Doris Freedman
Encyclopedia
Doris Chanin Freedman was a pioneer in the field of public art
, active in New York City
. She was the daughter of architect Irwin Salmon Chanin
and his wife Sylvia Schofler.
From 1971 to 1980 Freedman was the president of City Walls Inc., a not-for-profit organization, established in 1969 which worked with artists and communities to revitalize New York City through public art and had sponsored more than fifty mural
s. In 1971, she founded the Public Arts Council; “both organizations provided technical assistance and financial support for a wide variety of projects, and developed programs to explore the potential of urban public spaces”. In 1977 she founded the Public Art Fund
of the City of New York by merging City Walls and the Public Arts Council.
Freedman served as New York City's first Director of Cultural Affairs during the Lindsay
Administration, and as President of the Municipal Art Society
. Greatly through her efforts New York City introduced Percent for Art
legislation in 1982, which requires civil construction projects to spend a portion of their budgets on art.
One of the entrances of Central Park in Manhattan, located at the southeast corner of the Park at 60th Street and Fifth Avenue
is called The Doris C. Freedman Plaza in her honour. It is the site of rotating sculptural art installations presented by the Public Art Fund.
In 1982 the Doris C. Freedman Award, dedicated to her memory was established by Executive Order by Mayor Edward I. Koch. The Award honours “an individual or organization for a contribution to the people of the City of New York that greatly enriches the public environment”.
Her daughter Susan Freedman is president of the Public Art Fund since 1986.
Public art
The term public art properly refers to works of art in any media that have been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited or staged in the physical public domain, usually outside and accessible to all...
, active in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She was the daughter of architect Irwin Salmon Chanin
Irwin Chanin
Irwin Salmon Chanin was an American architect and real estate developer, best known for designing several Art Deco towers and Broadway theaters. He was President of Chanin Theatres Corporation, and his brother Henry I...
and his wife Sylvia Schofler.
From 1971 to 1980 Freedman was the president of City Walls Inc., a not-for-profit organization, established in 1969 which worked with artists and communities to revitalize New York City through public art and had sponsored more than fifty mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s. In 1971, she founded the Public Arts Council; “both organizations provided technical assistance and financial support for a wide variety of projects, and developed programs to explore the potential of urban public spaces”. In 1977 she founded the Public Art Fund
Public Art Fund
The Public Art Fund is a non-profit organization founded in 1977 by Doris Freedman , a Director of New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs, and the President of the Municipal Art Society. They have organized highly visible artists' projects, new commissions, installations and exhibitions in...
of the City of New York by merging City Walls and the Public Arts Council.
Freedman served as New York City's first Director of Cultural Affairs during the Lindsay
John Lindsay
John Vliet Lindsay was an American politician, lawyer and broadcaster who was a U.S. Congressman, Mayor of New York City, candidate for U.S...
Administration, and as President of the Municipal Art Society
Municipal Art Society
The Municipal Art Society of New York, founded in 1893, is a non-profit membership organization that fights for intelligent urban planning, design and preservation through education, dialogue and advocacy in New York City....
. Greatly through her efforts New York City introduced Percent for Art
Percent for Art
The term "percent for art" refers to a program, often a city ordinance, where a fee, usually some percentage of the project cost, is placed on large scale development projects in order to fund and install public art. The details of such programs vary from area-to-area...
legislation in 1982, which requires civil construction projects to spend a portion of their budgets on art.
One of the entrances of Central Park in Manhattan, located at the southeast corner of the Park at 60th Street and Fifth Avenue
Fifth Avenue (Manhattan)
Fifth Avenue is a major thoroughfare in the center of the borough of Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States. The section of Fifth Avenue that crosses Midtown Manhattan, especially that between 49th Street and 60th Street, is lined with prestigious shops and is consistently ranked among...
is called The Doris C. Freedman Plaza in her honour. It is the site of rotating sculptural art installations presented by the Public Art Fund.
In 1982 the Doris C. Freedman Award, dedicated to her memory was established by Executive Order by Mayor Edward I. Koch. The Award honours “an individual or organization for a contribution to the people of the City of New York that greatly enriches the public environment”.
Her daughter Susan Freedman is president of the Public Art Fund since 1986.
External links
- publicartfund.org, Public Art Fund official website