“The Banner Project”
Contact: Kelli Bickman, kbickman@gmail.com or Jo-Ann Brody, jbrody@tco.com
If you’ve been to downtown Peekskill lately you may have noticed a large-scale public art installation in process on the James Street Parking Garage. If you haven’t seen it, make some time in your schedule and visit this colorful and inspired tapestry of art created by Westchester County artists and youth groups. (James Street Garage, intersection of James and Park Streets, across from C-Town).
“The Banner Project” is the brainchild of Youth Mural Arts program director Kelli Bickman (www.1111studio.net). Her goal was “to bring together artists and youth groups for a community engaged art project on a grand scale.” Livia Straus, director of the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art and Jo-Ann Brody, Director of Education, have been collaborating with Bickman on the year-long project. The concept was launched in January, 2011. The designs on the banners are inspired by artists’ work from the HVCCA’s 2011-2012 exhibition ‘Circa 1986’. (www.hvcca.org)
Three 6’ x 26’ murals have appeared on the garage with another seven to be hung the last week of November and two more in January.
Each banner will be hung on the parking garage for one year, at which time the banners will be returned to the particular youth group that created the mural for public display in their home space.
Artists and youth groups involved in making the art include:
• Jo-Ann Brody – Peekskill Day Camp
• Kelli Bickman - The Peekskill Youth Bureau
• Andrew Kaminsky - The Peekskill Salvation Army
• Jessica Fuentes – Green Point Academy
• Jeannie Egel – Croton-Cortlandt Center for the Arts
• Tova Snyder – The Rye Art Center
• Lana Yu – selected Peekskill youth
• Heather Brown – Peekskill High School
• Art Department – Peekskill Middle School
“Public art is an important part of positive growth in any community.” says HVCCA Director Livia Straus. “Art produced specifically by the youth of the community, helps to develop a sense of ownership, civic responsibility and pride which impacts the families, adults and extended members of the polity.
Throughout the city of Peekskill, the impact of the arts become palpable- from Senior citizen produced murals on the outside of the Field Library, to the Delft inspired ceramic tile benches and murals that track a path on Main Street and Central Avenue, to the amazing youth group mural that hangs adjacent to City Hall and the Youth Center, to the art banners that adorn the antique light posts, Peekskill is emerging as a city that is proud of its art community, that visions art as integral to its life and that highlights art to enhance the life style of its residents and visitors.“
Funding for the project has come from ArtsWestchester, the Berg Foundation, Golden Arcylics, State Farm, the Peekskill Educational Foundation, the BID, Designsanything.com, and others. The project hopes to bring on more artists and youth groups as funding allows.
The grand unveiling of “The Banner Project” is scheduled at the James Street Garage, opposite C-Town, on Sunday, December 4, from 2-2:45 p.m. in conjunction with HVCCA’s family art day.
Family and youth art activities will follow at the HVCCA from 3-4PM. The public is invited to attend and join us in supporting the arts.
For more information contact kbickman@gmail.com or info@hvcca.org
www.kellibickman.net
