... This is a sculpture that asks to be touched and is an invitation to all children to please come up and touch it....
Upon hearing that the sculpture was meant to be touched, the Roosevelt Island kids rushed forward to meet their new Blue Dragon....
The Roosevelt Island kids at the unveiling like the Blue Dragon.
So, come dance around and enjoy the Roosevelt Island Blue Dragon at Southpoint Park Saturday June 18 from 1 - 3 PM. There will be music, refreshments and crafts too.
was unveiled this morning at the entrance to Southpoint Park. (Ulla & Gustav Kraitz pictured in front of from left to right, Consul General of Sweden in New York, Leif Pagrotsky, RIOC's Susan Rosenthal, Gallery RIVAA's Tad Sudol and Elisabeth Stapen)
Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Acting President Susan Rosenthal hosted the Blue Dragon Unveiling Ceremony telling the assembled crowd:
... part of our mission is to improve the quality of life on this Island and I believe truly the introduction of art is one of the best ways....
Through a translator Gustav Kraitz added:
This is a sculpture that asks to be touched and is an invitation to all children to please come up and touch it....
Upon hearing that the sculpture was meant to be touched, the Roosevelt Island kids rushed forward to meet their new Blue Dragon.
Here's a portion of the Roosevelt Island Blue Dragon Unveiling Ceremony including remarks from Ms. Rosenthal, Mr. Kraitz and NYC Council Member Ben Kallos. Don't miss watching the Roosevelt Island kids rushing to meet the Blue Dragon.
Roosevelt Island resident Elisabeth Stapen was one of the prime movers behind the Blue Dragon coming to Roosevelt Island. Ms. Stapen said:
My collaboration with Gustav Kraitz started with the inauguration of the Wallenburg Monument in 1998 outside the United Nations at 47th Street and First Avenue - I was at the time working as Cultural Affairs Oficer at the Swedish Consulate. The Swedish Government and the Nobel Foundation had commissioned the Kratizes to create a monument to honor the life and work of diplomat and humanist Raoul Wallenberg in New York....
... I had moved to Roosevelt Island from Westchester in 2011 and the Island had made quite an impression on me with all the new art projects and Cornell Tech in the pipeline to be completed in 2017. I asked Gustav Kraitz if he wanted to have a tour of the Island and meet with Gallery RIVAA and its dynamic President, Tad Sudol, before Gustav went back to Sweden.
Said and done. We went there on the Tram and Gustav was impressed with what he saw. He said he had a sculpture in mind that he wanted to donate to Roosevelt Island. He made good on his promise and the next time he came, he brought a picture of a children's play sculpture which has now been named "The Blue Dragon".
We are gathered here today to celebrate the arrival of Ulla and Gustav's gift to the Island and we hope that this sculpture will be the symbol of the beginning of a new chapter in the plans of a sculpture park for the Island for everybody to enjoy.
Here are some more scenes from the Roosevelt Island Blue Dragon unveiling today
Please join us for the unveiling ceremony of the BLUE DRAGON sculpture, donated to Roosevelt Island by world renowned Swedish artists Ulla and Gustav Kraitz,on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 11am at Southpoint Park Entrance.
The BLUE DRAGON embarked on a long voyage to its new home, departing from Hamburg, Germany on March 6, 2016 and arriving on Roosevelt Island on March 30, 2016. Cut from a Swedish quarry, the polished black granite diabase sculpture weighs just over 4,400 lbs. (2,000 k) and is 10 feet long.
Ulla & Gustav Kraitz, whose careers have been interwoven since their marriage in 1961, are among the world’s foremost sculptors and ceramicists, having their work featured in nearly 100 exhibitions internationally, including the United States; in Washington D.C., Chicago, and New York. The technique they have developed for firing large pieces in kilns modeled after those of the ancient Chinese style has allowed them to achieve shimmering ceramics in classic glazes, such as oxblood, cobalt, and celadon.
Elizabeth Stapien, Tad Sudol & RIOC Staff Resting On Blue Dragon From Gallery RIVAA
A dedication ceremony for the Blue Dragon sculpture, donated to Roosevelt Island by world renowned Swedish artists Ulla and Gustav Kraitz, will be held at Southpoint Park on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 11 a.m.
The Blue Dragon embarked on a long voyage to its new home, departing from Hamburg, Germany on March 6, 2016 and arriving on Roosevelt Island on March 30, 2016.
Cut from a Swedish quarry, the polished black granite diabase sculpture weighs just over 4,400 lbs. (2,000 k) and is 10 feet long.
In May of 2014, while working on repairs at the Wallenberg Monument, Hungarian-born Swedish sculptor, Gustav Kraitz was given a tour of Roosevelt Island by local resident Elisabeth Stapen and Roosevelt Island Visual Arts Association (RIVAA) president, Tad Sudol. Kraitz was very taken by the island’s beauty, history, and family atmosphere.
“He’d made a few children’s sculptures, including the Blue Dragon which he’d initially intended to sell to a museum.” Stapen recounts. “It was quite a bit of fate, his visit to the island. Right then he decided to donate a sculpture.”
Sudol adds, “When we gave Gustav a tour of the island, including the RIVAA Gallery and the murals at Motorgate Gallery, he saw not only the uniqueness of our location between Queens and Manhattan, but also our vision of being a community for art and embraced it. That was something! This famous artist donating his work to our small but vibrant community.”
Susan Rosenthal, acting President/CEO & General Counsel of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), says, “After many months of coordination with the Kraitz’s and RIVAA, a scenic location in Southpoint Park was chosen to display this generous gift, which we are delighted to accept from our neighbors across the Atlantic. Positioned directly towards the United Nations, the Blue Dragon is flowing out to the East River, connecting it to Kraitz’s symbol of hope.”
Ulla & Gustav Kraitz, whose careers have been interwoven since their marriage in 1961, are among the world’s foremost sculptors and ceramicists, having their work featured in nearly 100 exhibitions internationally, including the United States; in Washington D.C., Chicago, and New York. The technique they have developed for firing large pieces in kilns modeled after those of the ancient Chinese style has allowed them to achieve shimmering ceramics in classic glazes, such as oxblood, cobalt, and celadon.
RIOC and RIVAA are honored that the Roosevelt Island community has been presented with this gift. Visitors and residents alike will enjoy the Blue Dragon as a beautiful new landmark and a continuing representation of the island’s commitment to the arts.
Gallery RIVAA's Tad Sudol made this October 2015 presentation of his idea for an Island Of Art on Roosevelt Island to the RIOC Board Of Directors.
Susan Rosenthal reported to the April 14 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board Of Directors meeting (Full video web cast here) on her first month as RIOC Acting President.
Image Of RIOC President Susan Rosenthal At 4/14 RIOC Board Meeting
Ms. Rosenthal said:
... We got alot of repairs going on, alot of capital improvements going on ... and alot of really fun activities going on...
The Roosevelt Island fun activities Ms Rosenthal mentioned during her report include:
April 28 Southpoint Park Stakeholders meeting to develop a plan for the park and Smallpox Hospital,
April 30 Cherry Blossom Festival and
May 17 Roosevelt Island Tram 40th Anniversary.
The Roosevelt Island infrastructure repairs and improvements include:
Repairs to Motorgate Helix potholes starting in next 2 weeks,
New boiler and roof installation for Sportspark starting on or about August 15 which will require closing of Sportspark for a period of time,
New Tram Station Elevators construction to begin in September 2016 that will take a year to construct and
Four Freedoms Park will pay for and install new bike racks for about 30 bicycles near their entrance.
Future projects include
Possibility of Bike path from the Motorgate Helix and
Face Lift for the Roosevelt Island Youth Center
In response to a question from RIOC Director Margie Smith, Ms. Rosenthal replied that there was no new information about plans for Coler Hospital Flood Mitigation Plan berm that was presented last November.
RIOC Director David Kraut asked about plans for the Sportspark facility and its future use by Cornell Tech. Ms Rosenthal said a renovation of Sportspark will require a huge amount of capital. Ms Rosenthal added:
...It's a gigantic project...
and RIOC will:
... have to enter into either a long term arrangement with some kind of health club facility that will infuse capital or do it ourselves which I don't think we are in a position to do....
According to Ms. Rosenthal, Cornell Tech is not going to take over responsibility for renovating Sportspark.
... Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) President Charlene Indelicato is leaving RIOC to take a position as Dobbs Ferry Village Administrator. Ms Indelicato's last day at RIOC is March 18. Current RIOC General Counsel Susan Rosenthal will be the Acting President/CEO until a permanent President/CEO is selected.
Ms Indelicato (center) Ms Rosenthal (right) RIOC Chair Jamie Rubin (left) 3/10 Board Meeting...
I feel privileged to be temporarily taking hold of the reigns at RIOC. Fortunately for me, Charlene Indelicato believed in a team approach to leadership so as General Counsel for nine months, I was already involved in all pending transactions and outstanding issues facing the Island. And, I interacted with all departments of RIOC so I am no stranger to our outstanding staff.
There are so many projects to be excited about: the generous donation of a sculpture by the renowned artist Gustav Kraitz which will be adorning the west side of the Island; the new ferry service which is in the planning stage; completing a host of badly needed repairs for Motorgate and Sportspark already on the drawing block.
The Board has approved moving forward with new seawall railings and in a few weeks we will be presenting to the Community Board the plans for new Tram Station elevators.
For the near term, the Board and Management will explore new ways to improve the quality of life on Roosevelt Island through a targeted re-investment plan. So, stay tuned.
I encourage participation and input from all and look forward to getting to know you better.
Will Roosevelt Island be turned into an "Island Of Art" filled with outdoor sculptures made by world renowned artists? The answer is yes if Roosevelt Island Gallery RIVAA's Tad Sudol has his way.
During the October 22 Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Board of Directors meeting (full video of meeting here), Mr. Sudol presented the Island Of Art plan to RIOC Directors beginning with the proposed installation of a sculpture (pictured below) donated by Swedish artists Gustav & Ulla Kraitz .
If the donation is approved by RIOC, the Kraitz sculpture is likely to be placed just in front of the entrance to Southpoint Park
facing the United Nations next to the East River.
Roosevelt Island resident Elisabeth Stapen is assisting Gustav and Ulla Kraitz
with the sculpture donation to Roosevelt Island. According to Ms. Stapen, the sculptors will be meeting with RIOC Wednesday October 28 to discuss their sculpture donation and to finalize details.
... Ulla and Gustav Kraitz are one of Sweden's foremost artists sharing a prolific career of four decades. Their work has been exhibited widely throughout the world and can be seen in museums, parks, and public settings in Europe and the U.S. Most notable is their Hope Monument to famed humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg, which is installed in front of the United Nations Building in New York City.
Here's video of Mr. Sudol's October 22 Island Of Art presentation
to the RIOC Board Directors discussing the Kraitz sculpture, a proposal to display equipment parts from the old Roosevelt Island Tram
Roosevelt Island is a mixed income, racially diverse waterfront community situated in the East River of New York City between Manhattan and Queens and is jurisdictionally part of Manhattan. The Roosevelt Island Tramway, which connects Roosevelt Island to the rest of Manhattan, has become the iconic symbol of Roosevelt Island to its residents.
The Purpose of this Blog is to provide accurate and timely information about Roosevelt Island as well as a forum for residents to express opinions and engage in a dialogue to improve our community.
