Shared Dialogue, Shared Space

Korea Art Forum (KAF) offers the second iteration of the 2023 Shared Dialogue, Shared Space (SDSS), an outdoor participatory art event that will be held on Saturday, May 13, from 12 pm to 4 pm in Inwood Hill Park in Northern Manhattan, with ASL service from 2 pm to 4 pm. This event promises to be a day of immersive art experiences that connect underserved communities to visual arts and culture in New York City.

The SDSS event in Inwood is part of a series of Saturday participatory art initiatives presented for free in NYC Parks and Public Places. Since 2020, SDSS programs have connected immigrant communities to art and culture through language access and participatory art activities. This year, KAF has invited five artists and teams to create new collaborative work with local communities.

Minshik Shin addresses specific ways of visualizing the formless democracy and creates opportunities for people to integrate art into their daily life while contributing to shaping an ever-changing symbolic art form of a democratic and equitable community. Moses Ros invites participants to make Repróllage that combines printmaking and collage of recycled materials. Stephanie Alvarado and Nancy Paredes take and preserve portraits of LGBTQ+ elders and community members for future memories, elevating the significance of history writing, particularly in BIPOC communities. The Square Theater invites community members to be part of a participatory performance that uses collected questions to connect immigrant experiences. Yeon Jin Kim continues advancing collective Jogakbo and narrative fabric collages, two powerful and expressive art and craft forms practiced by women that deserve more widespread attention.

SDSS is a project that fosters dialogues between the audience and artists, exploring a wide range of subject matters and the multidimensional role of art in the processes of cultural production and social change, particularly to disrupt rising anti-Asian sentiments and racial divides that are entrenched in all sectors of American life. KAF has offered artist-run workshops, performances, and participatory activities to populations with limited English proficiency free of charge, with translation services in English, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish at local parks embedded in the community.

For the past 3 years, Shared Dialogue, Shared Space has broadened channels of communication between the contemporary art world and immigrant communities in New York City, advancing the artists’ creative endeavors of engaging the public. This year’s event promises to be an engaging experience that showcases the diverse talents and perspectives of the artists and the community. Join us on May 13 from 12–4 pm on the Peninsula of Inwood Hill Park in Northern Manhattan for a day of immersive art experiences that celebrate the power of art in shaping our communities. Admission is free, and all are welcome to attend.