Uptown Treasures: Past & Present (Part II)
This exhibition highlights historical sites and stories that have contributed to the diverse makeup of Washington Heights.
Native Mother Archetype (2019) by Franck de las MercedesNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Native Mother Archetype
"I create images that explore societal issues, family dynamics, recollections from childhood, and current affairs. Inspired by rock carvings, abstract expressionism, and Nicaraguan primitivism, my aesthetic is characterized by vivid colors, jagged lines, and texture."
Franck de las Mercedes
"These are photographs of site-specific artworks commissioned by three uptown institutions. Inspired by the institutions' history, surrounding community, and architecture, these works were part of solo exhibitions, and it was the first time these historical venues were activated with contemporary art. These photographs capture the impact of contemporary art on our neighborhood." Andrea Arroyo
Invisible Man: Nature vs Nurture (2023) by Cathleen CampbellNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Invisible Man: Nature vs Nurture
Catlett‚ statue honors African-American author Ralph Ellison and his ground-breaking novel, INVISIBLE MAN. The protagonist of Ellison‚ novel feels invisible because people refuse to see me. Even in a multicultural mecca like New York, Black and Latin residents often feel unseen."
Cathleen Campbell
Latinxs También Somos Negros/Latinxs Are Black Too (2020) by Jesús SantanaNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Latinxs También Somos Negros/Latinxs Are Black Too
Jesús Santana
"As a protest to what is happening across the country and to record contemporary history, I painted the covers of banned books and laser cut the text from different state education laws and court cases into the paintings. The remnants of the burnt-out negative space are piled at the bottom of each work, symbolic of the destruction these laws cause." Diana Schmertz
The Invisible Man (Garry and Heller) (2016) by Tom SanfordNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Invisible Man
"I make large narrative paintings, generally focusing on the people, places, and things from my everyday life. Generally speaking, my paintings are autobiographical. On the whole, the paintings come from my day-to-day experiences and interests."
Tom Sanford
Janggoo (2023) by Myong JinNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Janggoo
"A Korean drum rests on one end, open to the next person to pick up the drumsticks and carry on the tradition. The janggoo is a principal instrument in poongmul, a thousands of years old Korean folk music and dance tradition, and in samulnori, a modern performance genre of Korean drumming."
Myong Jin
Lady Indigo (2022) by Wilhelmina Grant-CooperNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
In Praise of Shadow I
"I am a self-taught artist who repurposes found objects into assemblage art. As a teaching artist I use the arts to nurture the creativity of cancer patients, their families and staff in a healthcare setting."
Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper
"I am an artist who draws on the skills handed to me by my ancestors. They were boat builders, carpenters, seamstresses, farmers, and homemakers. In art-making, labor is essential to my practice. My work must bear the mark of my mind as well as my hand. It is craft-based, woman's work. My work focuses on social, cultural, and political themes such as women's body image and autonomy, my immigration story, and my community." Rose Deler
Easter Sunday (2023) by Lenore BrowneNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Easter Sunday
"I am a native New Yorker who has resided in Harlem for many years. As a self-taught photographer she documents the community as it evolves through its Second Renaissance. "
Lenore Browne
"My work draws on personal narratives, or hints thereof, to reflect on varied social and political issues. The images submitted from building bridges‚ intermarried and experiencing a time of war and beyond, illustrate just a few of these encounters which, for me, symbolize the beautiful and complex cultural tapestry that is our neighborhood." Yael Ben-Zion
"I am curious about the ways we relate to the spaces we inhabit. Much of the inspiration in my work comes from the organic shapes of nature and its unassuming yet perfect beauty." Josefina Hernandez
"It's past its time connecting New Yorkers to their water supply, but still functions as a pedestrian walkway between the Bronx and Manhattan. The water tower and bridge also connect to what I adore most about the area: past/present and reconstruction/adaptation." Simona Riccardi
Gone (2024) by Anthony RojasNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Gone
"When it first opened its doors, the RKO Coliseum was the third largest theater in New York City with 3,500 seats. After being denied landmark status in 2011, the once functioning movie theatre closed its doors and was demolished in 2020."
(Click on the link) The Last Movie Theater in Washington Heights
Anthony Rojas
Candy Seller and Her Daughter (2024) by Je WeeNorthern Manhattan Arts Alliance
Candy Seller
"The connections are sometimes loosely tied together, but sometimes, there are strong bonds among events, mostly through people. As an artist, I have been given the opportunity to experience these events and to document them."
Je Wee
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