Uniting To Restore The World’s Fair Commemorative Mosaics

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Looking Into The Windows of The 1939 & 1964 World’s Fairs

By Michael Perlman | mperlman@queensledger.com

Embedded in the pavement of David Dinkins Circle at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, site of the 1939 – 1940 and 1964 – 1965 World’s Fairs, are distinctive mosaic medallions that bear homage to both World’s Fairs. The remaining installations depict the New York Hall of Science (1964), Elsie The Cow (1939), Robert Moses by Artist Andy Warhol (1964), Salvador Dali’s Dream of Venus (1939), and Fountain of The Planets (1964). Two other mosaic areas have been replaced entirely with cement, and may be among two of the known missing medallions; EAT – Robert Indiana (1964), Billy Rose Aquacade (1939), NYS Pavilion (1964), NYC Pavilion (1939) now Queens Museum (1972), and two Westinghouse Capsules honoring both Fairs. A number of years ago, some mosaic medallions were replaced with pavers to the public’s dismay, and rumors hold that the mosaics may have been salvaged.

The World’s Fair commemorative mosaics are elaborate works of art installed in 1998 by a mystery artist, causing the public to scratch their heads. After recently learning from the Parks Department that the five remaining mosaic medallions are slated for removal in the next calendar year due to their condition, preservationists including this columnist, tour guides, authors, members of the arts world, citywide residents, and the Queens Historical Society have bonded, and are advocating for their on-site preservation. Collectively, they feel that the mosaics signify respect for their embodied World’s Fair architectural achievements, international culture, and history, in addition to serving as unique works of public art.

 

The Parks Department recently claimed that restoring the unmaintained mosaic tributes would not be possible due to NYC’s harsh climate, based on a 2013 evaluation. In Europe and the Middle East, mosaics that are thousands of years old are rediscovered and restored, but in Queens, the World’s Fair commemorative mosaics are 26 years old and much smaller in total area.

As Rego-Forest Preservation Council Chairman, this columnist began spearheading the World’s Fair commemorative mosaic preservation campaign in partnership with Gloria Nash, World’s Fair author of the soon-to-be published “Looking Back At The Future,” which features the mosaics early on in her book. She said, “Eliminating what the city put here makes no sense to so many people who have an interest in the Fairs, art, tourism, and New York City history. People travel to other sites around the country where World’s Fairs were held, bringing in tourist dollars. There is less and less reason for those people to travel to this park otherwise, since we would lose what adds to the beauty of our park and our city’s uniqueness. The city seems to have forgotten that these World’s Fairs are the reason for the park’s existence.” Nash continued, “In writing and photographing for my book, I was amazed and delighted to meet so many people, much too young to attend either Fair, who were as enchanted as I am by these events.”

Upon conducting outreach to Anthony Sama, the Flushing Meadows Corona Park administrator on September 24 with an on-site preservation proposal, echoing other letters, he emailed a response on October 17, where an excerpt stated, “They have seen such disrepair that they present a safety hazard in the area of Dinkins Circle, causing uneven footing and loose mosaic tiles as a daily tripping hazard.”

It later reads, “After much deliberation and continued deterioration, NYC Parks determined the best course of action will be to remove the mosaics and replace with pavers similar to the surrounding plaza, making the grade even and thereby addressing the tripping hazards. In lieu of this, NYC Parks, in conjunction with the Alliance for FMCP will ensure that the Alliance’s Art in the Park Grant will prioritize Dinkins Circle as a location for at least one public art installation each year the grant is funded.” Then a detailed reply in collaboration with Gloria Nash was submitted to Anthony Sama on November 2.

“Parks should have maintained them better,” said historian Kevin Walsh of the famed Forgotten New York. “They are historical artifacts. By now, few would know that Elsie appeared at the 1939 World’s Fair, or that Dali created an exhibit there. Few today are aware who Dali was, but seeing the mosaic would mean educators could research and rediscover his art. It would be a tragedy to lose them.”

Over two weeks ago, St. John’s University student Nicholas Salerno was walking from the Citi Field area to become acquainted with the World’s Fairgrounds. “I was always fascinated by the World’s Fair, but being from Staten Island, I never had the chance to go, as it can be a long drive. I was stopped by a group who drew my attention to the mosaics, and I was saddened when I heard that there are efforts to eliminate them,” he recalled.

Salerno feels they offer a history lesson to a young generation that may not know what a World’s Fair is, or how the legacy of the two World’s Fairs continue to impact their lives today. “They give us a glimpse into how previous generations of New Yorkers viewed themselves and the world around them. Also, let’s not forget the craftsmanship that would be lost if these mosaics are destroyed. As a history major, I am always shocked by how many historical documents and artifacts have been lost to time.”

Salerno hopes that the mosaics can be preserved, so the public can enjoy their beauty and learn from them, as he did. “Everyone I have told since my visit, thinks they should be saved,” he said.

“Much of my sadness is due to the realization that something that means so much to me and many others, sometimes seems to mean so little to those who are making decisions. How little it would have taken to enact protective measures,” said Queens resident and World’s Fair collector Jennifer Flagg. “Whenever I enter the park, I stop to admire these unique, evocative works of art, and take pictures to share with friends on social media.” She denounced the idea of eliminating the mosaics and said, “They can hopefully be restored and protected, since I would prefer to be able to continuously admire them in their present setting.”

New York City resident Kyle Supley is a licensed tour guide, a board member of The City Reliquary museum, and a preservationist who was raised in Schenectady. In 1989, it was the 1939 World’s Fair’s 50^th anniversary, and at the young age of 9, he learned about the Fair after spotting an article. It inspired him to collect its memorabilia, and he would eventually expand into the 1964 World’s Fair.

“Although the Fairs were no longer there when I visited the park, there were many extant items, and I loved what I saw,” recalled Supley, in reference to his 2000 visit. “I was excited when I came down the ramp from the subway to Dinkins Circle and discovered the mosaics.”

 

Supley was raised studying art. “Here we have Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali’s pieces being celebrated through the mosaics, so it feels like a triple thread of art in the park. I felt they were really special, but noticed that there were a few pieces that were once repaired, but not well.”

“Even though these mosaics are not from the Fairs, they’re becoming antiques. They’re very intricate, and are done in the way of mid-century mosaics. The artwork is really nice. Unfortunately, the ones that are missing had beautiful graphics too. While we still can, let’s preserve the ones that are extant.” Supley also feels that with greater awareness of relics and historic buildings, comes education and caring about the need to achieve preservation. “These mosaics are very much one-of-a-kind, and especially those that were installed to commemorate two amazing Fairs in our city,” he continued.

When The Bowery Boys announced their walking tours, Supley asked if he could pursue World’s Fair tours, and then he became a licensed tour guide. For nearly eight years, his tours have been an attraction. To reserve a spot at his New York World’s Fairgrounds Tour on December 7 at 11 AM, visit https://www.boweryboyswalks.com/walking-tours/new-york-worlds-fair-walking-tour  The few remaining World’s Fair pavilions, monuments, demolished sites, and collectibles will be featured, with a special emphasis on the commemorative mosaics.

Preservation of the mosaics would offer a window of educational opportunity, enabling a greater understanding of the featured subjects, Queens’ two World’s Fairs, and ultimately the park’s creation. “The World of Tomorrow” was a dominant theme of the 1939 – 1940 World’s Fair, which attracted millions of New York residents and tourists to Flushing Meadow for a celebration of technological innovations and cultural history. Over 44 million visitors attended during both summers. A few years earlier, an ash dump existed.

A foldout linen postcard, designed for the Exposition Souvenir Corporation by the Grinnell Litho. Co. read, “On the theory that the best commemoration is a re-dedication, the New York World’s Fair 1939 celebrates the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington as the first President of the United States, by dedicating itself to the task of building a ‘Better World of Tomorrow.’ The eyes of the Fair are on the future – not in the sense of peering toward the unknown nor attempting to foretell the events of tomorrow and the shape of things to come, but in the sense of presenting a new and clearer view of today in preparation for tomorrow; a view of the forces and ideas that prevail as well as the machines.”

Since most brilliantly developed pavilions and monuments were planned as temporary structures, today it is unfortunate that very few physical remembrances exist, despite the lack of official landmark designations. Residents who have first-hand memories are also diminishing. The Fair’s centerpiece consisted of the symbolic Trylon and Perisphere monuments, which were a 700-foot spire and a 200-foot in diameter sphere, respectively.

The 1964 – 1965 World’s Fair’s theme was “Peace Through Understanding.” The landmarked Unisphere was dedicated to “man’s achievements on a shrinking globe in an expanding universe,” and would become an immediate iconic symbol. It represented the earth and international dependency, signifying the beginning of the Space Age.

At the Fair’s opening, President Lyndon B. Johnson delivered remarks. In an excerpt, he stated, “This fair represents the most promising of our hopes. It gathers together, from 80 countries, the achievements of industry, the wealth of nations, the creations of man. This fair shows us what man at his most creative and constructive is capable of doing. But unless we can achieve the theme of this fair–“peace through understanding”-unless we can use our skill and our wisdom to conquer conflict as we have conquered science–then our hopes of today–these proud achievements–will go under in the devastation of tomorrow.”

***The committee’s mission is to help restore the World’s Fair commemorative mosaic medallions on site by connecting with tile restoration experts and maintain the mosaics occasionally into the future, to offer educational opportunities while preserving this rare work of public art in conjunction with the Parks Department. To participate, email mperlman@queensledger.com