NEW YORK—Artwork by 11 professional artists from the Greater New York area or New York State will be on view at Federal Hall National Memorial from July 19 through September 6, 2016.
These original works of art depict the missions of the U.S. Coast Guard, New York City’s maritime guardians and the largest active duty military force in the New York City area. Along with the works of the local artists are those of 13 other artists from around the country.
The area and New York state artists, members of the U.S. Coast Guard Art Program, are James Consor of Manhattan; Susanne Corbelletta of Glen Head, N.Y., Amy DiGi of Yonkers, N.Y., Tom Hedderich of Westtown, N.Y., Anne Kullaf, of Lebanon, N.J., Karen Loew of Manhattan; Mara Sfara of Farmington, Conn.; Dino Sistilli of Woodbury, N.J., Leendert van der Pool of Brooklyn, Chuck Van Horn of Glen Head, N.Y., and John Ward of Saranac Lake, N.Y.
Their works vividly bring to life the myriad missions performed by the U.S. Coast Guard. Subjects portrayed, to name but a few, include daring search and rescue cases, national defense patrols and maritime environmental protection.
Federal Hall is located on the exact site where Alexander Hamilton had offices when he was Secretary of the Treasury. While secretary, Hamilton established the Revenue Cutter Service, considered the forerunner of today’s Coast Guard. Metro area artists’ work will be hung along with 15 additional pieces from other Coast Guard Art Program (COGAP) members.
This marks the 35th anniversary of COGAP. The program utilizes fine art as an outreach tool for educating diverse audiences about the United States Coast Guard. Today, more than ever, the service addresses an abundance of challenges as it works to maintain the nation’s security at home and abroad and execute its 11 statutory missions such as drug interdiction, marine safety and maritime law enforcement. COGAP art provides visual testimony to the unique contribution the Coast Guard makes to the nation in its multifaceted role as a military, humanitarian and law enforcement organization.
COGAP members give their works for free to the collection, which today contains nearly 2,000 pieces depicting the missions performed by the Coast Guard’s approximately 40,100 active duty members. Since the program’s inception, it has been sponsored by the Salmagundi Club, a noted New York City cultural and art center.
Federal Hall National Memorial at 26 Wall Street is located diagonally across from the New York Stock Exchange. It is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and admission is free.
To learn more about COGAP and Federal Hall, visit www.uscg.mil/art and www.nps.gov/feha.
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Editor’s Note: Interaction, interviews with one or more of the local artists can be arranged for media, on site at Federal Hall. Advance notice is required to synch with artists’ calendars. To arrange, call Charles Rowe at 718-354-2359 or email at Charles.W.Rowe@uscg.mil.