THECONNECTIVEPROJECTProspectParkAlliance,AREA4andArchitectSuchiReddyPresent150thAnniversaryPublicArtInstallationBringingTogetherDiverseCommunitiesthatLoveProspectParkOnViewJuly7–17,2017inProspectPark

BROOKLYN,June28,2017—ProspectParkAlliance—thenon-profitorganizationthatsustainsProspectPark,AREA4andSuchiReddyofReddymadeArchitecture&Designdebutalarge-scalepublicartinstallationinProspectParkontheoccasionofthePark's150thAnniversary.OnviewJuly7-172017,TheConnectiveProjecttransformsProspectPark'sRoseGarden—alittle-knownlandscapeinthePark'snortheastcorner—intoanimmersive,engagingandever-growingdisplay.Theinstallationfeaturesartwork,photographs,verseandprosesubmittedbyemergingartists,notableBrooklynitesandthediversecommunitiesthatconsiderthePark"Brooklyn'sBackyard."Duringtheinstallation,thepublicwillbeinvitedtotakepartinmakingadditionalpinwheelstoaddtothedisplayduringselecthours.Visitprospectpark.org/CP150formoreinformation+installationhours,aswellaspublicpinwheel-makingactivities."ProspectParkAllianceisthrilledtobeworkingwiththeteamatAREA4andSuchiReddyonthiswhimsicalanddynamicpublicinstallation,"saidSueDonoghue,presidentofProspectParkAlliance."WhenwesetouttoplanourmajoreventscelebratingthePark's150th,ourkeygoalwastheengagethecommunityinthecelebration,whichTheConnectiveProjectachievesinabeautifulandinnovativeway."EDITOR’SNOTE:PressOpeningforTheConnectiveProjectwillbeJuly7at10am.Downloadimagesoftheinstallation:www.prospectpark.org/cp150photos.

BackgroundontheConnectiveProjectTheConnectiveProjectiscomposedofmorethan7,000individuallydesignedpinwheels,printedwithworksubmittedbythepublic.Theinstallationcreatesanevolving,undulatingwaveofcolorandbeautythatblanketsthetwo-and-halfacreplot,whichisthefocusoffuturerestorationbytheAlliance.Reddychosepinwheelsbecausetheyareuniversallylovedobjectsofchildhoodmemories,muchlikepublicparks,andevokenatureintheirmovementattunedtowindandnaturalforces."OurinspirationbehindtheConnectiveProjectwastobringtogetherthebroaderBrooklyncommunitywiththeParkinauniquewayatthelevelthe150thanniversarydeserves,"saidRoryMcEvoy,presidentofAREA4."Thisisanelegantandinclusivewayforpeopletoaddtheiruniquevoicetoacollectiveundertaking:areflectionofthePark’susageandtheAlliance’scareofit."Theinstallationwasconceivedasanarchitecturalformthatwouldimmerseandengagethecommunity,"saidReddy,whohaslongbeenanadvocateofarchitectureforthepeople.“Architectureisaccessibleandtangibleandeasilytranslatable.Wewantedtocreatesomethingthatwouldinitiateadialogueabouttheimportanceofpublicspaces,whichwefeelissoimportantrightnow,butalsosomethingthatgenerateswonderandplay."Reddy’svisionwasverymuchinfluencedbythebeautyandvisionofProspectPark’sdesignersFrederickLawOlmstedandCalvertVaux,whoin1867transformed585acresofruralterrainintotheurbanretreatthatisBrooklyn'sBackyard.Now150yearslater,theRoseGardenwillbeexperiencedagainingrandfashion,fullofcolorandwhimsy,anodtothecreativespiritthatpervadesBrooklynandReddy’spractice.Thepinwheelsareconstructedofweather-resistant,compostablepapermadefromstonedust.Thecommunityengagementprocessbeganwithanopencalltoartiststosubmitworksforachancetobeselectedbyapanel,consistingofrepresentativesfromtheBrooklynCounciloftheArts,theBrooklynMuseum,BRICArts&Media,PIONEERWORKS,MoCADA,andRussellSimmons’RushPhilanthropicArtsFoundation.ArtistAnselOommenwasselectedasthewinneroftheopencall.Printsofhispiece,Chitin&Furanocoumarin,willbeonsaleintheBrooklynMuseumgiftshopduringtheinstallation,alongwithworksbythetoptenfinalists.PioneerWorkswillbefeaturingthewinningartist'sworkaswellasdisplayingthepinwheelsofthetoptenfinalistsand20runnersupaspartoftheirSecondSundayseventtakingplaceonAugust13th.ThiseventwillalsofeaturepinwheelmakinginthePioneerWorks'garden.TheConnectiveProjectisfundedinpartbyBloombergPhilanthropies,withadditionalsupportfromNewYork-PresbyterianBrooklynMethodistHospitalandGSBDigital.AboutProspectParkAllianceProspectParkAllianceisthenonprofitorganizationthatsustains,restoresandadvancesProspectParkforthediversecommunitiesthatcallBrooklynhome,workinginpartnershipwiththeCity.TheAllianceprovidesamajorityofthestaffandresourcesthatkeeptheParkgreenandvibrant.Learnmoreatwww.prospectpark.org.

AboutAREA4ExpertsinIdeation,Regulatory,Sponsorship,andActivation,AREA4isthego-toshopinNYCwhenitcomestodevelopingexperiencesthatsuccessfullyconnectthepublicandprivatesectors.LedbyRoryMcEvoyandGrainneCoen,andcomprisedofadiverseteamwithdeepexperienceacrossavarietyofbusinessesanddisciplines,AREA4providesauniqueandholisticapproachtoeveryprojectitparticipatesin-beiteventcreation,development,production,orregulatoryprocesses.Learnmoreatwww.weareAREA4.comAboutReddyMadeDesign&ArchitectureAleaderintoday’sglobaldesignculture,ReddymadeArchitectureandDesignwasfoundedbySuchiReddyin2002.Thefirmhasbeenlaudedforitsformalexperimentation,imaginativeuseofcolorandpassionfornewmaterials.BasedinNewYork,Reddymade’ssophisticated“senseofthenew”isevidentinsuchcurrentprojectsasakineticrain-screenfacadeinChennai,India,anavant-garde,modularhomeinBeverlyHills,anda264-unitcondominiumprojectinSunnyIsles,Florida.Thefirm’sdesignfortheWomen’sBuildinginNewYork,acenterfortheglobalwomen’sandgirl’srightsmovement,wasoneofthirteenfinalistsinthe2016competition.Learnmoreatwww.reddymadedesign.com.

###MediaContacts:DeborahKirschner,718.965.8983/dkirschner@prospectpark.orgLucyGardner,718.965.8934/lgardner@prospectpark.org