“Wings of Everchange” Permanent Art Installation by Artist Jennifer Wen Ma Approved for New 70 Mulberry Building in Manhattan’s Chinatown

Art Project, Commissioned by DCLA’s Percent for Art Program, Connects the Historic Community Center’s Past, Present and Future Through Suspended Sculpture, Ink Stairwell Painting and Oral History

DCLA: publicaffairs@culture.nyc.gov
DDC: Denisse Moreno, morenoDe@ddc.nyc.gov, 718-391-1854

(New York, NY – January 16, 2024) The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) and the NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) announced today the New York City Public Design Commission (PDC) has unanimously approved conceptual designs for the three-part art installation by visual artist Jennifer Wen Ma for the new 70 Mulberry building in Chinatown. The art project – titled Wings of Everchange 易之翼 – is being commissioned through DCLA’s Percent for Art Program.

“Congratulations to Jennifer Wen Ma, whose inspiring Wings of Everchange proposal taps into the history of Manhattan’s Chinatown to create a beautiful focal point for this community hub,” said NYC Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Laurie Cumbo. “Public art can do so much to bring us together and express who we are, and Ma’s thoughtful proposal gives residents and community members a way to have their voices and experiences integrated into this important project in a poignant, profound way.” 

“This beautiful, permanent art project embodies the cultural and historic importance of 70 Mulberry and will connect the building’s past, present and future,” said NYC Department of Design and Construction Commissioner Thomas Foley. “DDC is one of the leading agencies for ‘Percent for Art.’ We appreciate and recognize the importance of public art and we are sure tenants, visitors and the community will enjoy Jennifer Wen Ma’s work.”

“Our community has gone through so many challenges and changes,” said artist Jennifer Wen Ma. “I set out to make a work that would embrace these changes, honoring our history, anchoring us in the present and taking us soaring into the future. I am thrilled that the conceptual design has been approved, so I can begin the real work -- reaching deep into our community to create a collaborative project that will share with the world how our resilience, adaptability, and willingness to embrace change make us stronger than ever.”

Ma was selected to design the art in 70 Mulberry following a community engagement process led by DCLA in summer 2023. The Percent for Art program requires that one percent of the budget for eligible City-funded construction projects be spent on public artwork by artists from all backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of New York City.

The building 70 Mulberry Street is a historic facility in Manhattan’s Chinatown neighborhood which was home to a number of community, cultural and social service organizations before a fire severely damaged the building in January 2020. DDC is leading a culturally sensitive renovation of the structure.

“Wings of Everchange 易之翼” Art Installation

Sculpture in Atrium

The first part of the Wings of Everchange 易之翼 installation includes a suspended sculpture in the shape of an abstract mythological creature for the building’s atrium. The wings unfurling from the creature’s body are shaped after Chinese calligraphic brush strokes, using keywords gathered from community members on the profound significance of 70 Mulberry and people’s aspirations for its future. The sculpture, measuring approximately 33 feet long, will be made of metal, glass and a collection of salvaged objects from the fire that devasted the building in 2020.

Oral History

The sculpture’s glass amber orbs will serve as time capsules. Each orb is dedicated to a person, or a group of people, and will hold their memories and stories about the building, creating an oral history archive. Select ambers will be filled with oral history in the years following the installation of the artworks, connecting the past with the future of the new building. Additionally, a website and app will host the oral histories where the public can click on an interactive map and access audio recordings. Ma plans to invite 70 Mulberry community members to participate and contribute stories to the time-capsule ambers, aiming to create a vibrant collection of voices and stories that reflect the diversity of this community's history and experiences.

Ink Painting Stair Tower

The atrium sculpture’s concept will be continued through an ink painting in the building’s stair tower. A long meandering ink painting will be presented on the glass panels of the wind shaft, spiraling up five stories and leading towards the building’s skylight. The paintings will be made in the artist's studio, then the images will be reprinted and transferred to the inner-side of the glass panels on site. The paintings will be gestural and abstract, while incorporating figurative elements, related to the people who have occupied and loved this building.

More information about the artist can be found here: https://www.littlemeat.net/about

About NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA) is dedicated to supporting and strengthening New York City’s vibrant cultural life. DCLA works to promote and advocate for quality arts programming and to articulate the contribution made by the cultural community to the City’s vitality. The Department represents and serves non-profit cultural organizations involved in the visual, literary, and performing arts; public-oriented science and humanities institutions including zoos, botanical gardens, and historic and preservation societies; and creative artists at all skill levels who live and work within the City’s five boroughs. DCLA also provides donated materials for arts programs offered by the public schools and cultural and social service groups, and commissions permanent works of public art at City-funded construction projects throughout the five boroughs. For more information, visit nyc.gov/culture.

About the NYC Department of Design and Construction
The Department of Design and Construction is the City’s primary capital construction project manager. In supporting Mayor Adams’ long-term vision of growth, sustainability, resiliency, equity and healthy living, DDC provides communities with new or renovated public buildings such as firehouses, libraries, police precincts, and new or upgraded roads, sewers and water mains in all five boroughs. To manage this $28 billion portfolio, DDC partners with other City agencies, architects and consultants, whose experience bring efficient, innovative and environmentally-conscious design and construction strategies to City projects. For more information, please visit nyc.gov/ddc.