Embassy Information
Embassy Event
THE US EMBASSY AND FAENA ART DISTRICT PRESENT “LANDMARKS OF NEW YORK” PHOTO EXHIBIT
February 4-29, 2008
The U.S. Embassy and the Faena Art District will open the photographic exhibit “Landmarks of New York” on February 4 at 7:30 p.m. at the Faena Hotel+Universe. The exhibit will be open February 4-29. Mounted for the first time at the Municipal Art Society of New York City to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the passage of the New York City Landmarks Law.
“Landmarks of New York”
Faena Hotel + Universe
Martha Salotti 445 - Puerto Madero
February 4-29, 2008
Free entrance
Exhibition Description:
2005 marked the 40th anniversary of the passage of the New York City Landmarks Law. This important legislation preserves buildings, properties and objects that have a unique character or special historic or aesthetic value as part of the development of the cultural fabric of the city, state or nation. Protection of these resources is essential to safeguarding the city’s and the country’s historic, aesthetic and cultural heritage and provides positive economic impact, enhancing many attractions that benefit business and industry. This law, one of the first, serves as a model for landmarks laws throughout the country, has preserved many of New York’s and the nation’s most important cultural and architectural icons.
In New York City alone, there are 1,116 designated Landmarks, 104 interior landmarks, 9 scenic landmarks and 84 historic districts, comprising 22,100 properties, the largest number of designated landmarks and the most valuable real estate in any city in the United States. This exhibition, documenting some of the most significant and unusual of these properties, has been organized by the Historic Landmarks Preservation Center in New York, in conjunction with the publication of the book, “The Landmarks of New York,” by noted author and curator, Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel.
Content:
80 black and white framed photographs with descriptive explanatory text about each landmark. Each text describes the cultural, historical, and architectural significance of each site.
This exhibition was mounted for the first time on April 13, 2005 at the Municipal Art Society of New York City, and has toured through 40 countries in the world. Argentina is the last host.
About the Curator:
Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel
Chair, Historic Landmarks Preservation Center
Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel is a writer, television interviewer, and producer, former White House assistant and the first Director of Cultural Affairs for New York City. Ms. Diamonstein-Spielvogel was the longest serving Commissioner on the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission—for 17 years. She was also appointed to and served on the NYC Arts Commission and the NYC Cultural Commission, and chaired the New York City Landmarks Preservation Foundation. Since 1995 she has chaired the Historic Landmarks Preservation Center. She was appointed by the President of the United States to the Board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1987, and also to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in 1996 for two terms, of which she was also Vice Chair.
Ms. Diamonstein-Spielvogel is the author of nineteen books, including The Landmarks of New York series; Remaking America; Buildings Reborn; and Inside New York’s Art World. She is the curator of six international museum exhibitions, each based on one of her books.
Ms. Diamonstein-Spielvogel currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Fresh Air Fund; the Museum of Women/Leadership Center; The Friends of The High Line, as Vice President; and the New York State Historic Archives Trust. She is co-chair of the Slovak NGO, ACEC-Arts/Communication and Education. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards, the next of which will be bestowed in February 2008 by Partners for Livable Places for The Entrepreneurial American Leadership Award for Vision
and Community Spirit. She holds honorary doctorates from The Maryland Institute College of Art and Longwood University. Ms. Diamonstein earned a doctorate from New York University. She is married to Carl Spielvogel, the former Ambassador to The Slovak Republic and a leading international business executive.
The Historic Landmarks Preservation Center
Historic Landmarks Preservation Center, a non-for-profit organization, is dedicated to increasing and enhancing public appreciation and awareness of New York’s cultural and historical heritage. In an effort to highlight the architectural richness of each historic district, The Historic Landmarks Preservation Center has initiated and implemented the historic district marker and street sign programs. The Historic District Markers, providing a map of the historic district and a brief description of its history have been posted in each of the city’s historic districts. And Terra Cotta street signs, identifying both the name of the street and the historic district in which it is placed have been installed to replace existing street signs on each and every street corner throughout each of the city’s 84 historic districts. These programs have served as a model for similar initiatives throughout the United States.
More than ten years ago, the Historic Landmarks Preservation Center initiated a Cultural Medallion Program to document and highlight celebrated New Yorkers, significant events, and other important aspects of New York City’s cultural, economic, political, and social history. Modeled on London’s Blue Marker Program, New York City’s distinctive Terra Cotta and white medallions, were designed on a pro-bono basis by the internationally recognized designer Massimo Vignelli.
The Historic Landmarks Preservation Center publishes books, creates exhibitions that are locally, nationally, and internationally circulated; organizes public forums and public outreach about historical events, locations and persons, and seeks to assist and support outstanding cultural resources.