Curated by Melina Moe, Curator of Literature.
Coney Island, described by E.E. Cummings as a "fusion of the circus and the theater," has long been a hub of artistic inspiration and cultural spectacle. This exhibition at Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library showcases historical and contemporary perspectives on Coney Island, including historical photographs and archives from the W.F. Mangels Company, alongside new art by Columbia University School of Arts MFA students Javier Griffey, Sharon Lee, and undergraduate student Vivien Ko Sweet. The exhibition explores Coney Island's role as a site of working-class leisure, artistic creativity, and cultural labor, reflecting on its ongoing impact as a symbol of both nostalgia and novelty.
Javier Griffey and Sharon Lee worked with School of the Arts faculty Adama Delphine Fawundu '18 and Naeem Mohaiemen to develop their projects.
Related Events
Opening Reception
Friday, September 26, 5–8 PM
Kempner Gallery at Butler Library
Discussion
Monday, September 30, 4 PM
Online
Melina Moe presents a curatorial short on the topic of: Coney Island Archives & New York: An RBML and Columbia Department of Fine Art Collaboration, with current students Sharon Lee (MFA) and Vivien Ko Sweet (BA).
Coney Island Archives & New York is a collaboration between Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Columbia University's Department of Fine Arts, and the School of the Arts.
