Who Decides? The History and Future of Monument Creation in New York City

New monuments are coming to NYC. But how will they be selected? The city established a Monuments Commission last fall and announced a $10 million pledge for statues or public art honoring neglected groups, and the same amount for monuments recognizing women. In this panel, historians, art historians, and monument advocates will discuss the history of monument creation, visions for new projects, and the current pressures on city agencies to respond to public opinion.

  • Michele Bogart, Professor of Art History, Stony Brook University and author of the new Sculpture in Gotham: Art and Urban Renewal In New York City
  • Mary Anne Trasciatti, Professor of Writing Studies and Rhetoric, Hofstra University and President, Remember the “Triangle Fire Coalition”
  • Jack Tchen, Professor of Public History and the Humanities, Rutgers University and member of the NYC Mayor’s Commission on Monuments
  • Moderator: Todd Fine, History Doctoral Candidate, CUNY Graduate Center, President, Washington Street Historical Society, advocate of the monument for “Little Syria”

This event is part of Difficult Histories/Public Spaces: The Challenge of Monuments in New York City and the Nation, a series of public programs in which historians, art historians, community activists, and artists will discuss the ongoing reevaluation of public monuments and memorials across the country and in New York City.

The series is sponsored by:
American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning
The Gotham Center for New York City History
CUNY Public History Collective

Series is supported with funds from Humanities New York and the National Endowment for the Humanities.











When: Tue., Oct. 9, 2018 at 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Where: Graduate Center, CUNY
365 Fifth Ave.
212-817-7000
Price: Free
Buy tickets/get more info now
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New monuments are coming to NYC. But how will they be selected? The city established a Monuments Commission last fall and announced a $10 million pledge for statues or public art honoring neglected groups, and the same amount for monuments recognizing women. In this panel, historians, art historians, and monument advocates will discuss the history of monument creation, visions for new projects, and the current pressures on city agencies to respond to public opinion.

  • Michele Bogart, Professor of Art History, Stony Brook University and author of the new Sculpture in Gotham: Art and Urban Renewal In New York City
  • Mary Anne Trasciatti, Professor of Writing Studies and Rhetoric, Hofstra University and President, Remember the “Triangle Fire Coalition”
  • Jack Tchen, Professor of Public History and the Humanities, Rutgers University and member of the NYC Mayor’s Commission on Monuments
  • Moderator: Todd Fine, History Doctoral Candidate, CUNY Graduate Center, President, Washington Street Historical Society, advocate of the monument for “Little Syria”

This event is part of Difficult Histories/Public Spaces: The Challenge of Monuments in New York City and the Nation, a series of public programs in which historians, art historians, community activists, and artists will discuss the ongoing reevaluation of public monuments and memorials across the country and in New York City.

The series is sponsored by:
American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning
The Gotham Center for New York City History
CUNY Public History Collective

Series is supported with funds from Humanities New York and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Buy tickets/get more info now