Feature

Art and the City: Public Art Unveils Controversy in the City

February 10, 2021 By Julia DePinto Filed Under: Community, Feature Tagged With: Art, city, feminist movement, julia depinto

Giancarlo Biagi & Jill Burkee-Biagi, Mother Cabrini Memorial (2020), bronze.
Image courtesy of the Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo.

To most, public art may seem innocuous. Art brings vitality to public spaces. It helps districts establish identities, provides artists with income, and boosts local economies by providing sought-after destinations for art lovers. And perhaps more importantly, public art provides an opportune backdrop for tourists and selfie enthusiasts. However, for New Yorkers who are especially inundated with public artworks ranging from historical tablets and monuments in public parks to contemporary works, like Jeff Koon’s colossal Balloon Flower and Jenny Holzer’s impermanent text-based projections, the relationship between the public and art is not always positive.

Public art is rarely considered by art critics to be “good” art. Seldom does it arrive without a myriad of complications. Aside from often being overly symbolic or kitsch, public art is largely taxpayer-funded, governed by private capital, and decided on by a panel of bureaucrats.

In 2020, the city planned, commissioned, and installed dozens of public sculptures, installations, murals, and artworks. Below are three of the most recent public sculptures to be unveiled, all of which were met with varying degrees of controversy.

Mother Cabrini Memorial

Giancarlo Biagi & Jill Burkee-Biagi (2020)

A bronze and granite memorial honoring the life and service of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, the Patron Saint of Immigrants, was recently erected in Manhattan’s Battery Park City. Cabrini, more commonly referred to as Mother Cabrini, an Italian immigrant and devoted public servant, founded over 60 schools, orphanages, and hospitals, including numerous academic and health care institutions in New York City. She was the first naturalized American to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church, nearly three decades after her death. Although Cabrini’s legacy parallels the valor and perseverance of many immigrant communities, the memorial was heavily disputed by the public and follows a contentious stint of bureaucratic conflict between New York’s city and state governments.

“We are all immigrants in one way or another. We all share the immigrant experience,” said Italian-American artist, Giancarlo Biagi in an interview.

Biagi and collaborator, Jill Burkee-Biagi, were selected by the Governor Cuomo-appointed commission to complete the Cabrini memorial—budgeted at $750,000— in a remarkable nine months. The life-size bronze monument atop a marble base depicts a young Cabrini and two small children in a paper boat, gazing ahead into a distant future. It stands erect in a cove along the esplanade and against a backdrop of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. The commemorative memorial is filled with metaphor, perpetuating collective immigrant experiences of hope and new horizons, while also containing small anecdotes of Cabrini’s mortality. The plaza is surrounded by mosaic, created from bits of riverbed stone near Cabrini’s birthplace in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano. The memorial was unveiled on Columbus Day and dedicated by the New York Governor.

The controversy of the Cabrini memorial—as with most memorials—lies within the boundaries of taxpayer-funded public art, the site-specificity of the artwork, and how the overall content and design are determined. In 2018, First Lady Chirlane McCray, Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen, and the Department of Cultural Affairs announced the She Built NYC initiative, a project focused on funding public monuments and artworks to honor women’s history. The initiative builds on the recommendations of the Mayoral Advisory Commission on City Art, Monuments, and Markers— a commission that advises the NYC Mayor on issues surrounding public artworks and markers on City-owned property. An advisory panel, appointed by the de Blasio Administration, was founded to oversee the commission of large-scale commemorative statues of revolutionary women— including women of color, trans women, and non-binary individuals— to address the disparate gender imbalances in public spaces. The Department of Cultural Affairs committed to a budget of up to $10 million over the next four years.

The She Built NYC initiative, spearheaded by McCray, accepted public nominations via an online survey, receiving close to 2,000 responses in total. Although the submissions overwhelmingly favored a memorial honoring the legacy of Mother Cabrini, the panel disregarded the majority, sparking outrage among Italian-American and Catholic communities. In response to the outcry, the governor announced his administration’s plans to work with local Italian-American groups and the Diocese of Brooklyn to oversee the creation of a state-funded memorial to Cabrini.

The pandemic has indefinitely shelved the She Built NYC project.

Italian-American and Catholic communities applauded the decision to erect the Cabrini monument, however residents of the southernmost district of Manhattan disapproved— arguing that Cabrini had little involvement with the region. The Mother Cabrini Memorial Commission was able to bypass political disputes and reject public concerns for building the monument in Battery Park City— an area that is owned and controlled by a state corporation. In the long-term, taxpayers and residents of Battery Park City will continue to pay upkeep on an ever-increasing collection of public artworks, jointly valued at $63 million.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Memorial

Gillie & Marc (forthcoming)

The nation is still mourning the untimely death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The announcement of her death, less than two months before the divisive 2020 election, was met with an outpouring of public grief for the beloved civil rights attorney and gender equality advocate. On the steps of the Supreme Court building in DC, mourners left makeshift memorials with handwritten notes, flower bouquets, and votive candles; public gatherings and candle-lit vigils were held in cities all over the country. The following day, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced in a tweet that the state plans to honor the life and legacy of Justice Ginsburg by erecting a permanent statue in her native Brooklyn.

Less than a month later, the governor appointed a 23-member commission to oversee the design and location of the memorial, including members of Ginsburg’s family. NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio also announced plans to rename the Brooklyn Municipal Building in honor of the late Justice.

Officials at City Point, a residential and commercial development in Brooklyn’s metropolitan center, said that the monument will be unveiled on March 15, 2021, coinciding with both Women’s History Month and Justice Ginsburg’s 88th birthday. The bronze statue, created by artist duo Gillie and Marc, was originally built in partnership with Statues for Equality, whose initiative aims to balance the gender, racial, and ethnic disparities of public sculpture. The artists believe that installing statues of women in public spaces are major steps forward in the long-overdue fight for gender representation.

Unlike the Mother Cabrini memorial, New Yorkers have mostly welcomed the forthcoming and permanent iconic statue of Justice Ginsburg. There has been little, if any, protest from the public regarding the budget of the memorial or upkeep. However, some in the art world wonder if the traditional solution of building a larger-than-life statue atop a pedestal is the best approach to memorializing the legacy of the adored American figure. Jerry Saltz, Senior Art Critic for New York Magazine, attributes “bad” and “generic” public sculpture to the bureaucratic systems that have long dictated public art— including the commissions composed of politicians, life-long political advisors, architects, and real-estate developers.

“One way to avoid this,” Saltz said, “is to, first of all, get a group of women together. I think you do not want the governor and another batch of male-whatever-politicians big-fucking-footing this thing around. [They should] just shut up and listen. Because to me, the monument to Ginsburg is not only a monument to Ginsburg; it is a monument to one of the greatest liberation movements in this country, which of course is feminism.”

Medusa with the Head of Perseus

Luciano Garbati (2008-2020)

One of the most controversial public sculptures of recent memory is Luciano Garbati’s, Medusa with the Head of Perseus. The seven-foot bronze sculpture of an unclothed Medusa reimagines the Greek myth by shifting the narrative of the myth to the perspective of Medusa while positioning the physical sculpture in the context of the #MeToo movement. Smooth and cold to the touch, but resolute and distinguished, Medusa gazes out above a sea of passersby. She is installed in Manhattan’s Collective Park Pond, across from the New York County Criminal Court where the Harvey Weinstein trials commenced.

The sculpture is inspired by Benvenuto Cellini’s 16th-century bronze masterpiece, Perseus with the Head of Medusa. As Greek Mythology recounts, Medusa was once a beautiful maiden whose appearance was transformed after she was stalked and raped by the sea god, Poseidon in Athena’s temple. As punishment for “breaking” the vow of celibacy, Athena turned Medusa’s hair into a tangle of snakes and cursed her with a gaze powerful enough to petrify men. Perseus, son of Zeus and Danäe, murders Medusa in her sleep. He holds her severed head in an upright, trophy-like position— weaponizing it to turn his enemies to stone. Cellini’s statue and Greek Mythology shame Medusa for being a victim of rape. The Argentine- Italian sculptor’s interpretation, Medusa with the Head of Perseus, flips the context, giving the power back to Medusa and victims of sexual assault.

At the mid-October unveiling, Garbati spoke of the women who had written to him, viewing the sculpture as catharsis. The artwork, created in 2008, has materialized into an artist-led project first conceived by Bek Andersen, called MWTH (Medusa With The Head – pronounced “myth”). Andersen contacted Garbati after the image went viral. Together, the two applied to NYC Parks’ program, Art in the Parks.

MWTH engages the narrative habits of classical imaginaries of the past, present, and future, and sells miniature replicas and agitprop of Garbati’s, Medusa. A small portion of the proceeds goes to the National Women’s Law Center.

Although the sculpture reimagines the myth by shifting the power to women—an act that is seemingly well-intentioned and fits into the narrative of feminist ideals— the artwork has been met with a deluge of controversy. For one, the sculpture predates the birth of the #MeToo movement by nearly a decade. Secondly, #MeToo was created by Tarana J. Burke, a Black activist from the Bronx. In a post, Burke wrote: “This monument may mean something to some folks, but it is NOT representative of the work that we do or anything we stand for.” In Garbati’s vision of Medusa, the Gorgon unrelentingly grips the severed head of Perseus and not the head of Poseidon, her rapist. This may be an act of irrefutable violence but artistically, it is not a radical political act. [Violence in art is nothing new.] The emphasis on violence and revenge in Garbati’s narrative conflicts with the entirety of the #MeToo movement. “This isn’t the kind of symbolism that this Movement needs,” wrote Burke.

The decision to erect Garbati’s Medusa is a classic example of a missed opportunity for minority representation that the City [and the art world] will continue to perpetuate. Instead, the City chose an artwork with a message created by a man, depicting a naked woman with an idealized muscular physique, Euro-centric features, and shaved genitalia.

A redeeming quality of Medusa with the Head of Perseus is that it is temporary. Until her removal, Medusa will stand indignant, across the street from a criminal courthouse, reminding the public that through millennia women who are sexually assaulted are likely to be blamed.

Park Slope Puppy Boom: How Our Pets are Helping Us Cope

January 29, 2021 By Sofia Pipolo Filed Under: Bark Slope, Feature, Pandemic Diaries Tagged With: pandemic, pets, sofia pipolo

The overall mental health and wellbeing of our neighborhood (and entire planet) has shifted due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. With new stresses, a global financial crisis, and loved ones lost, there is much that can’t be replaced. Through it all, many of us have found solace in our new and old pets. Because individuals and families are spending more time at home than ever before, Park Slope has seen a “Puppy Boom.”

The Kingham family (Stuart, Roz, and 10-year-old Isla) rescued German-Shepard mix Macy to help uplift their spirits. While reluctant before Covid, Roz knew that getting a dog would give them something positive to focus on after Isla kept mentioning her experience with remote learning as “lonely.” Stuart reflected on his increased stress from all-day screen time, working from home, and worrying about the health and safety of his family, as a kind of low-grade PTSD. He reflects, “Everything was a worry, even going to stores.”

Though housetraining Macy was a challenge, they agree it has far outweighed the stresses of the outside world as the Kingham family saw their commitment to the new canine family member pay off. Over 2 months later, Macy is already growing up alongside Isla. Taking the time to step away from their screens and heavy workload, the endless news cycle, and the grief of pandemic losses to take care of puppy Macy has made Staut, Roz, and Isla feel a bit safer and happier.

***Isla Kingham with her rescue puppy “Macy”***

They train her together and connect with other dog-owners in the neighborhood. Roz says, “There’s definitely a dog community in Park Slope so just making that human connection on walks with other dog owners has been nice; everyone stops to talk when you have a puppy!” Their new routine includes early morning off-leash play in the park, after-school walks, and evenings spent on the front stoop where they sit to watch the world go by.

You’ll find many families enjoying similar daily pet pleasures. Park Slope has 10 dog parks, including the Prospect Park Dog Beach, making it an amazing community for pet owners. Pets, especially dogs and cats, are known to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, to ease loneliness and encourage exercise and playfulness. They also help children to grow up more secure and active, and provide valuable companionship for older adults.

These days everyone needs some extra stability, joy, and positive coping methods, one reason why pet adoption and sales have been through the roof this past year. Even veteran pet owners have become more appreciative and formed closer bonds with their furry friends.

For example, the pandemic has heightened Park Slope resident, Ingrid’s anxiety; making her less motivated to deal with tasks beyond short term consideration. Ingrid said, “ Much of the structure I’ve built into my life over the years vanished overnight, along with any sense of what the future could or should look like.” Her two cats, Cabiria aka Cabbie and Jean Harlow whom she’s had for over 3-years, have brought extra companionship and cuddles during these uncertain months of quarantining at home. “Taking care of the cats provide some structure to the days, and requires me to think about something other than myself… So I actually have something to discuss with friends or co-workers that isn’t horrible pandemic news or politics.” She’s found exchanging silly cat photos and having Cabbie and Jean meow over speakerphone a sure-fire way to bring a smile to anyone’s face.

***Giselle with her partner and their rescue puppy “Pico”***

Similarly, the unforeseeable future had spiked Diana Kane’s anxiety, so after some discussion adopting a dog felt like the right decision. And it was! Her family’s new 4-month-old rescue from Puerto Rico, Appa (named after the flying-bison from Avatar: The Last Airbender), has been a blessing for their mental and physical health. Diana and her family has been able to find peace and joy. She said, “I think Disney has it wrong: the Happiest Place on Earth is actually off-leash in Prospect Park.”

Giselle Navarro and her partner adopted a Jindo mix named Pico just before the city shut down. While worrying about their health and safety and only communicating with others through screens, they felt lucky to have Pico by their side. By structuring their quarantine days around the new puppy, their new routine for the new normal provides time to safely leave the apartment, stay motivated to train together, and actually get a steadier sleep schedule.

Pico’s need for cuddles and play was also a welcome distraction for Giselle. “She’s always so happy, I frequently tell others that I’m not sure how I would be getting through the pandemic if we didn’t have Pico. Living through this has been tough, but having her has made it a little bit easier. Even if I’m not feeling great, her good mood rubs off on me.”

Maya Wiley Runs for Mayor of New York City

January 25, 2021 By Sally Kohn Filed Under: Feature, Part of the Solution, Sally Kohn Tagged With: election, Maya Wiley, politics, sally kohn

“We all see the world from the prism of our experience. The question is: How broad are our experiences? How deep are they?” Maya framed this fundamental question over the phone in the Fall of 2020, just weeks after announcing her groundbreaking – and unconventional – candidacy to be the next mayor of New York City.

Maya Wiley framed this fundamental question over the phone in the Fall of 2020, just weeks after announcing her groundbreaking — and unconventional — candidacy to be the next mayor of New York City. Wiley is a human rights activist and civil rights attorney with a decades-long record of leadership at the forefront of movements for social, economic, and racial justice. She is many other things, too. A black woman. A Brooklyn mom. A child of political icons.

But what Maya Wiley is definitely NOT is a politician. Which is probably both her greatest asset and her greatest challenge in the mayoral contest.

Wiley was born in 1964 in Washington, D.C., to politically active parents who met in Syracuse. In many ways, her birth was a testament to the complexities of our nation, then as now. Wiley’s father, George, was a professor of organic chemistry who became a leading figure in the civil rights movement. He rose to national leadership in the Congress of Racial Equality and then founded the National Welfare Rights Organization. As a Black man organizing mostly women of color to agitate for dignity and justice in public assistance, he was an early pioneer of what we now call intersectionality — how gender and race and class compound and connect. Wiley’s mother, Wretha, was a white woman from a Texas town Maya describes as “all white and very racist when she was growing up” who understood the injustice of exclusion and myopia and left to blaze a different path. I should clarify here that Maya Wiley is my friend from years of movement work together, and I met her mom several times before her passing. I can’t help but think that Maya’s candidacy to be the first Black woman mayor of the City of New York represents their daughter but also their hopes for our nation — that we could be the kind of place, the kind of people, who would choose their daughter to lead.

Because who Maya Wiley is is central to understanding what kind of mayor she would be. After graduating from Columbia Law School and then clerking in Philadelphia, Wiley moved to Brooklyn in 1991 where she’s lived ever since. She held positions at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the ACLU, in addition to being a Senior Advisor on Race and Poverty at the Open Society Foundations, advancing human rights and justice around the globe. But perhaps the defining role in Wiley’s career was the one she created for herself when in 2002 she founded the Center for Social Inclusion, one of the nation’s first action-oriented think tanks focused on dismantling structural racism and inequity. With a tiny bit of seed money and, initially, running the organization without paying herself a salary, Wiley created applied research projects led in partnership with communities of color to develop and document transformative policy solutions in housing, food systems, technology access, and more. Yes, Wiley was also a prominent legal analyst for MSNBC and NBC until recently, a Senior Vice President and professor at The New School. Wiley may not be a conventional candidate but she is keenly aware of how city government works, how to manage within it, and what needs fixing to make us fairer and more just. She obviously has the chops to do the job. She served as the first Black woman to be Counsel to a New York City Mayor, serving early in Bill de Blasio’s administration. And after leaving in 2016, Chaired the NYC Civilian Complaint Review Board, sending the case of the officer who killed Eric Garner, former Officer Daniel Panteleo, to the NYPD to get him off the force.

But the formative part of Wiley’s career was spent not just talking about bold solutions to our biggest problems — but actually developing them. When most politicians were still struggling to use words like “intersectional” in a sentence, Wiley was working with grassroots communities and leading innovators to actually put intersectionality into practice — and policy.

And that deep track record from her past shows up in her campaigning today. “I am running because this city can and must do more than recover from Covid,” she told me over the phone when we spoke. “It must reimagine itself as a place where we can all live with dignity. That means a place where we develop without displacement. That means a place where we put the public back in public safety. That means a place where the government is a partner and not a pariah. That means a place where communities of concern get the investments they need in order to become whole.”

All of which Wiley insists is possible if we stop making bad choices forcing unnecessary trade-offs between helping affluent New Yorkers and Wall Street versus everyone else. “We can be a city that holds onto what we all love about New York,” Wiley says. “We love the fact that New York City is one of the most diverse cities in the world. That brings so much culture and innovation and makes us a place everyone wants to be. We have to hold onto that. But we can’t do that unless we reimagine the city as something that can include everyone.” In other words, Wiley argues, we don’t have to choose between fairness for all versus opportunity for some. There’s another way, where we “come together and have a real, honest conversation about what will make us stronger, what will make us more fair and more just… and bring this city back even stronger.” Wiley points to examples where we can make the city government more principled and more efficient and effective, invest in innovative affordable housing strategies and infrastructure investments that benefit us all.

But can we really do both? Yes, insists Wiley with her characteristic mix of gumption and faith. “That’s why we need a non-traditional leader. Because we always could do both. We just haven’t had that option.”

Women of color in particular, Wiley explains, have never had the luxury of just “sticking with the status quo or reacting to it. We’ve always had to create.” She makes the case for why we need more diverse and inclusive leadership not just based on principle but practice — the real, concrete difference that leaders with broader perspectives bring to the table.

“I don’t embody every other,” Wiley explains, “but there’s a recognition when you are forced by society, the way we’ve structured society, to have to see many different experiences. Not everybody is forced to do that, but if you are black and female and have been fortunate enough to see what it’s like to be in a segregated, overcrowded, underfunded public school and to see what it’s like in a private school with small classrooms… to have the privilege of living in a black neighborhood where folks could barely get by and living uptown where people are living in mini-mansions… you have a sense of what other experiences are like.” Which, to Wiley, is the point. We have constructed a society in which some of us, especially those of us often represented in positions of leadership, are distinctly less likely and even insulated from the experiences of others in our society. Electing Black women leaders isn’t just important because it makes our government look more like the people it represents but because diverse leaders can actually understand the lives and needs of all our communities. When we talk about leadership and say “experience matters,” we also have to broaden our understanding of experience. Actually having lived the plights of ordinary New Yorkers should be a political prerequisite for any leader professing solutions for those plights.

Which also may be the doorway to a different type of leadership altogether. Wiley isn’t just positing herself as some sort of singularly unique and therefore singularly able savior, in the vein of ego-centric messiah-like political figures before her. She wants to bring her intersectional experiences and ideas into governing but she doesn’t want to stop there; she also wants to reimagine governing to be inherently more inclusive, participatory, and transparent. To this end, as part of her campaign, Wiley is organizing “People’s Assemblies” that bring wide ranges of New Yorkers together to discuss their priorities and needs and challenges and concerns — ”no matter which candidate they support,” Wiley notes — and come up with shared solutions. “So we’re not just telling folks, ‘Here’s what we’ll do for you.’ We’re starting a democratic practice of coming together and having these conversations.”

In the first of these People’s Assemblies on the subject of gun violence, participants ranged from an Afro-Latina woman who grew up in public housing and a white man who was a former cop. The conversation — just the fact of them coming together and talking, and the shared struggles and solutions they and others were able to connect over — was, as Wiley describes it, “fantastic.” Several more People’s Assemblies will be organized by the campaign in the coming weeks and months.

“We’re not just asking for votes, we’re asking for community, we’re asking for folks to be in conversation,” Wiley adds. In this sense, Maya Wiley isn’t just a transformational candidate, she’s also running a transformational campaign.

Which in so many ways makes sense given Wiley’s community organizing roots. In 2014, as Wiley was preparing to work in the de Blasio Administration — where she would ultimately experience how the transformative potential of city government could be wasted under an ineffective, visionless mayor — Wiley spoke to then Politico-reporter Maggie Haberman about the move. “You could have gone and made a million dollars,” Haberman noted, asking why Wiley wanted to work in city government instead.

In response, Wiley shared a memory from her father. “[A] friend of his once asked him, when do you stop, George And his answer was, ‘When no one else is hungry. And his friend said, Well, that’s never going to be the case. And he said, Well then you never stop.’”

Let’s hope Maya Wiley never stops fighting to bring her transformative experiences and ideas — and the experiences and ideas of all New Yorkers — to the fore. If that fight ultimately takes her to City Hall, we’ll be a better city and a better community because of it.

A True & Genuine Companionship: Thanks to Isolated New Yorkers, Dog Adoptions Surge

January 19, 2021 By Kara Goldfarb Filed Under: Bark Slope, Feature, Pandemic Diaries Tagged With: kara goldfarb

The very real Coronavirus Pandemic has led to a very real Loneliness Epidemic. In a survey by the AARP, two-thirds of adults said they’re experiencing social isolation and 66 percent said their anxiety has increased during the pandemic. Essentially, one public health crisis gave rise to another.

There has been, however, one positive outcome in response to the isolation fatigue in Brooklyn and on a national scale. With flexible work schedules, more time at home, and a universal desire for companionship, one notable response has been a startling increase in dog adoptions. The double win of providing homes to a multitude of shelter animals and comfort to lonely residents may be one of the only good things to come out of the pandemic.

The ASPCA reported over 600 online foster applications in New York City and Los Angeles during the second half of March, compared to the average 200 applications. Reported by the AP, New York based nonprofit Foster Dogs Inc. saw the number of applications in the month of August increase from 140 the previous year, to 3,000. Muddy Paws Rescue, an NYC foster-based nonprofit, reported that, after receiving ten times the number of applications in a two week period, the shelters they partnered with were essentially empty.

For Toni Bodon, the increased interest in adopting a dog is palpable as well. Bodon is the cofounder of Stray from the Heart, a New York-based nonprofit dog rescue organization aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating neglected dogs. “If I had to guess, I’d say 25 percent more this time than last year,” Bodon said in regards to the number of applications the organization received. Stray from the Heart has partners in Puerto Rico and Ecuador who care for the dogs until they are matched with the perfect owner and well enough to travel. Bodon is thrilled with the uptick. However, with an emphasis on making sure a candidate is the right fit for a particular dog, the organization’s thorough vetting process makes it a time-consuming mission as well. “We are entirely volunteer-based,” Bodon notes, adding, “it really is a labor of love.”

***Max and Kate with their rescue puppy “Appa” from Puerto Rico (Stray from the Heart).***

In going through the multitude of applications, the team looks for stability within potential owners. For instance, they may receive an application from someone who is currently working from home due to the pandemic. But if the person doesn’t know whether they’ll have to return to the office in five months, their application likely won’t be approved. “If they live alone, who is going to take care of the dog then?” Bodon asked. Her core responsibility is in ensuring each dog they rescue finds a solid home.

Because Stray from the Heart doesn’t have a foster center and the rescues are abroad, they’ve also had to work with the COVID travel restrictions when it comes to uniting an adopted dog with an owner. The normal adoption process takes 4-8 weeks, with the added process of flying the dogs over. A rescue in severe conditions will take longer as the dog undergoes necessary rehabilitation procedures, which the organization relies primarily on donations to cover the cost of. Bruno and Gracie are two recent examples of rescues found in critical condition. Bruno needed chemotherapy as well as treatment for skin lacerations. Gracie, an abandoned poodle found on the roof of an empty house in Ecuador, needed emergency care after spending an unknown amount of time unsheltered from the heat and rain without food or water. They named her Gracie “because by the grace of God she was rescued.”

Though the volunteers work tirelessly, it pays off, as evident by the universally satisfied owners upon receiving their new family members. “We have settled in well with our little love bug Hachi,” the parents of a recent rescue wrote via Facebook. “So far his favorite activities are curling up on the couch, sleeping on our laps, and eating cheese treats. He enjoys our walks as well, but not quite as much when it is raining hard — we think he’s still got memories of the hurricanes in Puerto Rico,” they also wrote; a reminder of the hard times these animals have been through.

***A happy and healthy Bruno (Stray from the Heart).***

There are also stories of people who were simply able to slow down enough during the pandemic to complete the adoption process. Joni Wildman, a local Brooklyn resident, adopted a dog earlier this year from Muddy Paws. “I had been looking to adopt before the pandemic hit, but I struggled with elaborate adoption applications,” Wildman said. She was able to find more time for herself during the pandemic, which included more time to work on her paintings. A friend who was fostering for Muddy Paws had one pup in particular named Catch who stood out to Wildman. “Catch looked like the dog in the painting I was making, so I applied. Had to be fate, right?” she said. “He’s been my hiking, beach, running, going everywhere buddy ever since.” Wildman says the added time in her day has given her the opportunity to train catch and help him really adjust to her home.

There’s an underlying beauty in these kinds of matches. The rise in stray dogs who have found warm, loving homes over these past eight months is undoubtedly a wonderful thing. But beyond that, the notion of an owner who has had a difficult time during COVID finding solace with an animal who has likewise had a tough row to hope, makes the relationship between the two a true and genuine companionship.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day!

January 18, 2021 By admin Filed Under: Community, Feature Tagged With: activism, Black Lives Matter, martin luther king day

It’s time to celebrate, grow, and build together.

Our top reads to celebrate all of those who work as activists who fight for rights and equality for all.

The Battle for 227 Abolitionist Place, part two

December 24, 2020 By Kara Goldfarb Filed Under: Feature, Park Slope Life Tagged With: Black Lives Matter, kara goldfard, winter 2021

In This Fight to Preserve History, Black Lives and Black Landmarks Matter

READ PART ONE HERE

In mid July, the Landmark Preservation Commission of New York City held a public hearing. It took place over Zoom due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. It it had been in person, it would have been a packed room. For nearly three hours, members of the community gave testimony in support of Item 1 on the docket, LP‐2645, also known as the proposal to give landmark status to 227 Duffield Street.

The battle for 227 Duffield Street has been ongoing (a deeper history is chronicled in part one of this series.) During a virtual Landmark Preservation Commission (LPC) meeting at the end of June, the commission calendared 227 for an official hearing on whether it should be given Landmark Status. They then set that hearing for just two weeks later. It may sound fast-moving for those familiar with NY bureaucracy standards. On the other hand, those who have had a stake in this fight might say it took closer to two decades.

In her testimony during the hearing, the Attorney General for New York, Letitia James, said, “I’ve been involved in this effort to preserve 227 Duffield Street,” before stating that the building is “actually known as 227 Abolitionist Place.” As previously reported, Duffield Street was renamed Abolitionist Place in the Fall of 2007 to commemorate the numerous buildings and people on the block active in the anti-slavery movement during the Civil War era. As for 227, the building was the home of two prominent abolitionists named Harriet and Thomas Truesdell, and is long thought to have been part of the Underground Railroad. That same year, the building was saved from demolition when its owner Joy Chatel (lovingly known as “Mama Joy”), narrowly won a court settlement in which the city agreed the property wouldn’t be taken by eminent domain as part of the Downtown Brooklyn Development Plan. However, the LPC’s decision to not landmark the home left it vulnerable for future developers to try the same thing again. And that’s exactly what’s happening now.

So what’s happened between now and 2007?

In 2014, Joy Chatel passed away. A longtime champion of 227 Duffield’s preservation, Chatel was responsible for drawing many activists and organizations to the cause. Leading up to the 2007 settlement, Chatel and Lewis Greenstein— whose property on Duffield Street was also at risk of being seized and was also thought to be part of the Underground Railroad, formed the Duffield Street Block Association. They also connected with the activist group Families United for Racial and Economic Justice.

Of those who spoke during the recent July hearing, few went without mentioning “Mama Joy” Chatel in their testimonies. “She treated me like a son. Her compassion is why I’m here right now,” said Local activist Raul Rothblatt. In her fight to save 227 Duffield, Chatel created a legacy of her own. “I believe her history should be included in the LPC designation of 227 Duffield,” said Rothblatt.

In 2017, Samiel Hanasab, a developer, brought the property under an entity called 227 Duffield Street Corp. And as feared when the building was initially rejected for Landmark Preservation Status, Hanasab applied for a demolition permit in the summer of 2019, citing plans to replace the two-story building with a 13-story mixed-use structure.

Though Chatel was no longer there, the momentum she helped build had not lost steam. Those still dedicated to 227’s preservation held a rally outside of the Landmarks Commission building on Centre Street in Manhattan in August 2019. In a Facebook event, organizers called it an “Emergency Rally” and provided instructions on how to contact Lisa Kersavage, the LPC’s Executive Director. As it Read:

“Tell her:

– Please do not demolish 227 Duffield Street, located in Downtown Brooklyn
– We need to landmark 227 Duffield, because it is well-documented that it was used as a meeting house for the abolitionist movement as well as a stop on the Underground Railroad.
– We strongly believe that the site needs to be turned into a museum to preserve this important historic contribution to the fight against racism in the US.”

Calendaring a building for consideration is the first official step the LPC takes in granting it Landmark Status. The Buildings Department had approved Hanasab’s demolition permits, and the LPC hadn’t calendared the Duffield home. So the sense of urgency was palpable. And the campaign persevered on. A petition was created, a GoFundMe page was set up, and the marches continued.

On February 22 of this year, during Black History Month, activists organized another rally outside the Barclays Center. Together they held a large sign that read, “Black Landmarks Matter,” with the hashtag #Save227Duffield. On May 25, 2020, almost exactly three months later, George Floyd was killed.

In that June meeting that took place over Zoom, the LPC voted on calendaring 227 Duffield Street. The decision to do so was unanimous.

And that led to the July hearing.

Of the dozens of people who spoke and wrote letters, there was one who testified on behalf of Hanasab: His lawyer, Garfield Heslop. Heslop asserted that “no one is more attuned to historical significance of the building as we are” and that “part of the development of the property was the creation of a museum that would honor the legacy of the building.” Rothblatt, however, disagreed, stating that “the new owners have never reached out to any of the historical advocates.” He added, “We have a vibrant community of people willing to save this history and they have not shown any interest in that…as far as I can tell they’ve had contempt.”

The hearing was a monumental step in this story. And, as the outpouring of support it received made evident, one that many have been waiting on for a long time. It was maybe best summated by a man named Michael Henry Adams from Harlem, who was there at the beginning. Adams said, “I’m gratified by the outcome today, finally, after 17 years.” But he didn’t neglect to mention the kind of destruction that can be done when steps aren’t taken to preserve important landmarks in a timely manner. Referencing recent comments made by Mayor de Blasio about systemic racism throughout city departments beyond the Police Department, Adams said he hopes this designation can be an acknowledgement that, “justice delayed is justice denied.”

The timelines of the LPC hearing as it converged with the George Floyd protests was undeniable. “Of course Black lives matter, of course, Black landmarks matters,” Adams said, continuing, “They matter because Black people are not just Black people. We are Americans. we are the people who built this nation and so our history is second to none.”

The Earth is Life, and the Land is our Home: Lenapehoking and its Original Inhabitants

October 12, 2020 By Julia DePinto Filed Under: Feature, Outside Tagged With: julia depinto, Prospect Park

If you live in Brooklyn, there is a decent chance you have been to Prospect Park. It is a natural sanctuary of sweeping vales, luminous ponds, dense woodlands, and dedicated athletes. The urban park embraces socialization, from large family gatherings and cultural celebrations to sponsored festivals and outdoor concerts. It does not separate society by race or class, nor age, gender, or ethnicity.

The land, as it sits today, is accessible year-round and available for people of all demographics to use. The landscape provides a public space for quiet moments of solitude and self-reflection—while providing a refuge from the noise, hustle, grime, and smell of uncollected waste that permeate in the city. For me, the park was where I found comfort during the height of the novel coronavirus pandemic. With the widespread closures of most public spaces, and the condemnation of physical interaction and public gathering, my options for finding connections were limited. Connecting to “nature” was my safest option, even if that meant connecting to the highly stylized and well-manicured topography of Prospect Park.

“We have a tendency to want to separate our home from inside and outside,” said Hadrien Coumans, after I explained my desire to find a connection to the natural world, rather than connection through physical or civic engagement. Coumans, an adopted member of the White Turkey-Fugate family, is the co-founder and co-director of the Manhattan-based cultural organization, the Lenape Center. “The reality is that we are completely inside of our home, even when we think we are outside of our home. The earth is life, and the land is our home.” Coumans paused for a few moments before adding: “This—the reality that you’re describing— is what the Lenape people have always been acutely aware of.”

Historical tablets, erected monuments, triumphal arches, and public artworks are dispersed throughout Prospect Park’s 585-acre oasis, honoring the people and events that have shaped and cultivated the city and community. But the history of Prospect Park—as well as the history of New York City and largely, North America—is complex. For centuries, history has been negotiated, slanted, and erased. A subtle reminder of the area’s indigenous people recently became visible. A handmade Lenape-themed placard, acknowledging rightful land-ownership, is pasted to a bronze and granite marker, commemorating Battle Pass.

Long before European colonization, revolutionary battles, and the reshaping of Prospect Park’s rugged topography, lived the Lenape, part of the Algonquin nation, and Lenapehoking, the land they occupied. The Lenape, also called Lenni-Lenape—translating to “Original People” and later renamed by European colonizers to Delaware— are a loosely organized band of Native Americans whose tribal roots have sunk deep into the landscape of today’s New York City for more than 10,000 years. The ancestral land of Lenapehoking spans from eastern Pennsylvania to a small part of western Connecticut, and from the Hudson Valley to northern Delaware. Manahatta island meaning “hilly island,” known today as Manhattan, is at the crux of Lenapehoking. Although the Lenape are remembered for being tenacious warriors, they are also regarded for being peacemakers, earning the title of “Grandfather” tribe.

The Lenape’s origin story begins when a great tortoise, symbolic of the earth, rose from the water and became dry. A tree grew in the middle of the earth, and brought forth a man and later a woman. The phratry clans of the Lenape, which traced their descent through the female line, included three tribal divisions determined by language and location: Wolf (Munsee), Turtle (Unami), and Turkey (Unalachtigo). As a nomadic hunter-gather society, the ancestral Lenape heavily depended on the prosperity of the land. Every ten to twelve years, after depleting the geographical location of its natural resources, the entire village would migrate to a neighboring area of Lenapehoking. Thus, allowing the land to replenish itself for future generations.

European explorers arrived in the 16th century, with Italian explorer, Giovanni da Verrazano, leading the sail into the New York Harbor. According to some historical records, the Lenape, at first, welcomed the European explorers. They shared the land and resources and soon embraced the act of trade. By the 17th century, European corporations, including the Dutch West India Company, had materialized on the wealth of Lenapehoking and exploited the indigenous peoples. They entered into deceptive land deals, and in 1626, the Lenape “sold” the island of Manahatta to the Dutch. The concept of land-ownership was foreign to the Lenape, who believed that the earth and all of its inhabitants could only belong to the Creator. This particular land transaction, enforced with a constructed barrier wall around “New Amsterdam,” marked the downfall of Lenape society and the beginning of the diaspora. Traditional life for the Lenape was interrupted by the loss of land and the expansion of trade, creating a dependence on over-hunting and leading to a scarcity of resources and cultural value. The colonizers, bringing with them an array of deadly diseases, treated the Lenape as if they were uncivilized and disposable. They devastated the Lenape’s cultural identity and ancestral grounds through cultural assimilation —including involuntary Christian indoctrination— warfare, genocide, illegal land trades, and forced migration. Some accounts suggest that by 1750, the Lenape lost an estimated 90% of its people. The remaining Lenape succumbed to displacement, traveling west to current-day Ohio, and north to today’s New York State and Canada.

While the Lenape are credited with influencing the history and geography of present-day New York City and surrounding areas, an intentional banishing of their identity —perpetuated by centuries of cultural whitewashing, forced removal, and genocide—have conspired to erase public knowledge of the tribe and their long presence with the ancestral homeland.

“The erasure has caused a void, particularly to public knowledge and the understanding of the Lenape people,” said Hadrien Coumans. “Until recently, there was no consciousness of recognition that was recognizable.”

Over a decade ago, Coumans was standing with Joe Baker, member of the federally recognized tribe, Delaware Tribe of Indians, on the Upper East Side. As the two men gazed out onto their ancestral homeland, they experienced a collective and ominous feeling that the Lenape people were facing permanent erasure from public memory. Coumans and Baker pondered how they could preserve their cultural identity and homeland for future generations.

“We wanted to create a center that would continue our presence and be a welcoming home for the diaspora,” said Coumans. “This experience led to an urgency to continue the Lenape culture and identity.” Consequently, in 2008, the Lenape Center was born.

The mission of the Lenape Center is to continue the culture of the Lenape and Lenapehoking through the arts, humanities, and environmental conservancy. Bringing public awareness of the Lenape presence to mainstream culture enables descendants of the diaspora to fight back against centuries of exploitation, manipulation, and erasure. Their work includes planting indigenous corn in community gardens; convening with the Brooklyn Museum to create a permanent art installation; staging an opera on the Lenape perspective of the historically misrepresented purchase of Manahatta; consulting with the architects of Tammany Hall’s turtle shell dome— symbolic of the Lenape origin story and Chief Tamanend—and an “iconic anchor to Union Square”; and finally, the organization seeks to return the “presence of consciousness” to the homeland by establishing government-to-government relations, including access to New York City’s resources, and a Living Land Acknowledgement. The acknowledgment, usually in the form of a public statement or plaque, is a simple gesture of respectfully bringing awareness and true inclusion to the indigenous inhabitants that have been deprived of their ancestral homeland and territories. Many of these territories are now occupied by physical institutions, including venues, real estate developments, schools, conference centers, stadiums, and places of worship. A Living Land Acknowledgement also attempts to correct racism— including the indigenous caricature embedded in the New York City seal— and the practices that, for centuries, have contributed to the erasure of the native people’s history, culture, and identity.

As of today, two commemorative memorials exist in New York City, acknowledging the legacy of the Lenape. Both of the memorials contain historical inaccuracies. In recent years, Columbia University dedicated a plaque to honor the Lenape people for occupying the territory of today’s Manhattan, before the colonization of the Americas.

Present-day descendants of the Lenape are federally recognized as “Delaware” and include members of Delaware Nation, Delaware Tribe of Indians, and Stockbridge-Munsee Community. While some smaller bands of the Lenape descendants still live in the NYC and the Northeast, many of the Lenape/ Delaware live in one of the five sovereign nations with full federal recognition, including one nation in Wisconsin, two in Oklahoma, and two in Ontario, Canada.

In March, when the pandemic hit New York City and much of the country, the Lenape Center decided to indefinitely cancel all public events. “This is a time to hibernate not a time to gather,” said Coumans. He noted that the Center’s virtual meetings and ongoing events, including the production of a documentary on indigenous corn, have been well received.

I asked Coumans about the connection between environmentalism and the novel coronavirus pandemic. I wondered if he believed there was, if any, a silver lining to the disruption and widespread devastation that New York City has faced.

“Well,” said Coumans, “the reality is that Lenapehoking or not, we cannot exist without trees or water or oxygen. These are the life-giving properties of the earth. We have to be respectful of nature to breathe fresh air.” He paused before adding: “I do hope the city continues to heal from the pandemic, and that we’ll all come away with a better knowledge of our environment.”

We recommend that you educate yourself and if interested and able, get involved with the Lenape community. Their website explains more about the history and influence of the original “Brooklyn” people.

www.thelenapecenter.com

Editor’s note: In recent months, as nationwide protests against racial injustices and weaponized police violence have swept our country, we have seen a historic push to acknowledge the complexities of the past and to include the —often negotiated and intentionally erased—truths that affect our present.

When I first became aware of the Lenape-themed placard atop the bronze and granite Battle Pass monument, I was immediately reminded of the brazen distortions, nods to conspiracies, arrogant lies sold as irrefutable truths, and chants of greatness, all touted by President Trump. But for one to see our country as great means that we have to side with the version of history written on the Battle Pass plaque, and not with the history of the Lenape-themed card. When we question the actions of the past, to better understand the truth, we are reminded that the definition of great is conditional and tethered to a reality that has been slanted. The pasted Lenape-themed placard juxtaposed the Battle Pass marker underscores the thickness of Brooklyn’s history while bringing into our collective consciousness the indigenous nations that New York City has long overlooked.

Unyielding. Insistent. Enduring. PERSISTICON: There is No Planet B

May 3, 2019 By Candice Dixon Filed Under: Community, Feature, Uncategorized Tagged With: candice dixon, feminist, persisticon

Sunday, May 5th will mark the third Persisticon event at the Bell House, in Park Slope. This biannual night of comedy, and so much more, is a public statement insisting on the election of more progressive women. This weekend Persisticon III benefits EMILY’s List, a political action organization focused on helping pro-choice Democratic women achieve political positions.

An all volunteer production, Persisticon is highly anticipated and will be filled with laughs, information, and fun. The lineup for the evening’s festivities is phenomenal and at least 80% women, always. It includes Aparna Nancherla, Amber Tamblyn, Ana Fabrega, Kerry Coddett, and Ophira Eisenberg as emcee.

Persisticon will also provide an opportunity for local women entrepreneurs to share their activist-centric art and memorabilia with attendees and promote more community involvement. Drinks will be flowing, connections will be made, and a group of like-minded, fearless folks will unite for an energizing affair. The collision of art, comedy, and electing feminists has never been so exciting.

There are a few days left to purchase tickets and help take back the future of politics. It’s the responsibility of the people to impact the current climate and pave way for generations to come. For more details, visit persisticon.com and don’t miss the secret promo code to receive $20.20 off tickets (IPERSISTED). Make sure you’re caught in the collision this Sunday!

GET YOUR TICKETS HERE

A Satiable Taste of Fifth

April 16, 2019 By Candice Dixon Leave a Comment Filed Under: Community, Eat Local, Feature Tagged With: A Taste of Fifth, candice dixon, local food, Taste of Fifth

**Prospect Bar and Grill,** photography by **Emily J. Davis**

A Taste of Fifth 2019

A Taste of Fifth has seen yet another successful year, marking its highest ticket sales to date. More than 600 tickets were sold and a whopping $15,000 raised for the 15 benefitting non-profits. The excitement and merriment was undeniable throughout the evening as guests indulged in a myriad of local food and beverage selections on and around 5^th Avenue. Returning veterans like Calexico (5^th Ave. between Garfield Place and 1^st Street) shared its famed Gringo Taco in adorable, colorful mini shells along with its delicious vegan Beet Tacos. Blue Sky Bakery, (5^th Ave. between Bergen and St. Marks; 8^th year veteran) showcased its token daffodil décor with platers of dairy-free veggie muffins such as Pumpkin Apple Cranberry and Zucchini Strawberry Chocolate Chip.

There was an impressive number of first-timers joining the fun this year. New businesses such as Simple Loaf Bake House (5^th Ave. between 2^nd & 3^rd streets; opening May 2019) shared delectable treats such as Lemon Bars, Caramel Blondies, and Fudge Brownies. Also, Lizzy King Parlor (corner of 5^th & Prospect Place) has joined the Fifth Avenue family boasting menu items which are sourced solely from New York purveyors including Fleishers on 5^th, from where their meat is purchased for the signature pork sliders which were featured at the event. The Shaking Crab (corner of President Street & 5^th Ave.) was on deck, marking its second participation. Guests sampled the spicy crawfish and head-on shrimp in a pool of ‘Shaking’ sauce: a savory mix of cajun spices, butter, and garlic with a kick.

With all the scrumptious tastes, there were many thirst-quenchers to pair along. Zula Wines & Spirits, (5^th Ave, between 11^th and 12^th streets, opened late 2018), had a constant line as guests enjoyed three wines – a Portuguese Rosé, an Austrian Grϋner, and a Montepulciano – and is co-owned by couple Amy Miles and Mike Robertson, and friend/comedian Amy Poehler. The featured wines are available for $12 or less. Brooklyn born Breuckelen Distillery (77 19^th street; first time participant), stirred Manhattans and Gin and Tonic sippers through the night along with tastes of its whiskeys in the Grand Ball Room’s speakeasy as Hot Club of Flatbush regaled visitors.

Zula Wine
A Taste of Fifth, 2019
Fogo Azul Drumline

The night was not only a fantastic opportunity for the community to meet restaurateurs and the charities, but was a treat for the hospitality community to socialize with one another.

The night was not only a fantastic opportunity for the community to meet restaurateurs and the charities, but was a treat for the hospitality community to socialize with one another. Owners of SkyIce (corner of 5^th Ave. & St. Marks) were very excited about returning to A Taste of Fifth (7th year participant) and spending time with fellow industry comrades. The dine serves provincial Thai cooking and all-natural homemade ice cream, and offered Krapraw Gai Sub( a dish with minced chicken in a chili basil sauce), along with Thai Tea and Roasted Thai Coconut ice creams – just two out of the 300 flavors offered in-house. Prospect Bar and Grill provided its best seller Four Cheese Mac and Cheese, and a Roast Pork Slider with pickled cherry pepper, broccoli rabe, and mozzarella.

All entertainment, including members from Fogo Azul, an all women Brazilian drumline, was spot-on for the festive occasion. Congrats to all participants, restaurants, charities, and the Park Slope Fifth Avenue Business Improvement District for a job exquisitely done!

Photography by Emily J. Davis

Summer Camp Roundup

March 23, 2012 By admin Filed Under: Feature

On February 4th, PS 321 hosted “School’s Out: Summer Camp and After School Expo”, and invited dozens of neighboring summer camps to showcase what their summer programs offer to local children. I was reminded of the excitement I felt as a child signing up for summer camp. At the surface, summer camps stand as the ideal means in which to entertain children while they are away from the classroom—yet in my youth I found the educational and social benefits of attending a summer camp far reaching.

The camps that participated in PS 321’s expo and many other programs in the city offer children the opportunity to explore their interests, hone in on their prospective talents, utilize their social skills, and flourish in a community where the pressures of academia are relieved. We’ve gathered some of the most stimulating programs below.

SPECIAL INTEREST

Two months away from homework and quizzes gives children the opportunity to immerse themselves in specialized or mini-camps, which speak to their blossoming interests.

Film and video enthusiasts can sign up for a hands-on creative video workshop with Video Kid Brooklyn Summer Camp (www.videokidbrooklyn.com). They offer the opportunity for children to learn storyboarding, editing, acting, cinematography, special effects and much more. Campers will have a go at Special FX classes with underwater cameras, adapting scenes from some of their favorite pre-existing films, and create short films to premiere at the 2nd Annual Video Kids Film Festival! Video Kid Brooklyn Summer Camp runs from July 9th through July 27th from 9am to 2pm at $395/week.

Nature-oriented and local, Kim’s Kids Summer Camp (www.kimskidscamp.com) is run right out of PS 321. Campers ages four and a half to 11 will investigate the wonders of nature in Brooklyn; they will take trips to the pool, go on hikes, visit museums and the Bronx Zoo, and partake in “playground hopping”. They will also walk the Brooklyn Bridge and learn about its construction and history. Kim’s Kids runs from July 2nd through August 10th from 9am to 3pm. Pricing varies based on how many days your child will attend (3 days for 3 weeks is $795).

ADHoops Training (www.adhoopstraining.com) runs basketball clinics in the summer for all of the future Knicks players in the city. At only $10 per session, these clinics emphasize the fundamentals of the game including ball handling, shooting, and lay-ups. ADHoops will hold five sessions in June at Bishop Ford High School in Park Slope for boys and girls in 1st grade through 8th grade. Clinics are offered on June 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th from 6pm to 7pm at only $10/session.

The Brooklyn Youth Music Project (ps58.org/community.cfm?subpage=1456872) offers a two-week Suzuki string workshop for musicians aged four through 18-years-old. Professionals will instruct young cellists, violinists, or violists, at their Carroll Garden space. While they fine-tune their string skills they will also learn the basics of music theory and the program comes to a head with a performance on July 13. Camp will run from July 2nd to July 13th from 9am to 3:45pm for $800.

Learn the ropes of summer camp, literally, at Brooklyn Boulders’ Summer Adventures (www.brooklynboulders.com) at Degraw St and 3rd Avenue. Campers will learn the basics of rock climbing– everything from top-lining, and bouldering, to slacklining! They will also play games and go to the park with their counselors. While they are still figuring out the dates that their Summer Adventures camp will run, one week of Brooklyn Boulders is $495 and camp hours run from 9am to 3:30pm.

The Textile Arts Center (www.textileartscenter.com) runs a day camp in the summer that exposes youngsters to creativity through textile media. At registration, campers can choose between two areas of focus: weaving and surface design. In the weaving class kids will learn how to create fabrics (through weaving, pattern reading, and using a 4-harness loom) to be made into products like bags and toys. Under the surface design focus, textile-savvy children will learn how to dye fabrics, stencil designs, and sew. Camp weeks run from June 25th through August 10th at $475/week.

ARTS-BASED

In a city as artistically inclined as ours, children are able to learn necessary skills to utilize in their crafts at specialized summer camps– have it be painting, violin, improvisational theater, or classical dance.
An arts-based day camp that encourages children to become explorers of the world, Brooklyn Kids (www.GoBrooklynKids.com) runs a program for seven to nine-year-olds during the summer in Park Slope. The ratio of staff to campers is one to five, so children will flourish in their areas of interests, which may include: stage works and theater in conjunction with the New Victory Theater, perfecting painting styles with in-depth studies of Degas and Van Gogh’s techniques, dance, soccer, and even healthy cooking. Campers will keep a journal and a treasure box to commemorate their experience at Brooklyn Kids. Brooklyn Kids from July 16th to August 3rd from 8:30am to 3:30pm at $350/week.

Spoke The Hub is renowned as one of Park Slope’s most exhilarating community art spaces in Brooklyn. With a new theme each week, children are invited to enroll in Spoke the Hub’s summer camp, Camp Gowanee (www.spokethehub.org/camps/camp-gowanee), a multi-art intensive camp that boasts professional artists as their instructors. They offer a dance camp, and activities pertaining to street art, fashion, and filmmaking. One of the nine themes this year is a tribute to Vaudeville—where campers will create and perform stand-up comedy routines! Camp Gowanee runs from July 9th through August 13th from 9:30am to 5pm at $435/week.

The Brooklyn Arts Exchange (bax.org/youth/school-breaks/summer-arts) at 5th Avenue and 8th Street holds a seven-week Summer Arts Program based on exploring the performing arts. Children grades K-6 may choose from tumbling, puppetry, circus arts, acting, and more. Each week there is a new creative theme; and during Baxapalooza week, children will pay homage to Woodstock: “BAX style”. Financial assistance is also offered. BAX runs from July 2nd through August 17th from 9am to 3pm at $375/week.

The Brooklyn Design Lab (www.brooklyndesignlab.org/summerk2.html) will hold six summer labs this year for campers to go deeper into the world of design. They will offer a printmaking studio, clay studio, wood studio, a bookmaking studio, 3D studio, and a collage studio. These week long labs will teach youngsters the basics of each craft; in the 3D studio, for example, campers will create sculptures form wood, clay, and fabric to understand space and balance. You may end up with a new piece of art for your kitchen at the end of the week! The Brooklyn Design Lab runs from July 16th through August 24th from 9am to 11am at $220/studio session or $1270 for all six labs.

SPORTS-CENTERED

For the child with a penchant for athletics, a sports-centered summer camp provides a healthy outlet for little-all stars to improve their skills while staying active.

Camp Olympia (www.campolympiany.com/camp) in Park Slope has a sport intensive summer camp for children ages four through 15. Their main activities include baseball, swimming, soccer and basketball—all of which are instructed by head coaches and professionals. Camp Olympia sets out to broaden campers’ sports background while learning advanced skills and techniques. Camp Olympia runs from July 2nd through August 17th from 9am to 4pm at $200/week.

Floyd Bennett Field is the perfect place to send your active child (ages three through 15) to summer camp. Aviator Sports Summer Camp (www.aviatorsports.com/content/summer-camps) allows campers access to the outstanding facilities on-site; some of which include an ice skating rink, basketball courts, a rock climbing wall, a gymnastics arena, and a swimming pool. They also host dance and theater focused camps for seven to 15-year-olds. Aviator Summer Camp will bus children in from every borough. Aviator Sports Camp runs from July 2nd through August 31st from 9am to 4pm at $550/week.

DAY CAMPS

Summer camps in the city are all encompassing in terms of activities and your youngster’s interests. Children are able to socialize with others on a daily basis while functioning in a group setting and exploring new ways to have fun.
Aside from putting safety as their number one priority, CBE Kids Camp (congregationbethelohim.org/cbe-kids/camps/) located on 8th and Garfield boasts a multi-cultural seven-week program for kids K-4th grade. The campers can participate in outdoor sports, nature walks, circus arts, and go for a swim at the camp’s on-site pool. CBE Kids also has a travel camp for 10 to 14-year-olds where tweens go on daily trips to locations like the beach, bowling alleys, the Bronx Zoo, Luna Park, and baseball games. They are also encouraged to go on overnight trips to Hershey Park and Club Getaway in Kent, Connecticut. CBE Kids runs from July 2nd through August 17th from 9am to 5pm at $420/week.

A private day camp with four locations (Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Bay Ridge, and Carroll Gardens), the Park Slope Day Camp (www.parkslopedaycamp.com) presents children with a wide variety of activities to enlist in. It is an outdoors-based camp so expect campers to frolic in Prospect Park, go horseback riding, and visit a farm where they will pick their own fruits and vegetables. They have flexible and accommodating programs so that campers may stay for as short as 10 days or as long as eight weeks; and they also offer specialized mini-camps like Sonic Soccer and Cirque D’Ete (a circus camp). Park Slope Day Camp runs from July 2nd throug August 24th from 8am to 4pm. Pricing varies based on how many weeks your child will attend, 3 weeks is $1400.

The Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (www.heartofbrooklyn.org/bcap) is a great summer camp for your child to explore the heart of Brooklyn. Drop off is at the sculpture garden of the Brooklyn Museum and campers will venture between the Brooklyn Public Library, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park Zoo and other cultural institutions in the area. This year’s theme is “Myths and Magic” so expect children to puzzle over ancient legends and learn about the beginnings of time through art and science! Camp runs from July 2nd through Augst 10th from 8am to 3:30pm at $650/session.

For more information on any of the above listed summer camps, please visit the camp’s web site.

Summer Camps of Note

Each of these camps offer unique opportunities for your kids. We suggest that you take a good look at the camp websites that intrigue you. Feel free to get in touch, they will all be happy to hear from you and glad to answer any questions you may have.

Amerikick
www.amerikick.comArt Lab Inc
www.artlab.info

Aviator
www.aviatorsports.com

The Bay Ridge Summer Sports & Theatre Camp
www.bayridgesportscamp.com

Beansprouts
www.beansproutsnurseryschool.com

Berkeley Carroll School
www.berkeleycarroll.org

Brooklyn Aikikai
www.brooklynaikikai.com

Brooklyn Arts Exchange
www.bax.org

Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
www.bbg.org

Brooklyn Boulders
www.brooklynboulders.com

Brooklyn Children’s Museum
www.brooklynkids.org

Brooklyn Craft Farm
www.brooklyncraftfarm.com

Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program
www.heartofbrooklyn.org/bcap