The Importance of Public Art, and how it affects our communities?
Posted by Richard J Garfunkel at 8/27/2008 8:41 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
iThe Advocates today will address “The Importance of Public Art, and how it affects our communities?” Our guests are Barbara Segal, Rosemary Uzzo and Yonkers Public Works Commissioner John Liszewski who will discuss this important topic.
Barbara Segal is the public Art Consultant to the City of Yonkers, NY. She has had many “One Woman Shows,” she has been involved in many group exhibits and has written numerous articles that have been published in the NY Times, the Journal News, and other publications. She is a graduate of the Pratt Institute and has a degree from L’Ecole Nationale Supericure, des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France, and a BFA degree from Pratt.
Barbara Segal has earned a firmly established reputation as an important public artist and advocate of the arts in New York State. Her exhibitions and larger scale public works have consistently met with rave reviews. The New York Times describes her sculpture as "provocative and exquisitely carved", responding to her installation exhibit at the Neuberger Museum of Art in 2000. "Tour de force well describes Barbara Segal’s achievements in sculpture. She is a master at creating complex, detailed and unusual objects from hard stone”, states the Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs at the museum. The fall of 2003 welcomed the opening of a sculpture park on the Hudson River waterfront in Yonkers, N.Y. The City of Yonkers exclusively contracted Barbara Segal to organize and design this ambitious project as a symbol of its extensive cultural revitalization. Completed in 2005 is “Muhheakantuck”, an MTA Arts for Transit commission is a two-part seventy foot cast aluminum wave, charting the original borders of the Sawmill River. It runs along both sides of the historically land marked Metro-North viaduct in the heart of downtown Yonkers. Barbara Segal in partnership with JMC Art Partners created Yonkers Artrucks, launched during Business Week 2007 for the Dept. of Public Works. Together the team developed the concept and implemented the project to transform 6 garbage trucks into "mobile art galleries" with artist-designed vinyl wraps promoting environmental awareness. Currently Barbara is a consultant for the City of Yonkers working with the Dept. of Public Works and the Downtown Waterfront Development Corp. She spends everyday in her studio in Parkhill creating new works of art for galleries, museums and private collectors.
Rosemary Uzzo, a member of “Who’s Who in Education,” has a BA and an MA from Fordham University. She was a member of the Yonkers Board of Education from 1961 through 1996. During that period of time she served as the Director of Information Services, for the Yonkers Board of Education, served as an Assistant Principal, a curriculum Coordinator, and a curriculum writer. She is still active as an Instructor for Adult Education through BOCES, been the director of the Jewels Learning Center at the Yonkers YMCA. Ms. Uzzo has been an instructor at Mercy College, and an adjunct professor at Fordham University. She is the author of “Exploring New York,” and activity text for fourth grade students in New York State. She has served on numerous Boards and Councils, which include Mayor’s Community Relations Board, Westchester Council on crime and Delinquency, National Council of Christians and Jews, Bronxville Women’s League, the Italian-American/African-American Dialogue Group, American Association of University Women, among a number of others.
Commissioner of Public Works, John A. Liszewski, started his career in the City of Yonkers in 1987 as a senior budget analyst. He became Administrator for the Yonkers Police Department, then Director of General Services in the Department of Public Works. He was then appointed by Mayor Terrance Zaleski as Commissioner and was reappointed by both Mayor John Spencer and currently by Mayor Phil Amicone.
As Commissioner of Public Works, Mr. Liszewski holds full administrative responsibility for all phases of the public works operation, including the water system, the sewer system, solid waste collection, snow removal, recycling, bulk pick-up, and the maintenance of all public areas (streets, bridges, highways).
He continues to work on increasing the percentage of recycling that we do as a City. His duty as Commissioner of Public Works has always been to continue to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Yonkers and to maintain our proactive approach. In addition, he participated in collaboration with the City’s Art Community to create an exciting project to transform six garbage trucks into mobile art galleries. The outcome was to promote environmental awareness and educate the public on the integral role DPW plays in sustaining a clean and save environment.
He is a member of Westchester Counties Solid Waste Advisory Board, American Public Works Association, Westchester County Public Works Association, Westchester Counties Water Works Association, as well as many other community and civic associations.
He was born and raised in Yonkers, were he currently resides with his wife. He has three children and two grandchildren.
Our guests will address some of these following questions:
• How does public art impact a Community?
• Who should pay for it?
• What is the difference between public art and gallery art?
• Is there a discernible economic impact regarding public art?
• Why have public art in a community?
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Barbara Segal is the public Art Consultant to the City of Yonkers, NY. She has had many “One Woman Shows,” she has been involved in many group exhibits and has written numerous articles that have been published in the NY Times, the Journal News, and other publications. She is a graduate of the Pratt Institute and has a degree from L’Ecole Nationale Supericure, des Beaux-Arts, Paris, France, and a BFA degree from Pratt.
Barbara Segal has earned a firmly established reputation as an important public artist and advocate of the arts in New York State. Her exhibitions and larger scale public works have consistently met with rave reviews. The New York Times describes her sculpture as "provocative and exquisitely carved", responding to her installation exhibit at the Neuberger Museum of Art in 2000. "Tour de force well describes Barbara Segal’s achievements in sculpture. She is a master at creating complex, detailed and unusual objects from hard stone”, states the Associate Director for Curatorial Affairs at the museum. The fall of 2003 welcomed the opening of a sculpture park on the Hudson River waterfront in Yonkers, N.Y. The City of Yonkers exclusively contracted Barbara Segal to organize and design this ambitious project as a symbol of its extensive cultural revitalization. Completed in 2005 is “Muhheakantuck”, an MTA Arts for Transit commission is a two-part seventy foot cast aluminum wave, charting the original borders of the Sawmill River. It runs along both sides of the historically land marked Metro-North viaduct in the heart of downtown Yonkers. Barbara Segal in partnership with JMC Art Partners created Yonkers Artrucks, launched during Business Week 2007 for the Dept. of Public Works. Together the team developed the concept and implemented the project to transform 6 garbage trucks into "mobile art galleries" with artist-designed vinyl wraps promoting environmental awareness. Currently Barbara is a consultant for the City of Yonkers working with the Dept. of Public Works and the Downtown Waterfront Development Corp. She spends everyday in her studio in Parkhill creating new works of art for galleries, museums and private collectors.
Rosemary Uzzo, a member of “Who’s Who in Education,” has a BA and an MA from Fordham University. She was a member of the Yonkers Board of Education from 1961 through 1996. During that period of time she served as the Director of Information Services, for the Yonkers Board of Education, served as an Assistant Principal, a curriculum Coordinator, and a curriculum writer. She is still active as an Instructor for Adult Education through BOCES, been the director of the Jewels Learning Center at the Yonkers YMCA. Ms. Uzzo has been an instructor at Mercy College, and an adjunct professor at Fordham University. She is the author of “Exploring New York,” and activity text for fourth grade students in New York State. She has served on numerous Boards and Councils, which include Mayor’s Community Relations Board, Westchester Council on crime and Delinquency, National Council of Christians and Jews, Bronxville Women’s League, the Italian-American/African-American Dialogue Group, American Association of University Women, among a number of others.
Commissioner of Public Works, John A. Liszewski, started his career in the City of Yonkers in 1987 as a senior budget analyst. He became Administrator for the Yonkers Police Department, then Director of General Services in the Department of Public Works. He was then appointed by Mayor Terrance Zaleski as Commissioner and was reappointed by both Mayor John Spencer and currently by Mayor Phil Amicone.
As Commissioner of Public Works, Mr. Liszewski holds full administrative responsibility for all phases of the public works operation, including the water system, the sewer system, solid waste collection, snow removal, recycling, bulk pick-up, and the maintenance of all public areas (streets, bridges, highways).
He continues to work on increasing the percentage of recycling that we do as a City. His duty as Commissioner of Public Works has always been to continue to enhance the quality of life for all residents of Yonkers and to maintain our proactive approach. In addition, he participated in collaboration with the City’s Art Community to create an exciting project to transform six garbage trucks into mobile art galleries. The outcome was to promote environmental awareness and educate the public on the integral role DPW plays in sustaining a clean and save environment.
He is a member of Westchester Counties Solid Waste Advisory Board, American Public Works Association, Westchester County Public Works Association, Westchester Counties Water Works Association, as well as many other community and civic associations.
He was born and raised in Yonkers, were he currently resides with his wife. He has three children and two grandchildren.
Our guests will address some of these following questions:
• How does public art impact a Community?
• Who should pay for it?
• What is the difference between public art and gallery art?
• Is there a discernible economic impact regarding public art?
• Why have public art in a community?
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