HARLEM, Manhattan (WABC) — The month of May is ushering in a new collection of art along a 67-acre stretch in Harlem.
Artists are transforming green spaces into sculpture gardens and you may notice the work popping up throughout Morningside, St. Nicholas and Jackie Robinson parks.
The passion project is the brainchild of the West Harlem Art Fund.
The pieces range in design but all have a central focus, Executive Director and Chief Curator Savona Bailey-McClain explained.
“We tell people you can look at the history of the area, when I say history, I mean the geography of the area, the geology of the area, culture, history, it can be color, nature,” Bailey-McClain said.
Artists, both local and from other parts of the country, submit applications to take part.
Dianne Smith from Harlem created a piece that is a nod to ’70s hair.
“We are at this point where the preservation of our culture is important, resiliency is important, these are all the things I wanted to talk about with ‘Afro Puff,'” Smith said.
There is still plenty of time to stroll, discover and admire all the treasures located in what’s now an official art district in Harlem.
The works will be in place through October 30.
“I purposefully wanted Harlem Sculpture Gardens to be linear, therefore people can walk from one to the next,” Bailey-McClain said.
Organizers are looking ahead to next year and a much-celebrated expansion to more than 130 acres.
The fund will create a second public art district in Washington Heights.
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