WW1CC Commissioner Dr. Matthew Naylor (at podium) gives remarks at the opening of the new outdoor photo exhibit at NYC's Worth Square. The exhibit is a collection of striking contemporary photos from the WWI battlefields in Belgium and France. Fourth from right is WW1CC Commissioner Dr. Libby O'Connell.
"Fields of Battle, Lands of Peace" World War I Outdoor Photo Exhibit in NYC
By Chris Isleib
Director of Public Affairs, United States World War One Centennial Commission
NEW YORK CITY — On Friday July 13th, NYC Parks unveiled a new outdoor photography exhibit,“Fields of Battle, Lands of Peace: The Doughboys 1917-1918”, that tells the story of the World War I battlefields of France and Belgium.
The exhibit is free and open to the public, and can be seen at Worth Square, adjacent to Madison Square Park, for the next three weeks. It is made up of striking modern images from WWI battlefields, taken by acclaimed photographer Michael St. Maur Sheil. Sheil's works have been featured in National Geographic Magazine, Time Magazine, and elsewhere.
Specific information on the exhibit can be found here www.theworldwar.org/fieldsofbattle. The exhibit is a partnership between the WWI World War I Centennial Commission,the National WWI Museum, NYC Parks, and the Madison Square Park Conservancy
The location for the exhibit is particularly fitting. As described by NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell J. Silver, FAICP, “NYC Parks has 102 WWI memorials throughout the city’s public spaces, and we are proud to showcase these striking photos in Worth Square. This meaningful photo exhibit is made all the more poignant by its proximity to the Eternal Light Monument in Madison Square Park, which honors the WWI Armistice and serves as the setting for the annual Veterans Day ceremony.”
Signage for the Fields of Battle newly-installed temporary exhibit in NYC's Worth Square. This traveling photo exhibit comes to New York City as a partnership between a number of organizations. The National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City is overall exhibit organizer. The U.S. World War I Centennial Commission, in Washington DC has provided exhibit tour support.
The Worth Square location was secured though special teamwork between the Madison Square Park Conservancy, NYC Parks, and the World War I Centennial Committee of New York City. World War I lasted from 1914-1918, and the United States was involved in the war from 1917-1918. The war's centennial period is currently underway.
"This exhibition traces the journey of the American forces during the height of their involvement in the war and we commemorate their efforts,” said National World War I Museum and Memorial President and CEO Dr. Matthew Naylor. “It is both poignant and beautiful work and serves as another example of our commitment in helping the public understand the enduring impact of the Great War.”
The World War I Centennial Commission was created by Congress in 2013 to provide educational programs, public outreach, and commemorative events, regarding America's involvement in World War I. Information on the Commission can be found here. ww1cc.org
The Commission’s founding sponsor is the Pritzker Military Museum and Library in Chicago, Ill. To learn more, visit pritzkermilitary.org
The Commission's leading sponsor is the Starr Foundation. Information can be found at www.starrfoundation.org
The National World War I Museum and Memorial is America’s leading institution dedicated to remembering, interpreting and understanding the Great War, and its enduring impact on the global community. To learn more, visit theworldwar.org.
The Madison Square Park Conservancy mission is to protect, nurture, and enhance Madison Square Park, a dynamic seven-acre public green space, creating an environment that fosters moments of inspiration. Learn more here. www.madisonsquarepark.org/
NYC Parks maintains over 1,000 public works of art, including 102 memorials that are related to World War I. Information can be found at www.nycgovparks.org/.
