Poughkeepsie Youth Arts Initiative PK B.A.Y. Unveils Public Art in Pulaski Park
“What is Your Dream for the Future of Poughkeepsie?”
What: Unveiling Ceremony of Public Art Sculpture
When: Friday, August 23, 5:30 PM
Where: Pulaski Park, Poughkeepsie
Poughkeepsie, NY (July 31, 2024) — The Poughkeepsie Board of Artistic Youth (PK B.A.Y.) is pleased to announce the unveiling of their public art sculpture at Pulaski Park in Poughkeepsie. The community is invited to a free, short ceremony on Friday, August 23 at 5:30 PM at Pulaski Park, Poughkeepsie. The artist and youth involved in this project will be present to discuss the project and celebrate its unveiling with the community. This event celebrates a year’s worth of collaboration between 21 City of Poughkeepsie teen leaders ages 14-18 and the Future of Poughkeepsie. The event will include a ribbon cutting, remarks, and refreshments. Attendees are invited to cool off in the new community pool after the event!
The sculpture titled “Portal” is created by local artist Lala Montoya alongside youth in the PK B.A.Y. which restores unused light posts at Pulaski pool and creates a portal to the bright future of Poughkeepsie, imagined by the youth! It honors the past and present and commits to a better future.
“I hope this project helps encourage more people to make a difference in the community. The Portal helps inspire the youth to create their own mark on Poughkeepsie,” said PK B.A.Y. member Bea Alarcon-Aquino.
The PK B.A.Y. is a first-of-its-kind initiative in Poughkeepsie developed by a coalition of local youth-serving organizations to promote youth leadership and civic engagement. The Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet facilitated the initiative through support from the Wallace Foundation. The PK B.A.Y. is comprised of 21 City of Poughkeepsie youth, ages 14-18, that represent five local, out-of-school time programs (The Art Effect; Family Services; Community Matters 2; the Boys & Girls Club, and Nubian Directions II). All PK B.A.Y. youth received stipends for their time working on the year-long initiative, and guidance, mentorship and technical support from The Art Effect staff. The initiative is using public art as a means to foster creative expression and civic engagement and build youth voices within community leadership. When describing the mission of the group, students highlighted phrases such as “making a difference is hard, but it is possible,” “inspiring and helping the community,” and “helping youth make a change.”
“The project acknowledges Poughkeepsie’s substantial Spanish-speaking population, emphasizing the importance of creating inclusive spaces for the often-excluded immigrant community. The concept of Language Justice is integrated, ensuring that all text written in English will be available in Spanish and other relevant languages. This commitment fosters engagement, making the installation accessible and inviting to diverse communities,” said artist Lala Montoya. “The ultimate goal is to foster a sense of connection, inspiration, and interaction that extends far beyond the immediate community,” she added.
About the Youth Arts Empowerment Zone (YAEZ): The YAEZ is a long-term plan to establish a youth arts district along Main Street in Poughkeepsie, with The Art Effect at the Trolley Barn as the anchor arts institution. It will focus on youth-driven placemaking and place-keeping in and around the Trolley Barn. In its early stages, there will be annual arts festivals around community-inspired artworks, created by local youth and professional artists, all of which will empower the local community.
About The Art Effect: For more than 40 years, The Art Effect has empowered youth to develop their creative voice to shape their futures and bring about positive social change. As the largest nonprofit arts organization in the mid-Hudson region, The Art Effect facilitates educational programming for more than 3,000 students annually, inviting them to explore, experience, and excel in the arts. It engages an additional 5,500 visitors through exhibitions and events. Programs provide an introduction to visual arts and media, allowing participants to develop real skills and guiding them toward achieving their academic and career goals.
About Lala Montoya: Currently rooted in the Hudson Valley in Poughkeepsie, NY, Lala was born and raised in Medellín, Colombia – a land of strong mountains, ancient lakes and careful campesinos. Lala draws inspiration from the abundant nature surrounding her, recognizing the inherent richness within each individual, manifesting itself through the body and the journey of life. This inspiration finds expression in her compelling earthy art, spanning ceramics, wood carving, painting, and printing blocks. Through these mediums, Montoya seeks to illuminate the beauty of time, of age – to make transparent the small details often missed in the rush of progress and perfection. It is by working with youth in her partnerships that this work stays vibrant and alive.
About The Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet (PCC): The Poughkeepsie Children’s Cabinet (PCC) is a collective impact nonprofit organization that was formed in February 2020 to develop a citywide cradle-to-career system for children, youth and families in the City of Poughkeepsie, New York. The PCC is guided by its North Star vision that, by 2033, over 5,000 City of Poughkeepsie young people and their families will be connected to transformative cradle-to-career opportunities that place them on pathways to postsecondary completion and socioeconomic mobility. Website: www.pkchildren.org
