andrew sargeant

seneca village

We can’t reclaim Central Park for the sake of Seneca Village, at least in the most literal sense. Central Park’s utility isn't currently compatible with the prior use of the space. However, we must acknowledge the erasure of that prior use and its people was necessary in order to make the space what it is today.

The professional practice of urban design and landscape architecture musk acknowledge their participation in the erasure of marginalized and minority communities in multiple contexts. Seneca Village is a prime example of the incomplete story telling of the legacy of successful landscape architecture and urban design. A complete history must be told in order for us to move forward with the capacity to deal with past afflictions of design and prevent them in the future.

I propose a number of mural installations of the former settlements of Seneca Village as close to their original location as possible in Central Park. These mural installations should be comparable to the original settlements in form but composed of a single reflective material. The metaphor here is two fold, as central park itself is a reflection of erasure of the prior use and also the visitors who use the space unaware of its full history. The reclamation of historically black spaces can serve as education not only for designers but for all to use regarding the intersections of public space and race. 

Photo Caption: “Mirage,” an art installation by Doug Aitken that overlooks Palm Springs, takes the form of a mirrored ranch house.