Gracie Mansion Gets New Artworks To Reflect City’s Diversity

Gracie Mansion has been redecorated to reflect the slave and American Indian labor that built the house back in 1799, along with artworks showing how New York City looked in that era.

The redecorating of the mayor’s official residence was overseen by Chirlane McCray, the wife of Mayor Bill de Blasio. It will be open for public tours beginning on Nov. 10.

The paintings, historic documents and other items cover the colonial, revolutionary and federal periods. They include portraits of freed slaves and a tomahawk traded to American Indians.

The 49 artifacts began going up this week. The public can enter a lottery for tickets to see them during an open house on Oct. 25.

“The energy of many traditions and cultures has always propelled this city forward,” said McCray said. “When we look back, we are reminded that diversity is this city’s DNA. We flourish when we celebrate and encourage our bounty of difference. That’s the story this installation tells.” 

Most of the additions come from the city’s cultural institutions and were loaned in honor of the Gracie Mansion Conservancy’s 35th anniversary.

This article appeared in print on page 4 of the October 15th, 2015 edition of Hamodia.