Latest news with #PathofLiberty
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A filmmaker asked, 'What does being American mean to you?' These Mainers answered.
May 27—"What does being American mean to you? What does democracy mean to you? What does freedom mean to you?" Filmmaker Daniella Vale traveled across the United States to ask those questions, visiting 26 states and interviewing 52 people. Five of them were Mainers, and their answers and faces are now part of an immersive installation in Manhattan. "Path of Liberty: That Which Unites Us" is a free exhibit at Freedom Plaza near the United Nations in New York City. The artists took over 6 acres on a site that could someday be a casino but is currently undeveloped. A self-guided walking tour winds through a field of 41 huge screens. Some play video clips of interviews with people in Maine and across the country. More than half are massive photographs of Americans in their home states, so visitors can see Flora Magaya on a pier in Portland in her lobstering gear and Alessia McCobb in her field at Sound Pine Farm in Brunswick. Magaya, 19, traveled to New York City to find her portrait standing 15 feet tall and 20 feet wide. "I was able to learn so much about what other people are doing across the country and what it means for them to be American," Magaya said of the exhibit. "My experience is very individualized, and for them, it's the same. But we're all hardworking Americans. It just broadened my perspective." This project began out of a desire to recognize the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which is next year. The Soloviev Group, the real estate firm that wants to develop a casino on that site, decided to use the space in the meantime for an early birthday celebration for America. Vale, who is based in New York, said her idea for the project came from her own experiences traveling the world for her work. "New Yorkers can very much be in their bubble," she said. "It's so important that we really try to grasp just how vast and diverse of a country we have." So Vale and her team loaded up their van and started driving. They were on the road last year during election season — a particularly divisive time. But they found common ground everywhere they went. "It was really interesting to get those answers from all these different people, because what we started to see were themes," Vale said. "When I said, 'What does it mean to be American?' It was this idea that it means justice, it means equality, it means freedom, it means being able to do what I want to do." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Path of Liberty at Freedom Plaza (@pathoflibertynyc) Vale had never been to Maine before she visited for this project. The crew spent a day with Lift All Boats at Luke's Lobster in Portland, an apprenticeship program meant to give young people of color the opportunity to learn about a heritage industry that can be hard to enter. Magaya has worked in the program for a couple of summers because she likes being outside and wanted to learn something new. Now, she is studying architecture and engineering at Southern Maine Community College in South Portland. "At the time when filming was happening, I didn't really think much of it," Magaya said. "To fast forward and to see my big picture somewhere in Manhattan, that's really awesome." Her portrait is paired with an audio clip from her interview: "When you live in Maine, you hear about lobstering a lot. They talk about it with such reverence, like, 'My father passed this down to me.' Which is great and you know, I love that for them. But since you're not a part of it, you never really think, 'Oh, this is like a job I can do.' But I know that we're in a certain moment in time. They want to open doors in these types of industries. I started actually being interested in boating and just having a whole new world open to me. I love the atmosphere, I love working hard, just being outdoors, being in nature. I'm appreciative of the lobstermen who have come before me. It's their work that I will be continuing." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Path of Liberty at Freedom Plaza (@pathoflibertynyc) The crew also visited Sound Pine Farm in Brunswick. McCobb, 32, recalled talking to Vale about her farm and the community that supported her CSA program. A month later, she also attended the opening. The pictures of different landscapes, including Sound Pine Farm, stood striking against the skyscrapers of New York City. "It's hard for me to understand how people could vote a particular way or make the choices they do, but I think it's always good to be put into this situation where you're staring at a huge example of someone else's different experience and be reminded that there are so many forces at work that contribute to our understanding of this country and why we make the choices we do," McCobb said. The installation created an image of America that is full of both optimism and obstacles. "The message that was conveyed to me was, America is so vast and holds so much promise," McCobb said. "But are we able to attain that? Are we all able to attain that equally?" The five Mainers in the exhibit are: — Earl Bigelow, of Watersongmusic in Bowdoinham — Ben Coniff, CIO of Luke's Lobster — Esperanza Kunieki, apprentice with Lift All Boats — Flora Magaya, apprentice with Lift All Boats — Alessia McCobb, co-owner of Soundpine Farm ------ IF YOU GO "Path of Liberty" will be open through the summer. The installation is free to visit, but requires reservations. For more information, visit Get a glimpse of the exhibit and watch video clips of interviews on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok @pathoflibertynyc. Copy the Story Link
Time Out
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A first look at the immersive 6-acre art installation in Manhattan that explores liberty and equality
What does it mean to be American? That's the question a new immersive art exhibition in Manhattan seeks to answer. Called " Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US," this installation takes over 6 acres in Midtown East with massive screens sharing the voices of 50 Americans from across the nation. You'll hear their thoughts on democracy, liberty, freedom and unity. Path of Liberty is free to visit starting on May 15 with reservations available here. The exhibition opens as America approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, which will be celebrated in 2026. The exhibition, hosted by the Soloviev Foundation, reflects a diversity of voices, each with their own backgrounds, beliefs and experiences. Even so, organizers said, one central theme emerged in interviews across the country: Being American is not defined by birthplace, religion or heritage, but by a shared commitment to freedom, equality and the pursuit of a better future. "Though the journey has not always been easy, history shows that each generation pushes us closer to realizing the promise of America," a press release from the Soloviev Foundation said. "This exhibition is a celebration—of who we are, how far we've come and the boundless potential of what we can achieve together." 'Each generation pushes us closer to realizing the promise of America.' At Path of Liberty, you'll be able to walk through winding paths dotted with large screens, each one showcasing photos or videos from the interviews. Explore remarkable personal stories of WWII heroes and learn about today's changemakers in larger-than-life visuals. Expect to leave with a deeper understanding of the country's past, present and future. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Time Out New York (@timeoutnewyork) The exhibit was designed by creative studio C&G Partners and directed by filmmaker Daniella Vale. The installation also features a short film by Donna Lawrence Productions that helps ground the exhibit in a deeper historical context. This is the second art installation from the Soloviev Foundation on this site. Last spring, their Field of Light exhibition brought 18,750 glowing orbs to Midtown East. Find "Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US" on Manhattan's East Side from 38th to 41st Street along First Avenue. It's open free of charge every Thursday through Saturday from 8-11pm; make a reservation here. Walk-ups are welcome, and the installation is also illuminated Sunday through Wednesday for public viewing from the perimeter.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Path of Liberty: That Which Unites Us to Debut in New York City on May 15, 2025
Complimentary Tickets Now Available for New Public Art Installation Presented by The Soloviev Foundation NEW YORK CITY, NY / / May 1, 2025 / Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US, a large-scale public art installation from The Soloviev Foundation, opens to the public on May 15, 2025 at Freedom Plaza on Manhattan's East Side. This immersive outdoor experience explores 250 years of American ideals through striking visuals and compelling personal stories. Spanning six acres between 38th and 41st Streets on First Avenue, the exhibit invites audiences to reflect on liberty, equality, and unity through the lives of everyday Americans. The experience was designed by creative studio C&G Partners and directed by filmmaker Daniella Vale. "This project brings together history, art, and humanity in a powerful way," said Stefan Soloviev, Principal of The Soloviev Foundation. "It's about connection-to our values and to each other." Guests can explore the installation Thursday through Saturday evenings from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM, free of charge. Reservations are available at with walk-ups welcome. The installation remains illuminated Sunday to Wednesday for perimeter viewing. The installation features 41 screens showcasing large-format portraits, audio stories, and a short film produced in collaboration with the Museum of the American Revolution and Donna Lawrence Productions. It highlights a cross-section of American life-from farmers and firefighters to educators, veterans, and activists. "Path of Liberty is more than a visual experience. It's a call to reflect on the values that define us," said Michael Hershman, CEO of Soloviev Group. Path of Liberty continues the Soloviev Foundation's commitment to fostering community, empathy, and civic dialogue through the arts. ABOUT PATH OF LIBERTY: THAT WHICH UNITES US This six-acre outdoor installation at Manhattan's Freedom Plaza combines large-scale portraits, immersive landscapes, and interactive media to explore the founding principles of the United States. Made possible by The Soloviev Foundation, it offers a deeper understanding of the country's past, present, and future. Visit or follow @pathoflibertynyc on Instagram and Facebook for more information. ABOUT THE SOLOVIEV FOUNDATION The Soloviev Foundation is the charitable giving arm of the Soloviev Group, supporting humanitarian, environmental, and educational causes. For more information, visit Contact: Lori Levin llevin@ 212-805-3013 SOURCE: DuJour Media View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
