Koi Pond by Rod Tryon and Anthony Cappetto at the World Financial Center on April 24, 2010. (Angel Navedo)
Environmentally-conscious visitors were in short supply last weekend when the World Financial Center played host to a number of Earth Day-inspired events and attractions, ultimately trumped by the Tribeca Film Festival and a half-pipe structured for skateboarders and bicyclists.
A three-dimensional drawing of a koi pond, a forest landscape made of old fabric, and an art workshop focusing on the creation of puppets for an upcoming Hudson River pageant were among the overlooked features promoted as part of the week’s Earth Day festivities in lower Manhattan’s Battery Park City.
But with Earth Day celebrated city-wide on Apr. 22, the promoted attractions failed to keep up with the large-scale glamour of the Tribeca Film Festival. An outdoor, makeshift movie theater lined the waterfront as security and event workers made final arrangements for the evening’s film screening. Skaters and bicyclists thrilled crowds in the afternoon with high-speed, gravity-defying stunts on the half-pipe.
Forest by Suzanne and Mathilde Husky at the World Financial Center on April 24, 2010 (Angel Navedo)
Perhaps it was a lack of interest, or poor organization, but most tourists walked past Rod Tryon and Anthony Cappetto’s chalk-pastel Koi Pond without much interest. And Suzanne and Mathilde Husky’s Forest was nestled into a glass and marble corner across from the men’s restroom.
Two workers sat at a dimly-lit desk, surrounded by promotional materials for Earth Day, but didn’t explain the day’s events with much clarity or confidence.
Among the events, however, was a business-as-usual art production at the World Financial Center. The rest of the events on the flyer, however, were business as usual at the World Financial Center.
The most organization came from the art gallery located on a balcony that appeared as if it was still under construction.
The Courtyard Gallery, located down a long and unwelcoming corridor, was decorated with puppets, artwork, and an assortment of adults working tediously in preparation for an event next month.
“It’s related to Earth Day, but this was in preparation of a pageant we’re putting on May 22,” said Michelle Brody, a volunteer at the World Financial Center’s weekly art program for the last two years. “The grass skirts here were on view.
“I spoke to a bunch of kids and their parents on Earth Day about the Hudson River as an estuary,” Brody continued. “I planted native grasses in the skirts … talked about native versus invasive plants, and how these marsh grasses are meant for also growing in salt water.”
Grass Skirts lined up inside the World Financial Center. April 24, 2010 (Angel Navedo)
Every Wednesday and Saturday, adults are welcome to volunteer at open workshops to create puppets and costumes for various events. The current focus is the Hudson River Pageant on May 22, from Battery Park and up to Hudson River Park.
“Throughout the day there’s very specific events that will happen,” Brody said. “There’s opera singing and poetry reading; there are dances, [and] there are special spiritual offerings to the river. There’s also education.
“All of our costumes are related to native species of the Hudson River. So we’ll be handing out information about the river and its native environment. And also work that’s being done to restore it.”
