Press Release
March 02, 2022
Dan Keefe | Brian Nearing
(518) 486-1868 | news@parks.ny.gov
New York State Parks Issues Call for Artists to Design Gateway and Monument at Marsha P. Johnson State Park
Gateway and monument to send message of welcome
and acceptance to all people
The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation
and Historic Preservation (State Parks) today announced two open Calls for Artists
to design, fabricate and install public art at Marsha P. Johnson State Park in the
Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. State Parks is seeking proposals for a
decorative gateway at the North 8th Street entrance to the park as
well as for a monument to the park's namesake, Black transgender pioneer and
activist Marsha P. Johnson.
"These art installations will help realize the park's
diverse communities' vision for Marsha P. Johnson State Park," State Parks
Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said. "We look forward to partnering with artists
who boldly and creatively communicate a message of welcome and acceptance for
all people visiting the Marsha P. Johnson State Park."
In 2020, the State of New York dedicated the
park (formerly known as East River State Park) to Marsha P. Johnson. The public art will build on recent and
ongoing work to enhance the park, which includes adding a park house and
installing a great lawn, porous concrete pathways, stormwater management
system, extensive native plantings, and irrigation.
In September 2021,
OPRHP established the Marsha P. Johnson Art Advisory Committee (MPJAAC) to
ensure that voices from the various communities with an interest in the state
park were heard. The Committee, made up of members of Marsha P. Johnson's
family, the Transgender community, Brooklyn Community Board 1 members, public
art consultants and State Parks had lengthy discussions about what should be
communicated through the public art. As a
result of the conversations, State Parks has issued two Request for Proposals
(RFP) for two distinct Project Teams to:
- Design, fabricate and install an ornamental gateway at the Kent Avenue/North Eighth Street entrance to Marsha P. Johnson State Park. State Parks seeks a bold and artful park entrance gateway structure that communicates Marsha P. Johnson's spirit and legacy, welcomes visitors into the park, and complements the park and surrounding neighborhood. The budget is $1.3 million.
- Design, fabricate and install a monument to Marsha P. Johnson that celebrates her achievements related to the LGBTQ+ communities, her joyous leadership and compassion, and her activism. The work does not need to be a representation of Marsha P. Johnson, but it must capture her vibrant life force and communicate now and into the future the importance of her work. The budget is $1.3 million.
The RFPs are open to all artists, artisans,
architects, landscape architects, and teams with experience in public art, site
responsive design, project management and construction administration. Proposals
will be evaluated and scored based on a set of financial and technical criteria
outlined in the RFP. Bidders with the highest score will be selected.
RFP details may be
obtained by visiting the NYS Contract Reporter (nyscr.ny.gov) or Parks
Procurement and Service Contracts (https://parks.ny.gov/business/procurement-opportunities.aspx).
Project Teams are invited to respond by submitting a completed bid by April
20, 2022, 3:00 p.m.
Completion of both projects is expected by
August 2023.