Member-only story

Art and Public History as Mediation at New York's Seward Park Urban Renewal Area

Arthur Mason

·15.8k Followers· Follow

Published in Contested City: Art And Public History As Mediation At New York S Seward Park Urban Renewal Area (Humanities And Public Life)

5 min read · 3 weeks before

407 View Claps

91 Respond

Save

Listen

Urban renewal projects of the mid-20th century often displaced low-income residents and communities of color, leading to social and economic disruption. However, in the case of New York City's Seward Park Urban Renewal Area (SPURA),a unique collaboration between artists and historians emerged to mitigate these negative impacts and preserve the cultural legacy of the neighborhood.

This article explores the role of art and public history as mediating forces in the SPURA project. Through the creation of public art installations, oral history projects, and educational programs, artists and historians worked together to foster a sense of place and community among former residents and newcomers alike.

Contested City: Art and Public History as Mediation at New York's Seward Park Urban Renewal Area (Humanities and Public Life)

by Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	22190 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	224 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

The Seward Park Urban Renewal Area

SPURA was a massive urban renewal project that encompassed a 62-acre area on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. The project was initiated in the 1950s as part of a citywide effort to clear slums and replace them with modern housing and infrastructure. However, the SPURA project displaced thousands of low-income residents, many of whom were Jewish and Puerto Rican immigrants.

The SPURA project was controversial from the start. Residents protested the displacement and argued that the new housing would not be affordable for them. The project also faced opposition from preservationists who wanted to preserve the historic buildings in the area.

Art and Public History as Mediation

In the midst of the controversy surrounding the SPURA project, a group of artists and historians came together to explore ways to mitigate the negative impacts of the project and preserve the cultural legacy of the neighborhood.

One of the most visible ways that art was used as a mediating force in SPURA was through the creation of public art installations. These installations were designed to reflect the history and culture of the neighborhood and to provide a sense of place for both former residents and newcomers.

One of the most successful public art installations in SPURA was "The Memory Wall," created by artist Mary Miss. The Memory Wall is a 12-foot-high by 100-foot-long mural that depicts the history of the neighborhood from its beginnings as a Lenape Indian settlement to its transformation into a multi-ethnic working-class community.

The Memory Wall was created with the help of former residents who shared their stories and memories of the neighborhood. The mural has become a popular destination for visitors and a source of pride for the community.

In addition to public art installations, artists and historians also worked together to create oral history projects and educational programs. These projects were designed to document the stories of former residents and to educate the public about the history of the neighborhood.

One of the most successful oral history projects in SPURA was the "Voices of the Lower East Side" project, conducted by the Museum of the City of New York. The project collected over 1,000 interviews with former residents of the neighborhood. These interviews have become a valuable resource for historians and researchers.

The educational programs developed by artists and historians in SPURA were designed to teach children about the history and culture of the neighborhood. These programs included walking tours, workshops, and exhibitions.

The art and public history projects that were developed in SPURA had a significant impact on the neighborhood. These projects helped to create a sense of place and community among former residents and newcomers alike. They also helped to preserve the cultural legacy of the neighborhood and to mitigate the negative impacts of the urban renewal project.

The Seward Park Urban Renewal Area is a case study in how art and public history can be used as mediating forces to mitigate the negative impacts of urban renewal projects. Through the creation of public art installations, oral history projects, and educational programs, artists and historians worked together to preserve the cultural legacy of the neighborhood and to foster a sense of place and community among former residents and newcomers alike.

Keywords

* Art * Public history * Urban renewal * Seward Park Urban Renewal Area * Lower East Side * Displacement * Gentrification * Community development * Public art * Oral history * Education * Cultural legacy

Image Descriptions

* **Image 1:** A photograph of "The Memory Wall" mural by Mary Miss. The mural is a 12-foot-high by 100-foot-long depiction of the history of the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area neighborhood. * **Image 2:** A photograph of a group of children participating in an educational program about the history of the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area neighborhood. * **Image 3:** A photograph of a group of former residents

Contested City: Art and Public History as Mediation at New York's Seward Park Urban Renewal Area (Humanities and Public Life)

by Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani

5 out of 5