Public Installation by Aaron Krach on through February, 2013 across Harlem
Can you make it here? Can you create, succeed, and support your family? Can you do of these things here in New York City in 2013? Or has the dream sung about by Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, and thousands of others been broken?
“The phrase is personal,” says Krach, “and inspirational. But by tweaking it, blowing it up , and putting it in Spanish, I want to make it a potent question.”
The text-based installation will appear from 115th Street and Third Avenue on the East Side to the tip of Manhattan, up to 220th Street and Inwood Park. Only the phrase will be advertised, not the artist name or other identifying symbols. It is important to Krach that the text is art but is also not-art, that’s why existing advertising systems are used to disseminate the project.
In a Harlem World Magazine interview Mr. Krach said:
Harlem World Magazine: Why is the piece in Harlem?
Adam Krach: The piece is in Harlem because while Harlem is having a new Renaissance of growth and prosperity…. it is still a place where some people do not “make it”… due to numberous factors (jobs, language, etc.). Thus the Spanish language, the green color… I wanted it to be site-specific. Harlem is an awesome place filled with history and potential….always on the verge of becoming even more fabulous. I do think the piece is relevant to all New Yorker’s Those who “can make it” and “want to make it” but sometimes hit the wall of difficulty that NYC puts in our way. So many of us have heard the song (“New York, New York”) and felt inspired. But “real life” is harder….I wanted the piece to be a question and I wanted to reach a more targeted audience that is not always thought of for Public Art.
HW: Where do you live?
AK: I live in Midtown East (53rd), but work in Harlem… for Free Arts NYC. I teach after school art at Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Center on 115th between 1st and 2nd Avenue.
HW: What are the dates of the installation?
AK: The piece went up January 1 and will be on view until (at least) February 28. But probably longer. They only take them down as new ads go up.
HW: Anything you wanted to add?
AK: Missing detail: 60 phone kiosks across Harlem and 12 bus shelters.
Photo credit by Aaron Krach.
Three Minutes and 16 Seconds is made possible in part with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.
40.807879
-73.945415
Like this:
Like Loading...
Public Installation by Aaron Krach on through February, 2013 across Harlem 
Submit your newstip or news photos
