In late April, the Art Production Fund and White Columns launched a joint venture called “The New York Artists’ Memorial Garden”, featuring benches by Laurie Anderson, Judith Bernstein, Barbara Bloom, Rafael Ferrer, John Giorno, Hans Haacke, Joan Jonas, Alex Katz, Glenn Ligon, Zoe Leonard, Jonas Mekas, Meredith Monk, Yoko Ono, Elizabeth Peyton, Jack Pierson, Rirkrit Tiravanija, Lawrence Weiner and others.
Based on a curatorial initiative of Matthew Higgs, “The New York Artists’ Memorial Garden” is an extension of an existing NYC Parks “Adopt-A-Bench” program, which allows individuals to create a personal memorial for a loved one in a public space. Thirty-four New York- based artists were invited to dedicate a park bench to a person – or an entity – of their choosing.
The subjects of the dedications include author and activist James Baldwin, filmmaker Maya Deren, musician Alice Coltrane and art historian Linda Nochlin. Martha Rosler dedicated hers to David Antin, whom she describes as "Poet, mentor, friend, foe".
The benches are located in Jackson Square Park, open from 6am to 1am daily, and on view for the next ten years.
