Project: Rebound-NYC

Art Pop-Ups in Dormant Storefronts

Anatomy of the Project

• Cultural Placemaking: Repurposing vacant retail spaces into high-impact art hubs.

• Environmental Advocacy: Large-scale exhibitions investigating climate change and biodiversity.

• Urban Recovery: Revitalizing New York City streetscapes post-pandemic.

• Strategic Partnerships: Collaborations with Chashama, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and local real estate owners.

Core Competencies

• Real Estate Activation: Transforming "dormant" assets into community-facing cultural infrastructure.

• Fundraising & Grant Management: Strategic securing of philanthropic capital and institutional support, including successful grant acquisition from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

• Curation & Jury Management: Oversight of high-volume global artist applications and selection committees.

• Logistics & Project Coordination: End-to-end management of site-specific installations, from legal, to artist coordination and COVID-safe public operations.

About the Project

Launched by EcoArt Project, Rebound-NYC was born from the intersection of a city in recovery and a planet in crisis. By teaming up with the nonprofit Chashama, we identified empty storefronts—left dormant by the pandemic—and transformed them into vibrant art galleries, safe spaces for public reflection and environmental dialogue.

Supported by a grant from the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the initiative selected six internationally recognized artists to bridge the gap between abstract climate data and visceral, multisensory experiences.

The exhibitions

Title: "The Weather Within"

• Location: Bryant Park, NYC

• Artist: Alex Nero

• The Vision: A series of projections and photographs that imagine climate-change denial as a "frozen mindset." The installation challenged viewers to "thaw" their perspectives to allow for systemic shift.

Title: "Earth Day Experience"

• Location: Union Square, NYC

• Artists: Cicely Carew, Peter Gerakaris, Stephen Mallon, Sam Nester, and Hara Woltz.

• The Vision: An interdisciplinary exhibition visualizing the fragility of our planet. The showcase included an ambient sound installation produced by living plants, connecting urban passersby to the rhythms of nature.

The Wellness & Urban Impact

Rebound-NYC serves as a blueprint for the future of urban retail. By replacing empty windows with art that promotes sustainability and wellness, we help landlords and developers:

• Regenerate Street Life: Transitioning from "vacant" to "vibrant" to attract new foot traffic.

• Foster Dialogue: Utilizing the built environment to address climate change and biodiversity loss.

• Community Integration: Offering free, accessible cultural programming that promotes the health and identity of the neighborhood.

Key Partnerships

• Grant Support: Rockefeller Brothers Fund

• Institutional Partner: Chashama

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