Niagara 1979 coming back to Artpark
JOHN LAW
Dig out those bell bottoms and Sister Sledge albums - Artpark is going back to 1979.
A successful crowdfunding campaign will allow the Lewiston, New York arts venue to recreate artist Gene Davis’ massive outdoor installation Niagara ’79. Comprised of 60 multicoloured stripes, each two feet wide and 364 feet, the original piece covered Artpark’s parking lot adjacent to the Mainstage Theater.
At 43,000 square feet, it was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest painting at the time.
To make the re-creation possible, Artwork needed to raise $20,000 via Kickstarter by April 9.
The target was met when 145 backers raised $20,030.
“I’m incredibly excited that the community came together to support this artwork,” says Tanis Winslow, Artpark’s director of visual arts and family programming, who adds the project must be done within 14 days.
That’s the same amount of time Davis spent in the summer of 1979 creating the work, using 450 gallons of paint and seven miles of masking tape. He also had help from eight interns and an artist assistance.
Viewed by thousands of visitors, the paint eventually faded, and the parking lot went back to its standard black top with white lines.
The recreation will start once some basic upkeep is done on the parking lot.
Winslow is thrilled to see Artpark’s history literally resurfacing 38 years later.
“I think this artwork is a reference to the past, but it’s also saying that the past repeats itself,” she says. “So, what happened before can happen again.
“Iwantthisre-installationtochampion Gene Davis and his intention for his paintings. And I want it to bring people to the park. I want them to feel joy and energy when they come.”
Davis, who died in 1985, was known for his vertical stripe paintings. He created a similar large piece in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1972. His estate is controlled by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, which granted permission to Artwork to recreate Niagara ’79.
“He wanted his paintings to champion the impossible, the renegade, the outrageous,” says Winslow. “I like to think that is what we are doing here.” There could be more than 500 birds of prey soaring in the sky above Beamer Memorial Conservation Area on Good Friday in Grimsby. Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch special projects director Bruce MacKenzie is expecting hundreds of birdwatchers as well, when the group holds its 27th annual open house, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. MacKenzie said warm weather recently has brought out 300 to 500 birds a day, riding warm air currents high into the air. “I suspect from what I’ve seen with the weather we should have 500-plus, and we’ve had up to 11 different species in one day,” he said, adding black vultures, bald eagles and red-shouldered hawks could be among them. The event features a live display of hawks and eagles by the Canadian Raptor Conservancy at about 1 p.m., children’s programs by Carla Carlson from Niagara Nature Tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., as well as
Hawkwatch open house on Friday
for the first 80 families with children. There is a voluntary admission of $2 for individuals or $5 for families.