Unveiling & Dedication for the Mosaic Trail Light Poles
The final pieces of the renovation of Astor Place will be unveiled and dedicated tomorrow. Thanks to the creative verve of Jim Power, aka the Mosaic Man, and the support of the Village Alliance Business Improvement District and City Lore, and many more, GVSHP is excited to participate in the unveiling of the Astor Place Mosaic Trail light poles at a 9:30 AM ceremony. Greenwich Village Society For Historic Preservation UPDATE: Due to weather, the dedication ceremony for Jim Power’s Mosaic Poles has been moved to Thursday, December 1st at 4:30 PM at Astor Place. You can still RSVP at the dedicated Facebook event page here.
The unveiling ceremony marks the completion of a two-year expansion and revitalization of the Astor Place plazas which includes the restoration of Tony Rosenthal’s Alamo sculpture (‘The Cube”), just re-installed. Part of the renowned East Village Mosaic Trail, the mosaic light poles were first decorated by Jim Power in the 1980’s during his grassroots art campaign to bring public art to the Village. You can read more of our coverage of the progress of this effort here.
When construction and expansion of the plazas began in 2014, the poles were originally earmarked for permanent removal. Thanks to the Village Alliance BID for responding to stakeholder advocacy from community residents and groups like GVSHP, the poles were instead slated to be returned to Astor Place after restoration by Jim Power.
Council Member Rosie Mendez has provided support. The Village Alliance, City Lore, advocacy groups and private individuals have also funded the restoration which has so far totaled $22,000. To ensure the final elements of the restoration can be completed to the artist’s vision, the Village Alliance has initiated a crowdfunding campaign which has so far raised $4,500 of a $20,000 target. To increase awareness of the fundraising campaign the unveiling & dedication ceremony has been timed to take place on “Giving Tuesday”.
Members of the East Village and larger community are invited to support the final stage of the fundraising campaign by visiting here to make a donation. If you are a business of organization that wants to explore more publicity opportunities, reach out to Village Alliance.
GVSHP was glad to play a role in providing moral and other support for Jim Power, his team member Julie Powell and the many people it takes to bring such an enormous public work to fruition. Finding work space for the Mosaic team in the East Village was an essential task, and Howard at 6th Street Community Center was an integral community partner. We were glad to help strengthen relations in our larger neighborhood network.
The Unveiling & Dedication Ceremony will include remarks by artist Jim Power, Legendary East Village Poet and Bowery Poetry Club founder, Bob Holman (a 2011 recipient of GVSHP’s Village Award), Renowned Photographer, Gallerist an Rebel Clayton Patterson, Village Alliance Executive Director William Kelley, City Lore Executive Director Steve Zeitlan, a representative of GVSHP and more. After the ceremony Jim Power will personally lead a Mosaic Trail tour!
For more information, visit here. And RSVP at the dedicated Facebook event page here.
Essential Event Information
Date & Time – Tuesday November 29, 2016. 9:30am to 10:15pm
Location – The Alamo Plaza, Astor Place.
Admission – The ceremony is FREE; members of the local community are strongly encouraged to attend.
Transport – The nearest subway stations are Astor Place (6) or 8th Street/NYU (W & R).
Rain Date – There is no rain date. In the event of inclement weather tents will be erected and FREE umbrellas provided to all attendees by Village Alliance BID.
