New York Surrogate’s Court / Hall of Records
with Matt Bakkom and Kenn Cobb
Friday February 16th, 2007
3:00PM
FREE

Place: With an unfurling baroque marble staircase inspired by Garnier’s Paris Opera House, and an extensive sculptural program depicting important moments and personalities in the City's history, the New York Surrogate’s Court Building was heralded as the most Parisian monument in New York upon dedication in 1907. Although practically a repository of municipal and personal records, as well as, the court that addresses problems pertaining to estates, architect John R. Thomas’ dignified monumental design was intended as a grand civic gesture to make ordinary people feel important. This first offering was originally part of a larger plan for a coordinated civic center to be built around City Hall Park. This center, following the dictums of the prevailing late 19th century City Beautiful Movement, would counteract the perceived moral decay of a derelict New York with a grandeur able to create a harmonious social order improving the lives of the inner-city poor. Upping the ante, William DeLeftwich Dodge’s lavish mosaics depicting the signs of the zodiac was meant as the centerpiece of this showcase for public art.

Talk: Matt Bakkom (Minneapolis) works at the fringes of art- and event-making. His work often plumbs public archives, from orphaned films to local libraries or complaint letters written to New York City's mayors, bringing them to life through investigations, production, distribution and display.

Matt Bakkom will be joined Kenn Cobb of New York City Department of Records, who will lead us on tours of the archives during the talk.