Artwork by Older Adults Showcased on Astor Place
Artwork by Five Older Adults Featured at Astor Place Plaza as Part of Village Alliance’s Art in Plazas Program. The installation is the culmination of the Village Alliance’s second annual art competition for members of the Greenwich House Older Adult Network.
Elisabeth Page Purcell, one of the art competition winners, with her artwork “Winter Sun”
New York, NY – The Village Alliance has installed new artwork by five members of the Greenwich House Older Adult Network. The installation is the culmination of the Village Alliance’s second annual art competition for older adults and is a key element of the fall season of the Village Alliance’s Art in Plazas program.
“Green Drink Portrait” by Kris Jensen
The collaboration between Greenwich House and the Village Alliance beautifies infrastructure in the plaza while celebrating the contributions of older adults to local culture. Artwork by five artists — Ruth Conner, Adrienne Gyongy, Kris Jensen, Tadashi Mitsui, and Elisabeth Page Purcell — were selected out of a field of 76 submissions. All submissions came from artists at one of Greenwich House’s four community centers for adults over 60 in the West Village and Downtown Manhattan.
The installation marks the second year of the Village Alliance’s Art in the Plazas program, through which the Village Alliance has installed artwork by first-year Cooper Union student Juliana Woods on Astor Place and poetry on tables in Ruth Wittenberg Triangle in collaboration with the Poetry Society of America.
Elisabeth Page Purcell, one of the winners of the competition, stressed the importance of celebrating the work of older adults in public space. “I think it’s really important what the Village Alliance is doing. We shouldn’t be hidden. We should have our voices out in public! That’s what I’m thankful for,” said Purcell.
“Untitled” by Ruth Conner
"We’re so pleased with how the Village Alliance's Art in Plazas fall program with Greenwich House’s Older Adult Centers has grown since we launched it last year. This season brought more submissions than ever before, across a wider range of mediums, from artists working in Greenwich House’s centers. The incredible works unveiled today reflect the vibrancy of the Greenwich Village community, and we’re honored to showcase this local talent in the neighborhood’s busiest public space," said Scott Hobbs, Executive Director of the Village Alliance.
Adrienne Gyongy, one of the art competition winners, with her artwork.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Village Alliance to celebrate the immense creativity of our older adult artists,” said Darren Bloch, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Greenwich House. “This exhibition is a powerful testament to our mission of fostering wellness and connection through the arts. It's a joy to see our artists' work not only enrich their lives, but also bring beauty to the entire community in the Astor Place area.”
“We are thrilled to partner with our amazing community partner, Village Alliance, to present this exhibition. This show celebrates the creativity of older adult artists across our Greenwich House network, whose work reflects the heart of our community and reminds us that art brings us together and keeps us inspired at every stage of life,” said Laura Marceca, Director of the Older Adult Network at Greenwich House.
“Touch” by Tadashi Mitsui
New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh, who represents the Village, said "Public art plays a crucial role in bringing our public spaces to life. The Art in the Plazas program has done a fantastic job in both honoring our neighborhood’s legacy as a source of creativity and giving a platform for local artists across generations. I am excited to see this next iteration of artwork—which will include collage, paintings, and mixed media—on my next walk through Astor Place. Congratulations to the five artists, Village Alliance, and the Greenwich House Older Adults Network for helping to bring beauty to our public spaces!”
“I’m grateful there are so many dynamic artists living and working in the district I represent, and I congratulate those whose artwork has been selected for installation in Village Alliance’s Art in Plazas program. I applaud Village Alliance and Greenwich House for this wonderful collaboration, for featuring meaningful artwork by older adults in our lively public spaces, and for the invaluable work each organization does to support our community and visitors alike,” said New York State Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick.
About Village Alliance
The Village Alliance supports clean, safe, and vibrant commercial corridors within our District boundaries. We do this by providing additional sanitation and safety services, advocating for public space improvements, and implementing creative marketing and community-building to attract and retain local business.
About Greenwich House
Greenwich House is a nonprofit founded in 1902 that responds to the urgent, ongoing, and diverse needs of over 20,000 New Yorkers by offering health, human services, education, and arts programs that foster wellness, creativity, and connection. Greenwich House’s Older Adult Center Network offers four vibrant community spaces throughout lower Manhattan, dedicated to enriching the lives of older adults through diverse arts and health programs, hot lunch meals, social activities, and events. Each center provides a supportive environment where adults 60+ can participate in numerous art classes, exhibitions, and artist talks. For more information, visit www.greenwichhouse.org.
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