Breaking Ground on Historic Art Restoration at Kingsborough Houses
For 81 years, Exodus and Dance, an 8-foot by 80-foot sculpture by renowned artist Richmond Barthé, has been a fixture at Kingsborough Houses. On January 11, a groundbreaking was held at the development to announce a new partnership between NYCHA, the Public Housing Community Fund (Fund), and the Mellon Foundation, which provided a $2 million grant to restore the artwork as well as establish an artist-in-residence program and other place-based interventions to be chosen by Kingsborough Houses residents and community stakeholders.
“Mellon’s funding in Barthé’s Exodus and Dance, as well as Kingsborough Houses, signals the community and family value of New York and our public housing communities,” said Deputy Mayor Maria Torres Springer. “New Yorkers can be proud to feature the important artistic work and achievement of Richmond Barthé’s contribution to New York’s historic art world. Exodus and Dance is a magnificent and significant work of art that has become a neighborhood fixture of African-American history and artistic excellence and achievement. We’re excited to see this addition to the hard work of NYCHA and tenants to restore and beautify their communities.”
“Exodus and Dance is a stunning and significant piece of artwork,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “It is a brilliant representation of African-American heritage, as well as a New York City and NYCHA staple since its installation at Kingsborough Houses in 1941. We are so grateful to the Mellon Foundation, the Public Housing Community Fund, and our City partners for the opportunity to not only restore this frieze to its intended magnificence, but to do so with the support and engagement of Kingsborough residents and the surrounding community.”
In 2019, NYCHA received $1.8 million in funding from former City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and former City Council Member Alicka Ampry-Samuel to initiate the restoration of Exodus and Dance.
“I am so proud and delighted that Richmond Barthé’s breathtaking work, Exodus and Dance, is being restored to be seen and enjoyed by not only Kingsborough residents, but also by all New Yorkers,” said HUD Regional Administrator Alicka Ampry-Samuel. “It is highly important for our children to know who Richmond Barthé was and his impact and contribution to this country as a well-renowned African-American sculptor. We do a disservice to our children if they only see walls and concrete rather than beauty and wonder. This historic 80-foot frieze will make that possible and that is why I am grateful for the unprecedented partnership among NYCHA, the Public Housing Community Fund, the New York City Council, and the Mellon Foundation for making the preservation of this historic artwork possible.”
The Fund leveraged City Council and federal funding to secure the $2 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to begin restoration work.
“Mellon’s investment in the restoration of Barthé’s Exodus and Dance and Kingsborough Houses’ open spaces acknowledges the valuable worth of the places, people, and stories of New York and its public housing communities that have long been under-resourced,” said Mellon Foundation Humanities in Place Program Director Justin Garrett Moore. “We are proud to partner with NYCHA, the Public Housing Community Fund, and local partners to help build more just communities. This project is groundbreaking not only for creating something new, but for making real investments in the care, maintenance, and engagement that our communities deserve and through recognizing the transformative power, meaning, and beauty that public art and places provide.”
“This historic $2 million grant from the Mellon Foundation will be instrumental in realizing the project’s vision of restoring Exodus and Dance, uplifting the importance of the artist, Richmond Barthé, to our city and nation, and building long-lasting connections within Kingsborough and the surrounding community,” said Public Housing Community Fund Executive Director Alex Zablocki. “This project exemplifies the power of art to bridge generations, honor cultural legacies, and build vibrant communities. We are excited to embark on this journey with NYCHA, our local partners, and the Kingsborough Houses community. Thank you to the Mellon Foundation Humanities in Place program for providing this much-needed funding for public housing communities.”
The first phase of the Exodus and Dance project is the 18-month restoration led by NYCHA’s Asset and Capital Management Division. The restoration involves carefully removing the frieze from the wall and transporting it to a conservation studio. Additional work will include building a new wall to serve as the base for the frieze, replacing the surrounding pavement, and upgrading the site lighting.
The restoration effort is a part of NYCHA’s Connected Communities program, which prioritizes community-centered urban design and utilizes public-private partnerships to enhance NYCHA’s outdoor spaces and improve residents’ quality of life.
“The Wall” (as it’s called by Kingsborough residents) depicts scenes of Black people dancing and participating in a religious celebration. It is the largest piece created by Mr. Barthé, who is known for his work inspired by Christianity, Black history and African lore, and theater and dance.
“On behalf of the residents of Kingsborough Houses, we are thrilled to see much-needed investments being made in our community,” Kingsborough Houses Resident Association President Angela Whittaker said. “Exodus and Dance is a treasured artwork that generations of Kingsborough residents have enjoyed and gathered around. We call it ‘The Wall,’ but it’s more than that – it’s a place where our kids have played, where we have celebrated community gatherings – and today, NYCHA and its funders recognize what this special piece of work means to us, and we are thankful for its restoration.”
The second phase of the project is centered around community engagement and storytelling. Weeksville Heritage Center and Fulton Art Fair will work closely with local artists and Kingsborough Houses to create an artist-in-residence and fellowship program.
Once restored, the renovated plaza around the restored artwork will be a vibrant public space, fostering community gatherings, performances, and activities. There will be art installations, community murals, and interpretive signage to reflect the voices and narratives of the community and significance of Exodus and Dance; the rich cultural heritage of Kingsborough Houses; and the stories, memories, and dreams of the broader African-American community.
