DCLA and DCAS Install Public Artwork from Four Artists as Part of 'City Canvas' on Sidewalk Sheds at DCLA's 31 Chambers Street Offices

The four artists whose work is now proudly displayed on the Surrogate's Courthouse are included in the gallery of pre-approved City Canvas designs, created last year to simplify the process of installing public artwork on sidewalk sheds

Additional photos of the installation are available here.

New York, NY - The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) are thrilled to announce a vibrant new public art installation at 31 Chambers Street, where DCLA's offices are located. Work from four artists - one on each side of the building - is now featured on protective sidewalk sheds surrounding the iconic building's exterior as work is done to repair the facade. The four artworks by artists Lauren Camara, Dennis RedMoom Darkeem, Bayeté Ross Smith, and Zazu Swistel are the first to be installed in the city from the inaugural gallery of pre-approved artwork for the City Canvas program, launched last year.

"While the city is still full steam ahead with plans to 'Get Sheds Down,' some of the ubiquitous sidewalk sheds around are city are necessary for public safety, and that's where City Canvas comes in." said NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. "With this new installation of four extraordinary public artworks on DCLA's offices at 31 Chambers Street, we're practicing what we preach and transforming the unsightly construction sheds from drab to fab, thanks to these four visionary artists. We thank our partners at DCAS and DOB for making this exciting project possible, and invite building owners all over the city to see how they can transform their own sites through the power of public art."

"As we continue taking down sheds and making important improvements to our historic building, these remarkable artworks remind us that beauty and safety can coexist on our city's streets," said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. "Through City Canvas, we're turning necessary construction into an opportunity to celebrate creativity and community right here at 31 Chambers Street."

"While needed façade repairs are underway at the historic Surrogates Court building in Lower Manhattan, a sidewalk shed is necessary to protect the public from the potentially hazardous conditions overhead," said Buildings Commissioner Jimmy Oddo. "But that doesn't mean that this building has to become an eyesore. Thanks to the work of this administration, the City Canvas program, and the 'Get Sheds Down' initiative, we are dramatically improving the look of temporary construction safety equipment in New York City through the inclusion of artwork, new color choices, better lighting, and improved minimum design standards. That's just the beginning, as next month we will be unveiling a slate of radically new designs for this kind of safety equipment that will further improve the city's streetscapes."

The new, pre-approved artwork simplifies for process for site owners to turn protective structures on their properties into platforms for public art, transforming the city's streetscape with work from a dynamic, diverse group of visual artists. The City Canvas program, which DCLA manages in partnership with the Department of Buildings (DOB), transforms the hundreds of miles of protective structures along New York City's streets - sidewalk sheds, construction fences, and scaffolding - into opportunities for artists to create extraordinary artworks.

The artworks currently featured on the facade of 31 Chambers Street are:

Lauren Camara, "Paper Stories," 2024
Lauren Camara's piece was created from meticulously cut paper, layered
together to form portraits. Each person carries their own story. Chance encounters and intriguing conversations with community members serve as inspiration for Camara's work.

Dennis RedMoon Darkeem,"Travelers," 2024
"Travelers" is a digital collage rooted in Indigenous culture by Dennis RedMoon Darkeem that honors the Four Directions that give voice to the healing of the medicine wheel. The work explores the interconnectedness of water and land, reflecting on the unique pathways each person navigates through life.

Bayeté Ross Smith, "Mirrors," 2024
These portraits are of everyday people with the same facial expression and lighting. They highlight how drastically we can perceive the same person based on our interpretations of fashion, gender, ethnicity, social class, nationality, and race.

Zazu Swistel, "The Urbanite's Clinic for Decadence and Decay," 2024
This project rips directly from the slippery logics that comprise a New York City construction site. Though pedestrians are not represented in the imagery, the perspective comes from their imaginations.

Sidewalk sheds are a form of pedestrian protection, which keep sidewalks open while protecting the public from the potential hazards associated with active construction sites and unsafe building facades. In July 2023, Mayor Adams and DOB Commissioner Jimmy Oddo announced "Get Sheds Down," a sweeping overhaul of rules governing sidewalk construction sheds aimed at removing these eyesores from city streets more quickly, while redesigning and reimagining those that are continue to be needed for public safety. Under City Canvas, formerly unsightly sheds that must be in place to protect the public can be transformed into platforms for local artists to beautify New York's vibrant cityscape.

Under the new, permanent City Canvas program, there are two avenues for property owners to install artwork on temporary protective structures, site-specific artwork and pre-approved artwork:

• Site-Specific Artwork is commissioned by a property owner independently or with the assistance of a partner organization that manages the production of artwork which must be approved by the DCLA prior to display. This pathway most closely resembles the approach to this program followed during the City Canvas pilot phase. For site owners interested in this path, DCLA has published official program guidelines which includes a list of potential partners organizations.
• Pre-Approved Artwork: Now, in addition to working with artists on original, site-specific commissions, building owners will also have the option of selecting pre-approved artwork, which they will be able to license for a fee negotiated directly with the artists. The gallery, which will be updated on a regular basis, has been launched as of today. Starting today, when a pre-approved artwork is selected for display by a property owner, DCLA will put them in touch with the artist directly to license their artwork for the given site. DCLA has issued guidance on licensing and fee guidelines, facilitating collaboration between site owners and artists and encouraging fair, transparent compensation.

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