Weekend, October 9-10, 2021 – SOME NEW ADDITIONS TO LIGHTHOUSE PARK

By admin

FROM THE ARCHIVES

WEEKEND, OCTOBER 9-10, 2021

THE  490th EDITION

“THE  GIRL PUZZLE”

TAKES SHAPE
IN
LIGHTHOUSE PARK

The Girl Puzzle Monument Honoring Nellie Bly

Roosevelt Island, New York City, NY

© Artist, Amanda Matthews

Nellie Bly told the stories of other women. Now, we tell hers.

Although her life and legacy include broad professional experience as a journalist, women’s rights advocate, suffragist, WWI correspondent, inventor/patent holder, industrialist, and humanitarian, a common thread for Nellie Bly is that she experienced the plight of those who are marginalized. She wrote stories that would move the needle toward equality and progress, especially for women. Highly regarded as America’s first investigative journalist, she set a precedent for what it means to be a voice for the voiceless. 

Bly gave a voice and a face to women who had no visibility or prominence in society.

The Girl Puzzle honors Nellie Bly by presenting, on a monumental scale, faces of many women who have endured hardship, but are stronger for it. The monument gives visibility to Asian, Black, Young, Old, Immigrant, and Queer women. Their stories and lives are forever commemorated alongside Nellie Bly, whose face is cast in silver bronze, while the other four faces are cast in bronze. Each of them, rendered in partial sections that appear like giant puzzle pieces, show a depth of emotion and complexity of being broken and repaired. As the viewer approaches and enters, they become part of the puzzle by interacting with the reflective surfaces and seeing sections of the faces come together at different vantage points. 

This installation is dually inspired by Bly’s incredible response to bigotry which became her first published headline in 1885, The Girl Puzzle; and by her seminal work, Ten Days in a Madhouse, that shaped her life of dedication and empathy for others.

The story of each woman can be downloaded from “The Girl Puzzle: website or from the QR code below.  

The back of the Nellie piece with the quote “while I live, I hope” engraved in it

The reflective orbs give different visions of each piece

Adjoining each sculpture will be a miniature of the face and a braille description so that a visually impaired person can feel the features and texture of the face.

This QR code will give you the entire story in spoken and written text.

The initial stages of the lighthouse restoration are proceeding at the same time as this installation.  Soon a new historically accurate top will grace the Renwick designed lighthouse.

WEEKEND PHOTO
SEND YOUR ANSWER TO:
ROOSEVELTISLANDHISTORY@GMAIL.COM

FRIDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY

Entry Gate a Cyprus Hill Cemetery
Queens, New York
ARON EISENPREIS, ANDY SPARBERG AND CLARA BELLA GOT IT RIGHT

EDITORIAL

Two years ago when this project was announced, I was hoping it would not be another failed effort. I am happy to report that “THE GIRL PUZZLE will be a rousing success and bring multitudes of visitors to the Lighthouse Park and the north end of the island.

Watching the work this week has been wonderful. Seeing the detail and textures of the sculptures brings the faces to life.

The project is so well thought out that it will include touchable surfaces, braille interpretation, and an easily downloaded audio narration.

Amanda Matthews and Brad Connell have given their lives to the project, not just designing it but fabricating, transporting, installing, perfecting every detail. It will show in the long term.

Rarely do you feel the stories come alive as in the oral narration and written text.

This art piece is gracing our island, finished or not. Come see it thru the construction fence. RIOC should be proud and immediately tell the world of the new addition to the island.

Welcome Nellie

Funding Provided by:
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Purpose Funds
Council Member Ben Kallos City Council Discretionary Funds thru DYCD
Text by Judith Berdy

JUDITH BERDY
PROMETHEUS ART (Text)
ROOSEVELT ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Edited by Deborah Dorff
ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT RIHS. 2020 (C)
 PHOTOS IN THIS ISSUE (C) JUDITH BERDY RIHS

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rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com