INHABITING MNEMONIC DESIGN ON ROOSEVELT ISLAND

Written by hdc on Jul 19, 2011

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:          Janet Falk

Phone: 212-677-5770

 INHABITING  MNEMONIC  DESIGN  ON  ROOSEVELT  ISLAND

 Window Display Invites Memory and Creation in Depiction of Artists’ Residence within Ruins

(Roosevelt Island, NY, July 19, 2011) – Mnemonic design involves “a personal connection to a space,” according to Ellen Ivanits. Her plan for an artists’ residence built in the partial structure of the Smallpox Hospital, now in ruins on Roosevelt Island, invites artists to use memory in an act of creation.

    Ivanits, whose Master of Science in Interior Design thesis is displayed in the triple windows of 513 Main Street on Roosevelt Island, scrupulously preserves the existing architecture and brings in new and modern elements. Her drawings are incredibly detailed; the walls and windows of the Smallpox Hospital are hand-drawn, while the new components were drafted by computer.

       Her vision of as many as 12 artists, with residencies of several months to one year, is rather different from the remote, rural locations of Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, or Chautauqua Institution in southwestern New York State. This artist colony is in the heart of a bustling city. Moreover, the close, dormitory style quarters provide opportunities for greater interaction between artists, compared to the traditional cottages. Finally, the building itself features numerous glass walls, so activities are more public in terms of the community and the other artists.

   After hearing about Roosevelt Island from a friend, Ivanits drove on the FDR Drive and spotted the illuminated hospital ruins. She was soon enchanted and drawn to the location. “I delved into the history and learned about the ghost stories. Judy Berdy of the Roosevelt Island Historical Society was enormously helpful in providing resources and contacts,” she said.

   “The Roosevelt Island Historical Society is delighted to showcase Ellen Ivanits’ innovative re-imagination of the Smallpox Hospital,” said Judith Berdy, president.

 Ivanits invites residents and visitors to consider their own memories and how specific places and memories connect.

  The display of Ivanits’ thesis was organized by The Roosevelt Island Historical Society and may be viewed until August 30, 2011.

DIRECTIONS: Take the Tram at 59th Street and Second Avenue or the F train to Roosevelt Island. Walk 10 minutes north on Main Street or take the red bus (25 cents).

The Roosevelt Island Historical Society promotes awareness of our Island’s unique story and pursues preservation of its landmarks and artifacts. For more information, please visit www.rihs.us.

Posted Under: The Politics of Preservation, Uncategorized