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| Preservation campaign painting by Doug Leblang of the NYS Pavilion at the 1964 World's Fair |
~ Rego-Forest Preservation Council requests NYC Individual Landmark status, restoration, and creative reuse for the iconic New York State Pavilion.
~ Below is an article written by Michael Perlman, a Forest Hills Times Columnist and Rego-Forest Preservation Council Chairman: http://www.foresthillstimes.com/view/full_story/24482353/article-Envisioning--tomorrow-for-the-Tent-of-Tomorrow
The 50th anniversary of the 1964 World’s Fair
in Flushing Meadows Corona Park is nearly three months away, but the symbolic
New York State Pavilion, which could be celebrated as one of Queens’ most
cherished sights, exhibits weathered architectural elements behind fenced off
perimeters. Its significance is largely unknown to younger generations.
“People For The
Pavilion,” an organization led by visionaries Matthew Silva, Christian Doran,
and Salmaan Khan, held the first presentation, question and answer session, and
reception at the adjacent Queens Theatre on January 25, attracting an audience
of over 200. The organization is dedicated towards the NYS Pavilion’s
preservation, and recognizes its value as an iconic piece of New York City
history and its potential as a vibrant space for surrounding neighborhoods and
the greater community.
To capture its
future potential and history, Matthew Silva, a technology and video production
teacher founded a Facebook group and page, and began producing a documentary
called “Modern Ruin: A World’s Fair Pavilion.” It will feature interviews with
Fairgoers, operators, and architects. The trailer has been released, and Silva
is now raising funds through Kickstarter to see it through.
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| NYS Pavilion preservationists attend the People For The Pavilion event, Jan 25, 2014 |
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| Even The Flinstones made a stop at the 1964 World's Fair! |
After conducting
structural studies, the Parks Department released figures in December, with
options of restoring the NYS Pavilion for a new use at $72 million, stabilizing
it as a ruin for $43 million, or demolishing it for $14 million. A combination
of these findings and the event fueled locals’ determination to see a future
for the NYS Pavilion. Suggestions for creative reuse outpoured.
Notable film
historian Tom Stathes envisions bringing his "New York Cartoon
Carnival" to the Pavilion. He explained, “I showcase my early animation
series mostly in Brooklyn, and would love to have more local spaces such as the
Pavilion available for some of my outdoor screenings. I'd be more than willing
to coordinate a fundraiser as part of my series, with the group seeking to
preserve this important structure.”
“When I look out
from the Queens College library, I see the Pavilion’s blinking light and
remember my childhood,” said Enzo Longo. He envisions it as a public venue for discovering cultures and new
technologies. “Almost everyone in Queens is either an immigrant or a descendent
that can connect with this World Fair's theme.” He would like to see
“Shakespeare in the Park” at the Pavilion, and a literary site where nearby
high school and college students can discover its connection to the valley of
ashes in F. Scott Fitzgerald's “The Great Gatsby.” “New York is a
fertile place to enact some New Deal lessons, so let’s employ people with a
living wage to restore the Pavilion,” he said.
Friends Michael
Torre and Mary Rose Kaddo visualize live music and a beer garden at the Tent of
Tomorrow during the milder months. Torre stated, “Queens’ main political
leaders need to care about landmarking. This is an accessible world-class site,
which should bring a positive attitude to our borough.”
Howard Fein felt
very encouraged by the event’s turnout. He said, “It shows that people really
care. The site has an emotional connection to those who remember it as the
Pavilion, and its unique architecture has captured the imagination of those too
young to remember the 1964 World’s Fair.”
The panel expressed its mission of securing NYC Individual Landmark status
for the NYS Pavilion as one of the first steps, and The New York Landmarks
Conservancy collaborated with People For The Pavilion to help accomplish that.
Director of Development Scott Leurquin referred to the NYS Pavilion as the
Fair’s architectural star. Crediting the site’s National Register of Historic
Places status, he said, “We will provide guidance and support in securing City
Landmark designation.” He continued, “The Conservancy urges the Parks
Department and elected officials to work together to make sure that the site is
properly repaired and reopened to the public. Adaptive reuse is not only
feasible, but can lend itself to a host of activities.”
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| The symbolism of sun despite cloudy times at the Tent of Tomorrow |
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| May new generations have the chance to re-enter an icon! |
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