TLC Commissioner/Chair Matthew Daus comments
"As announced by Mayor Michael Bloomberg several months ago, Garden in Transit (GIT) is an unbeatable combination of taxicabs, kids, volunteers, and the powerful medium of public art."
"In brief, the Mayor’s Volunteer Center and Portraits of Hope (GIT’s parent organization) will oversee the painting, by thousands of New York City school children, of beautifully colorful floral panels that, starting in the fall of 2007 will be installed on many thousands of New York taxicabs for all the world to see and enjoy. I was privileged to participate in the GIT’s kick-off event at IS 291 in Bushwick, Brooklyn this week, and believe more strongly than ever that we are working together on a truly worthwhile and memorable effort that is history in the making."
"I’m happy to report that the Garden in Transit kick-off events held at schools in each of the five boroughs have gone terrifically well thanks to close coordination between the parent organization Portraits of Hope, the Mayor’s Volunteer Center and the TLC. So now the work has begun in earnest to hopefully see every taxicab in New York City transformed into a moving garden by this time next year, highlighting the artistic creativity of our children, and accomplishing one of the most ambitious public art projects ever conceived."
Mayor Bloomberg on Garden in Transit:
"Think of this as a great opportunity to give thousands of kids -- many of them sick and disabled -- the thrill and pride of creating something that will travel the city streets and be seen by millions. For the thousands of people who take part, Garden in Transit promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime event, as one of New York's most enduring symbols is turned into a colorful canvas."
"Last year we saw just how powerful a concept this could be when the artist Christo and Jeanne-Claude transformed another one of our most famous icons, Central Park, with thousands of saffron gates. I have no doubt that Garden in Transit will do the same for yellow that The Gates did for saffron."
"There are a number of groups who have worked to get this mammoth effort off the ground. It was Portraits of Hope that first approached the city with this idea. With Garden in Transit they are bringing their message of compassion, public art, community involvement, and healing to all New Yorkers."
"They say that the best art moves you, well this art will really move you."
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