Nathan Gwynne

Famous Faces of Randall’s Island enlivened the park’s southern pathways through a series of flat aluminum statues featuring images of important individuals from the history of the island. These life-size cutouts with the faces removed, like amusement park photo-op props where one can become a body builder, a bikini babe, or cartoon character, offered visitors the chance to pose as Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, Olympic medalist Jesse Owens and Jimi Hendrix, all of whom played a part in the history of the site. The installation played on conventions of memorial statuary and tourist attractions, while imparting knowledge of the island’s past. Gwynne also developed a forum for interaction, whereby visitors shared their photos and experiences.

View more photos on Nathan's Flickr page.