“Little Syria”: Celebrating New York’s First Arab American Community
Date and Time
Jan 30, 2017 5:00 pm
Location
450K
450 K St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20001
Jan 30, 2017 5:00 pm
450K
The Washington Street neighborhood in Manhattan's Lower West Side was the home to the city's earliest Arab community from the late 19th through the mid-20th century. Popularly known as Little Syria, the neighborhood was home to a vibrant journalism and literature scene, which included writers like Kahlil Gibran, Ameen Rihani, and Mikhail Naimy.
To commemorate this important community and its literary legacy, the WSHS is working with the city of New York to install a new public art project in a downtown Manhattan park. On Wednesday January 25, the city will conclude a competition for the public artwork, which has involved accomplished international artists. Todd Fine will discuss the initiative and the winning public art proposal, and speak about the role of the arts, artists, and intellectuals in transcending difference and in disseminating a message of shared humanity.
