This update is provided by Will Morrison, a NYC Parks employee who serves as the Deputy Administrator for Washington Square Park

Generations of artists have drawn inspiration from their time in Washington Square Park; from author Henry James to the kids who come to the Conservancy’s arts and crafts programs. Art has long been an integral part of Washington Square Park’s culture. Not a day goes by where someone isn’t creating or showcasing their art in the Park.

But the Park has served as more than inspiration and open-air studio, it has housed some incredible works of art. In 1981 the Park was home to one of its most striking installations when artist Francis Hines wrapped the Arch in yards of gauzy fabric. A public art installation such as Hines’ is not only visually stunning, but it’s a valuable tool for a Park Administrator who is trying to influence the vibe of a park. Installations can enliven a space and really define a destination. And there’s no better spot for community art than a place like Greenwich Village, the beating heart of the city that has birthed and housed countless creative souls. 

That is why I have been incredibly excited to work to bring more formal Public Art installations to Washington Square Park. Doing it correctly and thoughtfully is a complex process, but luckily one I was already familiar with during my previous role in the Parks Marketing & Special Events department. It involves working closely with the wonderful NYC Parks Arts & Antiquities division, who manage all of the art in our parks, both temporary and permanent. There is a dedicated team that vets and manages the temporary art proposal process, which involves a rigorous set of guidelines to ensure that any public art installed is appropriate for its venue. 

There is already one process available to members of the community who would like to bring art into the Park through the agency’s citywide temporary outdoor public art submission process. One newer example of this would be the Village Voices exhibit boxes, which will be returning to the Park this summer and is one of the Conservancy’s 2022 Community Arts Grantees. These boxes make up an outdoor exhibition celebrating people, places, and moments from our neighborhoods’ history. It’s a perfect representation of “leave no trace” art. It gets set up, maintained, and removed with little to no interruption to regular Park operations, while enhancing your experience while you’re here. 

But for a park as steeped in Art as WSP, one process didn’t seem like enough. That is why I’m very excited to announce the creation of the Washington Square Public Art Committee, which will work with myself and the Arts & Antiquities division to help bring installations to WSP. For this inaugural year we’re focusing on an open call for proposals spanning the months of November 2022 to April 2023. Works would be exhibited in the Park for 1-2 months in specifically designated locations throughout WSP. The hope is these installations will help bring more winter interest to the Park and, with the lower foot-traffic through the Park in the winter, we have more available space to accommodate temporary art installations.

A review by the Public Committee is the first step. Made up of local stakeholders, the committee will review all submitted proposals to ensure they meet WSP specific-guidelines (weight, hight, installation process, durability, and other common sense rules) to make sure the art is visually appealing, safe, and able to withstand the rigors of living in a public park. This committee is the community voice in the room, adding a local perspective and understanding of this specific Park and its needs. Once the committee reviews a proposal and provides feedback to myself and Arts & Antiquities, we will make the decision on whether to move forward with the proposal or not. If a proposal is given the thumbs up, the artist then begins the formal process with NYC Parks, which is standard across all city parks. Arts & Antiquities conducts a further review, the artist must schedule and make a presentation to Community Board 2, and if everyone is in agreement, the logistics of the installation are scheduled, and then we’re ready to enjoy! 

I look forward to seeing the proposals and eventual installations that come to Washington Square Park. This is an exciting new chapter in the Park’s artistic history, and I’m glad to share it with all of you.