Hurricane Maria memorial, NYC, 2019

VSA made it to the “interview round” for our submission to the New York City competition, the Hurricane Maria memorial, in Battery Park. We were interviewed on Nov 22, 2019 by the NYC commission’s art consultant. We honor the victims of Hurricane Maria with ROOTS, public art that shares some of te complex the story of the vibrant community of Puerto Rico in New York. Our concept is based on the arching –architectural–roots of the giant kapok, the national tree of Puerto Rico. We designed vaulting arches to create a unique place of contemplation: these arches also create portals to overlook the bordering harbor on one side, and high rises to the other. The vibrancy of the contrasting granite and copper speaks to the energy that the Puerto Rican community has added to  New York City since as far as back as its first settlers in the 1850s. The symbolism of the roots, at once bare but regenerating, gives hope to the victims’ families.  Mural within proposed by Cesar Vivero. Design Lead: Valerie Schweitzer. Support Team: Hacken Li

Concept sketch of vaulting arches like the roots of the kapok tree that lift off the ground.