Artists With Eyes and Ideas on New Bogardus Plaza

In September, landscape architects are expected to present Community Board 1 with a design for Tribeca's Bogardus Garden and Plaza that will merge both the garden and the plaza into a unified triangular park on Hudson Street, between Chambers and Reade streets. The Trib received letters from two longtime Tribeca artists, with suggestions for sculptures for that space.

A Cast Iron Bogardus Portrait

To the Editor:

I was delighted to learn Bogardus Garden is once again in the news, ready for further improvement.  All of the three proposals will be a great and welcome change.

Years ago, when the garden was first suggested, I made a portrait of Bogardus with an anticipated concept to fabricate it in cast iron, which would have a great patina. (I never submitted the idea.)

I am proposing that the sculpture be placed in Bogardus Garden at the north end, where there are existing base-like steps.

We can all look forward to the improved park.

Mimi Gross

P.S. Congratulations on your on-going excellent neighborhood newspaper.

A Monument to 'The Great Mr. B.'

To the Editor:                                                                           

How fascinating to see Mimi Gross' idea for a cast iron tribute to James Bogardus (letters, July 2014 Trib)!  I wonder how many artists who live near the Bogardus Garden have also had ideas? A number of years ago I too proposed a monument to the great Mr. B.  It would consist of six rectangular, cast iron plates arranged pinwheel-like in a column about six feet high.  The slabs would be enlarged casts of the signature signage that Bogardus customarily attached to his buildings:

 J A M E S   B O G A R D U S,  O R I G I N A T O R

A N D   C O N S T R U C T O R   O F   I R O N

B U I L D I N G S.   N E W   Y O R K

John Willenbecher