2025 Sculptures

WISDOM by Michael Poast
Dimensions of the sculpture: 6’ 10” x 5’ x 4’ (H x W x D).
Weight: 500 lbs.

LUMEN DE LUMINE by Michael Poast
Dimensions of the sculpture: 12 ft. x 3 ft. x 2 ft.
Weight: 400 lbs.

Wisdom

The sculpture is constructed with steel I-beams, using stylized cuts into the steel, heated and twisted, implying a sense of movement and tension. The negative open spaces reveal dynamic abstracted forms, creating added dimensions of mass and volume, that culminate in a feeling of expansion.

 

 

The West Harlem Art Fund  expanded their seasonal residency on Governors Island through Winter 2024. The first organization outside of Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, to offer year-round public art with an indoor installation available by appointment only.

This year marks our 25th anniversary, according to Executive Director Savona Bailey- McClain, where we have presented public art throughout NYC in four out of the five boroughs.

Public art can present many challenges — strong winds, compacted soil, small animals or even vandalism. Offering sculptural works during the wintertime could be extremely difficult or very beautiful. The openness of Governors Island lends itself to tree-scapes that are breathtaking and possible snowdrifts that could remind you of a lithograph by Currier & Ives.

Curb Appeal is the name of this winter exhibition because the West Harlem Art Fund is at the end of Nolan Park with six outdoor works and an indoor installation. The public can view the works beginning December 9th through early April 2024.

Sculptural Installations

Circling Perspectives by Dianne Smith

This installation consist of an outdoor circular wire sculpture situated low to the ground. This project, titled Circling Perspectives, aims to explore the symbolism and artistic significance of circles and wires in sculpture while engaging with the unique environment of Governors Island.

For centuries, and still… (anticipated completion) by Kevin Quiles Bonilla and Zaq Landsberg

Thinking of both colonial Puerto Rican landscapes, and the ubiquitous New York City construction sites as thresholds, limbos and incomplete environments, For centuries, and still… (anticipated completion) recreates a guard tower (or garita, in Spanish) from the iconic colonial fortresses of Old San Juan, built out of New York City construction fencing material. Echoing the hastily painted green plywood walls, paint sprayed “Post No Bills’’ stencils, and everyday interventions such as buffed out graffiti and commercial posters, these elements represent a New York City visual language, which creates a visually specific link to Puerto Rico, its colonial legacy to the US, and the history of migration between both locations.

Nature’s Flow and Direction by Atu Ram

Self-standing structure with circular disc on top that will feature a large compass showing the four directions of the earth. From the center of the compass, 12 arches will project outward. The 12 curved arched poles represent the months of the year.

The center compass will be 4 ft high, the poles will project out 12 ft and the entire structure will stand 6ft high. The overall structure will be 6ft high and 12 ft wide in circumference around the center structure.

The piece will symbolize the natural curve and flow of the seasons through space and time that we all experience. Nature’s cosmic clock will be portrayed through a curved lens, connecting the ebb and flow of the universe.

Spout by Luke Schumacher

Spout is the the artist interpretation of a waterspout tornado and the flowing energy of water being lifted and dropped back into the ocean. When the artist first moved to NYC in 2007, Brooklyn saw the largest tornado in its history. Besides that amazing and powerful force of nature that year, there were also many waterspouts which are tornadoes that form over a body of water.

“Thug America” A Performance of Forgiveness by Dennis RedMoon Darken

“Thug America” A Performance of Forgiveness is a collection of 12 to 20 photographs captured across various settings, including Governor’s Island and several other residencies I’ve had the privilege to be part of over the past two years. This series delves deep into the rich tapestry of these locations, weaving together elements of history, storytelling, and mythology in the context of forgiveness.

Through the lens of my camera, I invite viewers to embark on a visual journey that unearths the multifaceted aspects of forgiveness. These photographs not only chronicle the

historical significance of these places but also draw connections to the profound stories and mythologies associated with the concept of forgiveness.

One of the significant aspects of this collection is its exploration of indigenous and black histories intricately interwoven with the landscapes, events, and people of the island and beyond. The exhibit is designed to immerse visitors in an interactive experience, both inside and outside. As you navigate through the exhibit, you’ll find these powerful images displayed on lawn signs that offer not just captivating visuals but also narratives, histories, and linguistic connections that breathe life into the concept of forgiveness.

Winter Performance of Forgiveness is not just a collection of photographs; it’s a thought- provoking, emotionally charged exploration of the stories, history, and connections that forgiveness brings to the forefront. It is a testament to the power of art in evoking reflection, understanding, and perhaps, even forgiveness itself.”

Wrapped in Indigo by Jaleeca R. Yancy (indoor installation)

This is the artists largest indigo installation. The interior of NP 10 (Nolan Park, Building 10B) will be wrapped in indigo fabric. The inspiration for this project is the artist Christo who would wrapped various buildings and sites around the world.

Culturally, indigo is linked to both West Africans and African Americans that were brought to the United States. Indigo became an important crop in America. Dyed fabric would be shipped to Northern states in America and then shipped to the clothing factories in England.

 

 

XOXO by Miguel Otero Fuentes

XOXO is an open heart made of two crossed circles. The concept was conceived during the 2020 lockdown and it is a symbol of connection, unity and love. A sculpture / performance installation installed in an outdoor area accessible to the general public. The sculpture may be programed in collaboration with other organizations or artists as a stage for activities engaging local communities. Its demountable design facilitates storage, transportation and installation of the sculpture almost anywhere in the world.

Artists Bios

Kevin Quiles Bonilla (b. 1992) is an interdisciplinary artist born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He received a BA in Fine Arts – Photography from the University of Puerto Rico (2015) and an MFA in Fine Arts from Parsons The New School for Design (2018). His work has been presented in Puerto Rico, The United States, Mexico, China, Belgium, and Japan. He’s the recipient of an Emerging Artist Award from The John F. Kennedy Center (2017). He has presented his work at The Brooklyn Museum, Queens Museum, The Leslie-Lohman Museum of Art, The Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, and Ford Foundation. He has been an Artist in Residence and Fellow at Art Beyond Sight’s Arts + Disability Residency (2018-2019), Leslie-Lohman Museum’s Queer Performance Residency (2019), LMCC’s Workspace Residency (2019-2020), En Foco Inc Photography Fellowship (2021)

and Smack Mellon Artist Studio Program (2022- 2023). His work has been featured in Hyperallergic, BOMB Magazine, The Washington Post and The Guardian. He explores ideas around power, colonialism, and history with his identity as context. He lives and works between Puerto Rico and New York.

Dennis Redmoon Darkeem is Bronx-born and raised. He is of Yamassee Creek-Seminole Native American and African American descent. Dennis has been an Artist and Art educator for over 10 years working in the DOE, Private and Charter schools in the South Bronx and Harlem. He received his Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and his Master’s in Art Direction from Pratt Institute.

Over the years, he’s been an Artist in Residence with many art organizations like Wave Hill, the Laundromat Project, The Point, Bronx Children’s Museum, I.C.P, and Jamaica Arts Center. Dennis has exhibited his work at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, Brooklyn Museum of the Arts, La Mama Theater, The MoMA, Bronx Art Space, Rush Gallery, The Judaic Museum of Art, and Smack Mellon, and has received fellowships and scholarships from the NYSFA, NYC Teachers Foundation, Mark Rothko scholarship, and Price Waterhouse Fellowship award.

Zaq Landsberg is a NYC based artist.
He exhibited solo shows with the NYC Parks Department, with Chashama (NYC), at CUAC

(Salt Lake City, Utah), La Ene, (Buenos Aires, Argentina), and at Pehr Space (Los Angeles).

His work has shown in group exhibitions at Socrates Sculpture Park (Queens NY), Bronx Community College, Old Stone House (Brooklyn NY), Franconia Sculpture Park, (Shafer, MN), CCK, (Buenos Aires, Argentina), MALBA, (Buenos Aires), Figment Festival (Governors Island, NY), and others.

He was the NYC Parks Clare Weiss Emerging Artist Award winner, a UMEZ Arts- Engagement/Creative Engagement grantee in 2020, and was awarded a NYSCA/ NYFA Artist Fellowship in Sculpture in 2017, the Art in the Parks: UNIQLO Park Expressions Grant and a More Art Engaging Artist Fellowship in 2018.

He was an artist-in-residence with the LMCC Workspace Program 2019-2020 and Sculpture Space (Utica, NY) in 2012.

His antics have been covered in over 40 countries and over 27 languages, including NY Times, NY Magazine, WNYC, artnet-news, Time-Out-NY, Vice, NY Daily News, The Believer, PEOPLE Magazine, Clarín (Argentina), ARTE (France), Blouin Art Info, Gothamist, KSL Salt Lake City, FOX5NY, WGN Radio, Fox News,The Daily Mail, among others.

Born in Los Angeles, and holds a BFA from NYU.

Miguel Otero Fuentes is a Puerto Rico-born USA migrant, university trained architect, and self-taught sculptor specializing in façade system design, 3D modeling and facilitating collaboration between design and engineering teams. He holds a Master of Architecture

degree from Georgia Institute of Technology, where he was awarded the T. Gordon Little Fellowship, participated in design-build studios, worked as a teaching assistant abroad and was involved in research in the areas of digital design and fabrication. During his academic career he won three first place prizes including the distinguished Portman Prize. He also holds a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree (with honors) from the University of Puerto Rico.

From 2015 until the start of 2022, Otero Fuentes worked as a facade designer in a New York based engineering firm. He was involved in a range of high profile projects ranging from skyscrapers to cultural institutions such as museums and academic facilities. In these projects, he worked implementing groundbreaking facade design technologies using a range of materials such as concrete, terracotta, stone, glass, aluminum and other metals.

At present, Otero Fuentes works full time in his Brooklyn studio taking on architectural design commissions and sculpture projects experimenting with material, dimension, number, light, space, form, and meaning.

Dario Mohr is a first generation Grenadian, U.S. Citizen with West African and Italian heritage, born in 1988. Based in New York City, Mohr is an interdisciplinary artist, educator and non profit leader. He received a BFA in Painting from Buffalo State College, an MFA in Studio Art from The City College of New York and an Advanced Certificate in At Education from Queens College. His work involves the creation of “sacred spaces” referencing his heritage, and expressing commentary on the cultural zeitgeist through immersive sanctuary experiences. His practice is interdisciplinary, converging painting,

sculpture, installation, digital art and film. In addition to his individual art practice, he is also the Founder and Director of AnkhLave Arts Alliance, Inc. which is a non-profit arts organization for the recognition and representation of BIPOC artists in contemporary art.

Atu Ram focuses on the sensory experience of order and harmony. Drawing from his study of visible form regularities in nature, Atu uses acrylic and mixed media elements to explore the effects of color patterns, abstract figurations and textural arrangements on the human psyche. Through an organic, self-aware process, Atu seeks to embed each work with his own instantaneous response at the flows of unfolding patterns . This deeply conscious take on the creation of visual forms links Atu’s interest in the ability of imagery to transmit energetic states, with the propensity of humans to seek out moments of deep focus and reflection. Atu’s affinity for reflective, meditative practices in relation to both the harmonious arrangements of nature and his own artistic explorations has led him to describe his work as “a natural experience in art.”

Atu’s current projects delve deeper into the concepts of rhythm and vibration within other perceptual categories. A Harlem native, Atu is interested in the variety of tempos and pulsations present in the Harlem landscape, as well as their comparability to the rhythms of natural ecosystems. The embodiment of these tempos through color and figuration is the inspiration of Atu’s current and upcoming works.

Luke Schumacher was born in 1978 at Eagle Butte, South Dakota but raised in rural New Hampshire, where he set his roots playing in the northern forests and countryside. However, when his family moved to the Mojave Desert, California, Luke came to feel lost in the barren and alien landscape. When the opportunity to learn welding presented itself, working with metal became Luke’s means of conceptualizing the structures and textures of the unpredictable world around him. His aptitude as an artist revealed itself as he finished trade school, where, by focusing on the surface textures, curves, and patinas of the metal finishes of his work, he sculpted a world that made sense to him. Luke’s works are very graceful with flowing energy, sensitivity to lines and geometric shapes. He takes his influence from nature and many of his pieces have playful theme to them. Schumacher has work in private collections on the east and west coast of the US, Europe and part of the permanent collections of Cerro Coso College, California and The Space, New York City.

Dianne Smith’s career as a multidisciplinary artist spans over twenty years. Her group and solo exhibitions include Visions for our Future, Echoes of our Past at the Institute of Contemporary Art at Maine College of Art & Design. The Way We Remember, and Uptown Triennial, at the Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia University, and Re:Harlem, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. She is a Nancy Graves Foundation Awards Grant Recipient and received a Fulbright from The United States Consulate General in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Her work is in The National Museum of Women in the Arts, The Brodsky Organization, and the Petrucci Family Foundation Collection of African American Art. In addition, her papers are in the Barnard College Library Archives and Special Collections. She has also served as the Director of Public Engagement at the Allentown Art Museum and as an adjunct professor at The City College of New York’s Education Department. She received her Master’s in Creative Practice (MFA) from Transart Institute, via Plymouth University, U.K., in Berlin, Germany. Smith is a Bronx native of Belizean descent who lives and works in Harlem, New York.

Cody Umans (b. New York, NY) is currently based in Queens, NY. He has exhibited his work with the support of residencies, grants, collaborations with artists, and via community spaces like parks and gardens. Cody’s pursuit is to share his art in “unconventional spaces” and invite the public to share the experience of the creative process. Out of the incontrollable dynamic between art, the environment, and community, a deeper understanding of trust can be experienced. A significant part of his life and art practice is centered around building community, and being an ally to direct action communities. Cody’s practice is supported by working for art and artisan organizations in his community as a carpenter, metalworker, and general contractor. He has been hired to paint custom signs and murals as well.

Jaleeca R. Yancy (b.1990) is a zealous, multi-disciplinary artist developing a visual abstract language rooted in experimentation, imagination, and sustainability practices. From Memphis, Tennessee, she currently lives and works in New York. Throughout her body of work, Yancy explores identity, culture, mythology, and layers these themes with references to literature, music, nature, and spirituality. She is innovative and unafraid to challenge tradition by utilizing various mediums and materials to depict diasporic radical imagination.

Currently, Yancy is developing art that explores sustainable materials and design processes using natural pigments and botanical dyes. She has been experimenting with textiles and works on paper to depict leisure, movement, and freedom. Her goal is to link ancestral and modern art to showcase work that is rich in color, form, and texture.

Jaleeca Yancy draws inspiration and encouragement from the uninhibited and consistent voice of Faith Ringgold, the exuberant exploration of color theory and vivaciousness of Alma Thomas, and the experimental forms of Sam Gilliam.