the Painting Activist

Wedged between modern towering structures facing the Hudson River sits a slice of Irish history that demanded a break from my walk in Battery Park this weekend. The Irish Hunger Memorial is a collage of lush native Irish flora, hard-edged design, and meandering walkways all hugging an authentic Famine-era cottage woven together to create a design “to raise public awareness of the events that led to the famine of 1845-52 and to encourage efforts to address current and future hunger worldwide.”

My sketch, from the interior of the memorial, frames one of many stones (this one engraved with a Formee’ Cross) which stands erect, mimicking the skyrises across the river in New Jersey. The oddity of thick grass and ancient stones among all of New York City’s visual frenzy contributes to a design that “communicates with the visitors on many levels, resulting in a powerful, yet flexible, framework within which to convey information encouraging action through commemoration.”
Designer Brian Tolle quickly redirected my attention from my rare morning off, back to my intent of being in New York at Thanksgiving - hunger. With that in mind, much of my focus this week will be on bringing you more artwork from the city revolving around that issue. Stay tuned.