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DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS SEEKS ARTISTS TO DESIGN NEW MONUMENT AS

PART OF "BEYOND SIMS"

The new artwork will address the legacy of J. Marion Sims, whose

statue formerly occupied the pedestal at 103rd Street and Fifth Avenue

in East Harlem

Call for artists will be open through January 31, 2019

New York, NY - The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and NYC Parks,

together with the Committee to Empower Voices for Healing and Equity,

today announced an open call for artists to design an artwork to fill

the space formerly occupied by a statue of J. Marion Sims, which was

removed in April 2018. The new artwork commission is part of the

Beyond Sims effort to transcend Sims' legacy of performing medical

experimentation on women of color and reinterpret the site where his

sculpture formerly stood. Artists may respond to the open call on

Submittable

through January 31, 2019.

"Following the Mayoral Monuments Commission's report, we stood

alongside community advocates to remove the statue of J. Marion Sims

from Central Park. That extraordinary moment was just the beginning of

the process to go beyond Sims' legacy of medical experimentation on

enslaved black women," said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom

Finkelpearl. "Now we need artists to help us imagine what comes next."

"We look forward to welcoming many ideas and visions for a new

monument on the perimeter of Central Park where J. Marion Sims once

stood," said NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP. "This

call for artists is an exciting milestone in the continually evolving

conversations about monuments and who we honor in our city's public

spaces. Parks is honored to be a part of this process alongside our

partners at DCLA, DOHMH and the Committee to Empower Voices for

Healing and Equity."

"It is exciting to see the artist selection process moving forward

after so many members of this community fought to have the J. Marion

Sims statue removed," said Council Member Diana Ayala. "The progress

we have witnessed so far is proof that anything can be done when the

community joins together. My hope is that the artist who joins this

process will be committed to helping us bring the community's vision

to fruition for all to enjoy."

"Central Park is the world's most beautiful civic green space. With

the removal of the Sims statue, we've taken an ugly stain off the

perimeter of the park - and now it's time to find a new vision for a

monument that truly deserves to stand on Fifth at 103rd Street for

years to come," said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer.

"I commend the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs on this

initiative, and I look forward to viewing the artwork and public

installation that will reflect our nation's history as well as our

continued efforts to inspire future generations, as well as promote

activism, diversity and inclusion for all communities of color," said

Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13). "Our city is known for its

artist culture and expression, and I encourage all artists to submit

applications through the January 31 deadline to ensure that this

project truly reflects and captures the beauty, richness, and

diversity that our society has to offer today and the inspiration

created for the next generation of leaders."

"Public art enhances our public spaces, but it also serves as our

legacy to future generations," said NY State Senator José M. Serrano.

"As we move ahead into this new chapter for our community and our

city, I look forward to artwork that educates and inspires, while

reflecting our shared values as New Yorkers."

Project Background

This project follows the Mayor's decision to remove the statue of J.

Marion Sims earlier this year, building on recommendations of the

Mayoral Advisory Commission on City Art, Monuments, and

Markers

and years of community activism.

The selected artist will work with community stakeholders, including

the Committee to Empower Voices for Healing and Equity, to develop an

artwork that moves beyond Sims' legacy of medical experimentation and

reinterprets the site where his sculpture formerly stood. The

Committee, comprised of East Harlem advocacy groups, cultural

organizations, City Council and Community Board representatives, and

City agencies, was formed in October 2018 around a commitment to

expanding representation through public artwork in East Harlem to

explore the legacy of racism and inequities in reproductive justice in

the medical community.

The full request for qualifications is available

here.

The artist chosen to design a monument will be determined through the

City's Percent for Art commissioning process. The anticipated

installation date for the new artwork is December 2020.

The Committee to Empower Voices for Healing and Equity has created a

survey to seek public input on what and who will replace the Sims

statue. English and Spanish versions of the survey can be accessed

here.

About NYC Department of Cultural Affairs

The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated

to supporting and strengthening New York City's vibrant cultural life.

DCLA works to promote and advocate for quality arts programming and to

articulate the contribution made by the cultural community to the

City's vitality. The Department represents and serves nonprofit

cultural organizations involved in the visual, literary, and

performing arts; public-oriented science and humanities institutions

including zoos, botanical gardens, and historic and preservation

societies; and creative artists at all skill levels who live and work

within the City's five boroughs. DCLA also provides donated materials

for arts programs offered by the public schools and cultural and

social service groups, and commissions permanent works of public art

at City-funded construction projects throughout the five boroughs. For

more information, visit

www.nyc.gov/culture