La Plaza Cultural - Art In Community Gardens

**A*@aol.com**

Dear ACGA Friends,

One of the good things about the recent NY Community Garden settlement is the 
preservation status of "La Plaza Cultural" on 9th Ave. and Avenue C in 
Manhattan. 

 <A HREF="http://www.laplazacultural.org/main.html";>Viva ! La Plaza Cultural 
!!</A> 

A cultural as well as a horticultural oasis, La Plaza's hand hewn ampitheater 
( made from rubble) is the site for hundreds of free theatrical, experimental 
art pieces, poetry readings and concerts every year.  The garden also hosts 
visual arts events as well. Under the leadership of Caroline Ratcliffe, La 
Plaza Cultural has become an important arts venue in a city known for them. 

Unfortunatly,  La Plaza Cultural is not out of the woods yet. A politically 
connected senior services provider has been vying for this corner site for a 
long time. If this  garden is not picked up by NY Parks, it's possible that 
it could fall between the cracks during a possible bid to be picked up by a 
not-for-profit land trust .

I've attached a recent news release as an example of the work this garden 
does.

For Immediate Release, September 23, 2002

212-674-4057; 917-318-1684
Email: nymagnolia@mindspring.com

Renascence 1
An Art Show celebrating the resiliency of the Community Gardens 
Lower East Side Artists Hold Second Annual Exhibition at La Plaza Cultural

From October 5-14 in La Plaza Cultural Artistas de Loisiada will host 
Renascence1, an exhibit of art.  

Los Artistas de Loisaida is a multicultural group of painters, photographers, 
printmakers, and sculptors who take inspiration from the many gardens of New 
York City''s Lower East Side, aka "Loisaida".

Renascence 1 Los Artistas de Loisiada will host a reception on Saturday 
October 5 from 5 until 8 PM, presenting a diverse group of two- and 
three-dimensional works by artists involved with New York City's community 
gardens 
La Plaza Cultural is located on the southwest corner of East Ninth Street and 
Avenue C.  The open hours are Saturday and Sunday from 12-5 p..m. and 
whenever a gardener is present. 
Summary:
Who: Artistas de Loisaida

What: Renascence 1 An exhibition of art celebrating the resiliency of New 
York City' and its community gardens. 

Where: La Plaza Cultural -the s/w corner of E. 9th St. and Ave C.

When:  October 5 through October 14, 2002.  Opening Reception: La Plaza 
Cultural-Saturday, October 5, 5-8 p.m.
Contact: Carolyn Ratcliffe, 212-674-4057, (917)318-1684; Email: 
nymagnolia@mindspring.com; site: www.laplazacultural.org

Should you feel moved to help permanently preserve this garden, please 
contact Carolyn Ratcliffe at the above e-mail address for the NYC Parks  
Commissioner and the elected officials she feels would be most helpful to the 
cause.

Best wishes,
Adam Honigman 

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