Mamdani Administration Unveils First Public Artwork Honoring Little Syria
On April 30, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration introduced its inaugural public artwork, 'Al Qalam (The Pen): Poets in the Park,' located in Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza. This $1.6 million installation, created by French-Moroccan artist Sara Ouhaddou, pays tribute to nine figures from the historic 'Little Syria' literary scene, including Khalil Gibran, who co-founded the Pen Bond in 1920. The artwork showcases quotes in a geometric script on mosaic benches and features a prominent sculpture that spells out 'al Qalam.' The project received $1.4 million in funding from the Mellon Foundation, marking it as the city's latest monument since the Women's Rights Pioneers Monument in 2020. Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij was present at the event.
Key facts
- Unveiled on April 30 by Mayor Zohran Mamdani's administration
- First commemorative public artwork of the Mamdani administration
- Titled 'Al Qalam (The Pen): Poets in the Park'
- Created by French-Moroccan artist Sara Ouhaddou over ten years
- Honors nine members of Little Syria's literary community
- Includes Khalil Gibran, who co-founded Pen Bond in 1920
- Located in Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza, Financial District
- Cost $1.6 million, with $1.4 million from Mellon Foundation
- Features mosaic benches with geometric alphabet and a yellow sculpture
- Little Syria was Manhattan's first Arabic-speaking enclave, settled in late 19th century
- Displaced by Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel construction in 1940s
- First Arabic newspaper in US, Kawab America, established 1892
- Cultural Affairs Commissioner Diya Vij attended unveiling
Entities
Artists
- Sara Ouhaddou
- Khalil Gibran
- Elia Abu Madi
Institutions
- New York City Mayor's Office
- Mellon Foundation
- New York City Parks Department
- Washington Street Historical Society
- Pen Bond (al Rabitah al Qalamiyyah)
- Hyperallergic
Locations
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Financial District
- Elizabeth H. Berger Plaza
- Little Syria
- Greater Syria
- Syria
- Lebanon
- Palestine
- Central Park
- United States
- British colonial Egypt