Art Under the Elevated - Art Commissions
Over the past seven years, RISE has commissioned artists to host temporary art exhibitions to activate the public space under and adjacent to the elevated A-train tracks in the Rockaways.
Through the Art Under the Elevated Initiative, RISE has commissioned a number of artists to envision, produce, and exhibit temporary public art installations underneath /adjacent to the elevated A-train in Far Rockaway, Queens, NY.
Many of these pieces are still onsite for the public to enjoy. During the three cycles, (2022, 2020, 2017) the RISE Arts Selection Committee chose the following artist works through a competitive process funded by NEA Artworks:
• Zaq Landsberg (2023) - "A" Train Sea Serpent
• Eric Rieger (2022) - Living & Breathing
• Kristy McCarthy (2022) - Rockaway in Flight
• Anthony Heinz May (2020) - Ten Twenty-Nine Twelve
• Dominika Ksel and Camila A. Morales (2020)- Sonic Constellation
• Jessica Findley (2017) - Projected Swimmers
• Jonathan Chesley, Alexandria Donati, and Andrea Parker (2017) - Rockaway Field Guide
• Kevin Sudeith (2017)- Rockaway Petroglyph- I & II
These artworks actively engage people of all ages in reenvisioning the underpass as a safe and inviting multimodal community and civic space to host a variety of events, including these temporary artworks.
The space below the elevated A-line subway tracks is currently a fragmented demapped roadway, which has the potential to serve as an important cross-peninsula connection. With art and creative placemaking as a catalyst, RISE hopes to activate this public space to inspire the community to imagine its potential.
This project builds on RISE's original initiative Project Underway, the RISE and NYC Department of Transportation "Wellness Way" partnership, as well as Design Trust for Public Space's "Under the Elevated" Program.
The RISE Center has served as the community hub for related exhibits and gallery location for public programs and community engagement to build on the selected projects.
Zaq Landsberg's A Train sea serpent, Kevin Sudeith's petroglyph rock and Anthony Mays's tree sculpture are still present on the corner of Beach 59th Street and the subway entrance for the public to enjoy.
More Info about the Artists and Their Projects Below:
Art Under the Elevated is supported by National Endowment for the Arts ArtWorks Program.