From 2017-2018, Virginia Park, The Bronx, was home to my first of three, New York City Parks Department projects. ‘Daylighting‘ was funded by Uniqlo and the New York City Parks Department. The title refers to bringing attention to a waterway that many locals weren’t aware of and that it has many public activities and opportunities for free canoeing.

By bringing light to the river, it sparked volunteerism and interest in the river. Using two sixteen foot long retired river canoes repurposed as seating and planters, I recreated a nearby portion of the Bronx River in a 55’x150′ busy pedestrian plaza in the Parkchester neighborhood of The Bronx. The riverbanks were painted on the ground and cracks in the cement were disguised as tree stumps or shadows.

The eleven month duration of the installation included public programming, funded through a local organization, Loving The Bronx. The canoes served as stages, game tables and seating for more than twenty free events.

Progamming included ‘Fun Fridays’ with giant games and events spanning from Day of the Dead, Earth Day, Drumming, Bomba and Bollywood, Daffodil planting and varying art activities.