Governor Cuomo Announces Eight NYS Artists Selected for the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Public Art Program

For Immediate Release: 1/31/2020

GOVERNOR ANDREW M. CUOMO

GOVERNOR CUOMO ANNOUNCES EIGHT NEW YORK ARTISTS SELECTED FOR THE GOVERNOR MARIO M. CUOMO BRIDGE PUBLIC ART PROGRAM
10 Commissions To Be Installed Along Bridge’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Path
Artwork includes Sculptures, Bike Racks and a Mural

See Renderings Here

Download Fact Sheet Here

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the winners of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Public Art Program.  The 10 commissions, awarded to eight New York State artists, will be located on or near the bridge’s 3.6-mile bicycle/pedestrian path.  The New York State Thruway Authority partnered with ArtsWestchester and the Arts Council of Rockland on the program, which was first announced by the Governor in September 2018.

“The new Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge is an iconic gateway to the Hudson Valley,” Governor Cuomo said. “These 10 planned art installations along or near the bridge’s scenic biking and walking path will not only celebrate the rich history of the region but showcase the new twin-span crossing and the world-class artistic talent New York has to offer.”

The program features five sculptures, four bicycle racks and one mural. Three of the sculptures incorporate remnant steel salvaged from the decommissioned Tappan Zee Bridge.  Locations include each end of the path at Rockland and Westchester Landings, as well as along the side path in South Nyack. The commissions, all of which are in various stages of development, are slated for installation later this year.

Representatives from ArtsWestchester, Arts Council of Rockland and the Thruway Authority reviewed more than 100 applications, which included artist statements, work samples, and a project vision statement.  Semi-finalists then submitted full proposals to the selection committee.

ArtsWestchester administered the competition and issued the Requests for Proposals for the sculptures, bike racks and mural. The New NY Bridge Community Benefits Program is funding the initiative.

Thruway Authority Executive Director Matthew J. Driscoll said, “Incorporating public art on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge path adds another critical layer of interest for this effort. Art along the path will attract new visitors and encourage others to return, benefitting our local economies. Additionally, honoring the legacy of the decommissioned Tappan Zee Bridge by including its steel in their work truly brings this project full circle.”

Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge Project Director Jamey Barbas said, “To date, the community has experienced the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge as art on a macro level, whether driving past its soaring towers to taking in the graceful span from either shoreline. Through each of these 10 commissions along with the path’s six overlooks, visitors will soon experience art at a more intimate scale. We thank Governor Cuomo for his ongoing commitment to art in public spaces.”

ArtsWestchester CEO Janet T. Langsam said, “Investment in art and culture helps to drive the region’s tourism, while at the same time enriching the quality of life for area residents. The addition of public art to the Shared Use Path will further position the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge as a premier tourist attraction, offering bridge visitors unique places to experience both the natural beauty and the artistic beauty this exceptional destination has to offer.”

Arts Council of Rockland Executive Director Cheryl Baun said, “The Arts Council of Rockland and ArtsWestchester are thrilled to be partnering with the New York State Thruway Authority to bring spectacular works of public art to the public spaces around the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. The stellar New York artists who have been commissioned to create the signature sculptures, bike racks and a colorful mural will help enliven the scenic Hudson River landscape, enhancing the already extraordinary destination with world-class art for area residents and visitors to enjoy.”

Below are the 10 commissions with their titles, artists name, hometown and a brief description:

MURAL

THE FLUX OF BEING (Chris Soria, Nyack)
Combining layers of abstract geometry with silhouettes of subjects from the natural environment, this mural celebrates the rich biodiversity of the Hudson River Valley.

SCULPTURES

APPROACH (Fitzhugh Karol, Brooklyn)
This sculpture incorporates steel from both the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge and its predecessor, the Tappan Zee. The piece evokes a sense of uplift, progress and momentum, visually anchoring the beginning of the bridge path in Rockland County.

CURRENT (Cheryl Wing-Zi Wong, Brooklyn)
Composed of 12 illuminated steel arches, CURRENT celebrates transformation. Referencing currents – of rivers, of light, of time – this dynamic sculpture is under continual activation. By day, its shadows and colored light refractions are ever-changing. In the evening, it creates a shared spatial experience through light animations that respond to movements of passers-by.

LEAPING STURGEON (Wendy Klemperer, Brooklyn)
A 14-foot Atlantic Sturgeon — made from rebar and other salvaged steel — leaps out of the Hudson River. This sculpture celebrates the ancient and majestic fish that is part of the region’s history and lore as well as the state’s on-going population recovery efforts of this endangered species.

TAPPAN ZEE (Ilan Averbuch, Long Island City)
Seven abstracted figures carry a canoe alongside pedestrians and bicyclists, in a metaphorical shared journey. This sculpture pays homage to the Native American Lenape and their history along the Hudson River, while also symbolizing the value of collaboration in crossing rivers, building communities, and reaching new horizons.

UNTITLED, FOR IMRE LENDVAI (Thomas Lendvai, Ronkonkoma)
Slightly askew, concentric octagonal forms mimic ripples on the river’s surface and frame the iconic towers of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. Made from steel reclaimed from the Tappan Zee Bridge, this sculpture is a tribute to the artist’s father.

BIKE RACKS

BIKE RACK (David Greenberg, Brooklyn)
The design of this bike rack is informed by marine mooring bollards and alludes to the historic importance of the Hudson River as a commercial transportation artery. The oval openings accommodate the “mooring” of a bicycle, offering cyclists a rest on their cross-river journey. The design will be used in two locations on the path, one in Rockland and one in Westchester.

BIKE RACK (David Greenberg, Brooklyn)
Monolithic granite posts recall the stone quarrying industry of Rockland County and evoke the common hitching post.

CONVERGING VISTAS (Christopher Flick, Bronx)
The dynamic form of this bike rack references the Palisades and the New York City skyline, two views that converge while crossing the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.

ART COMMUNITY PARTNERS

ArtsWestchester
ArtsWestchester began in 1965 as a conversation among arts advocates and volunteers in a living room and has grown into is New York State’s largest private, not-for-profit cultural service organization. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support to ensure the availability, accessibility and diversity of the arts in Westchester County. Its programs and services enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives.

Arts Council of Rockland
The Arts Council of Rockland is a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the arts, culture and the role of artists in our community. It seeks to foster appreciation and participation in the arts in the diverse socio-economic communities that reside in Rockland County by providing programs of interest to the community and our members, professional development to artists and educators, marketing resources for artists and arts organizations, access to grant opportunities, scholarships, and increased opportunities to network and collaborate.

###

Additional news available at www.governor.ny.gov
New York State | Executive Chamber |press.office@exec.ny.gov | 518.474.8418