West Side, filling empty windows with works created by local artists. Not only has the project beautified spaces, it also has been an opportunity for for all to enjoy a socially distanced gallery walk using digital and printable maps.
