2000 Holiday Message
DEAR FRIENDS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!
November 17th was the fourth year anniversary of the WAH Center. Thanks to the artists, volunteers and generous supporters, like you, we have done much, and we still have a long way to go.Just to summarize a few outstanding honors & achievements in the last four years:
In 1997 Governor George Pataki congratulated us on "turning the historic Kings County Savings bank into a multi-purpose art center that serves the needs of artists and art aficionados of diverse backgrounds."
In 1998 Yuko Nii, our Founder & Artistic Director, was named one of Brooklyn's "Women of the year" by Borough President Howard Golden for her creation of the WAH Center & her " outstanding achievements...whose devotion to her art and commitment to the artist community of Williamsburg/Greenpoint are unparalleled."
During these four years the WAH Center has created an art club, "the Williamsburg Salon," for dozens of outstanding artists, an annual film festival, dance festival, an arts & culture festival incorporating galleries & businesses throughout the entire community, an ongoing music series, theatrical productions, poetry & staged readings, fashion shows, symposiums, lectures and more.
In the fine art area, we have pursued what Chris Gray of the New York Times called a "furious schedule ." We have produced over 48 shows incorporating over 1500 artists. Twice a year we produce international shows following our founder Yuko Nii's "Bridge Concept" of building an art & cultural bridge between local, national & international arts with emerging as well as established artists, young & old, past, present & future, inspiring and enriching one another and the public in general. So far we have "bridged" Cuba, Holland, Italy, Russia & Japan. In February of 2001 we will bring art from the new nation of Turkmenistan, formerly part of the old Soviet empire.
With regard to the restoration project on our magnificent French Second Empire building, which was one of the first buildings to be landmarked in New York City & is on the National Register of Historic Places, Thanks to generous help from the NYC Landmark Commission and the NYC Landmark Conservancy, who jointly gave us $41,000 we have just recently begun work restoring our clock tower which was damaged in a 1999 hurricane. We have now applied for a $350,000 matching grant to the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation to complete work on the exterior of the building which is in a desperate state of deterioration. We solicited letters & petitions to Bernadette Castro, the Commissioner, and received an overwhelming response from our many friends like you. Thank you very much! We want to especially thank Craig Morrison, Chairman of our architectural committee for his devotion to this project for the past four years.
Borough President Howard Golden in a letter to the Parks Commissioner points out that the WAH Center's activities have resulted in "tremendous cultural & economic activity throughout the northern Brooklyn area," an area recently designated as an "historic district." and an "economic development zone."
We have now achieved some international recognition through many major newspapers & magazines, television & radio around the world, including Austria, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, as well as many right here in the United States. Recently, in October, Chris Gray of the New York Times wrote a wonderful story entitled FROM A BANK TO AN ART CENTER , VIA AN ARTIST'S VISION, on Yuko Nii's ideas in creating the Center and her great undertaking, "battling the deterioration of the 1868 building, a task which she considers a way of repaying those who have helped her." As Yuko says, "My mission is to pass on this great treasure and historical legacy to future generations."
This Spring the Center celebrates it's first four years with a "Mentors & Friends" art exhibit and a major benefit fund raiser. Yuko Nii wishes to express her sincere, heartfelt appreciation for those mentors & friends whose spiritual and artistic guidance have been so essential to her in the development of her ideals & career and most recently in the creation of the Williamsburg Art & Historical Center...those who have made a golden path in the arts with their creative insights, energy, strong commitment & endurance that she looks upon as a model of the highest ideals. The art of Esteban Vicente, Toshiko Takaezu, Ken Noland,Toshiko Uchima & the late Isamu Noguchi, and the late Ansei Uchima will be shown and a dinner in their honors will be held. Max Roach, the world renowned jazz percussionist will also be honored. The show will be March 31st through May 20th, 2001. The benefit dinner date is to be announced. We would love to see you there!
This next year is highly critical to the WAH Center. We urgently need to raise funds to carry on our mission. Due to the lack of proper facilities& equipment we have lost opportunities to present unusual and worthy shows. We cannot yet rise to the level of professional presentation which is enjoyed by other major institutions. We need proper gallery & theatrical lighting, a stage and ancillary equipment. We must rehabilitate the Grand Reception Hall which is the first thing people see when they come into the Center, as well as the staircases. bathrooms & other public areas. As the Center grows staff needs to be hired. In other words we need your generous contribution to what we believe is one of the most worthy missions in the arts & cultural community of our great city state & country. Your contribution will let us achieve the professionalism that will help our artists show the best of what they are. PLEASE HELP! We only ask that you give what you can. If you can help more, please do. This is a crucial year!
Please drop into the Center and say hello and enjoy the programs. You will always find Yuko & Terry there to greet you!
With warmest regards & thanks to you for your kind generosity!
Yuko Nii
Yuko Nii, Founder & Artistic Director
Terrance Lindall
Terrance Lindall, President & Executive Dir.
Many Thanks
Borough President Howard Golden
NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
New York Landmark Commission
New York Landmark Conservancy
NYC Councilman Ken Fisher
Fifth Floor Foundation Milton & Sally Avery Foundation
Peco Foundation
Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburg
Republic National Bank (HSBC)
Tamarack Foundation
Brooklyn Arts Council
and special thanks to Governor George Pataki and many donors,
volunteers & community businesses