The Landmarks of New York City Photo Exhibit in Hong Kong

Friday, 15 September 2006 10:16

Hong Kong - The U.S. Consulate General for Hong Kong and Macau and the University Museum and Art Gallery, The University of Hong Kong are pleased to present a photographic exhibition to highlight the architectural heritage of New York City.  The exhibition features over 80 black and white photographs of the city's most-loved objects, buildings and sites from the 17th to 20th century.  The collection was assembled in 2005 for a world tour in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the New York Landmarks Preservation Law.

Each photograph on display is accompanied by captions written by Dr. Barbaralee Diamonstein-Spielvogel, the curator of the exhibition, and commissioner of the New York Preservation Commission for 17 years.  Dr. Diamonstein-Spielvogel was influential in acquiring landmark status for many of the city's buildings, sites and objects. Exhibition 23 September to 24 October 2006.

The City of New York's Landmarks Preservation Law was enacted on April 19, 1965.  The event, itself an important milestone in the global heritage conservation movement was, in Dr. Diamonstein-Spielvogel's words: ...the result of the increasing loss of New York's iconic historic, architectural and cultural monuments beginning with the razing of Pennsylvania Station (1963).

Over the past 41 years, the New York Landmark Preservation Commission has not only put important private and public buildings such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the former residence of John Coltrane on the list of protected landmarks under the Law, it also protects parks, individual trees, street furniture, bridges and even entire districts from uncontrolled intervention.  Within the five boroughs that make up the City of New York, there are now over 1,100 landmarks on the protection list.  The photographs in the exhibition are a selection of the most renowned examples of buildings, interiors and objects declared by the commission between 1965 and early 2005.

The opening of the exhibition will take place at the Museum on Friday 22 September 2006 at 6:00 pm.  Ms. Marlene Sakaue, U. S. Deputy Consul General for Hong Kong and Macau and Professor Ralph Lerner, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, The University of Hong Kong, will officiate at the ceremony.

Visit University Museum and Art Gallery, Hong Kong at : www.hku.hk/hkumag