"Tourist-In-Chief",

Temporary public art installation by Leon Reid IV

On display on Oct.1st from 8am - 7pm at Union Square, NYC

We are thrilled to announce that "Tourist-In-Chief" received permission from the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. We would like to thank Art In Odd Places for curating this project into their 2011 festival "RITUAL">>. Special thanks to our attorney Phillip Z. Kimball>> for negotiating the permit and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation>> for allowing the installation to exist.

"Tourist-In-Chief" is a temporary installation involving the bronze equestrian statue of General George Washington (1732-1799) created by Henry Kirke Brown in 1856. The installation transforms Washington into a contemporary tourist by placement of large scale props such as an "I Love NY" hat, a camera, a NYC subway map, and shopping bags.

“Tourist-In-Chief” is designed to reflect the social climate of Union Square Park. Historically a forum to express divergent points of view both political and creative, the park has developed into one of New York’s most popular destinations for tourism and commerce. It is the Artist’s intent to reflect the atmosphere of Union Square in its present state and make Washington more relatable to a contemporary audience. The makeover will draw attention to an information booth detailing Washington’s role in NYC history.

Initially defeated by the British in “The Battle Of Long Island” in 1776, George Washington would later emerge triumphant and lead the Continental Army down Broadway as the last British troops fled New York, “Evacuation Day” 1783. On April 30, 1789 George Washington was inaugurated as first president of the United States at Federal Hall on Wall Street in lower Manhattan.

"Tourist-In-Chief Team:

Artist: Leon Reid IV
Production Manager: Caroline Reid
Counsel: Philip Z. Kimball
Assistant: Jake Swanson
Rigger: Albert Valcarcel

"Tourist-In-Chief" is made possible by the generous support of:
(in no particular order)

Adam Payne
Ricardo Cortes
Julia Marchesi
Carolina Miranda
Jenna Matecki
Ana Cerro
Ulrike Tennstedt
Katie Schmitz
Steve Lambert
Sarah Froelich
Michael Meissner
Erin Heitsch
Jill Swanson
Noel Drumbor
Daniel & Amanda Freeman
Amanda McDonald Crowley
Lena Jackson
Haven Cousins
Philip Z. Kimball
Ariston Anderson
Johnny Ceron
Kathryn L. Reid
Jazmine Atienza
Tara Foster
Marcia Woody
Mimi Ton
Jodi Rodriguez
Martin Nelson
Ryan Cook
Leon Reid III
Duane Shelton
Gerald Barker
Luna Park
Adam Hardy
Tiffini Woody-Pope
Becki Fuller
Janet Reid & Calvin Washington
Jonathan Bauer
Sarah Stern

Special thanks to:

Kickstarter>>
Community Board 5>>
NYCLU>>
Alston-Calaf & Associates Inc.>>

Selected press coverage:

"Tourist-In-Chief" presentation for Community Board 5>>
New York Magazine>>
New York Observer>>
The Gothamist>>
The L Magazine>>
The Village Voice>>
New York Post>>
DNA Info>>
Animal New York>>
The Street Spot>>
Wooster Collective>>

Image: ©Leon Reid IV 2011. Photographer: Becki Fuller

Image: ©Leon Reid IV 2011. Photographer: Becki Fuller

Image: ©Leon Reid IV 2011. Photographer: Becki Fuller

Image: ©Leon Reid IV 2011. Photographer: Becki Fuller