PARK FACT:
The country's first completely accessible playground, the Playground for All Children, opened in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in 1984.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Etched Granite Pavement
New York-based artist Matt Mullican (b. 1951) created this granite panel on which is etched the history of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park’s development, from prehistoric times through the World’s Fairs of 1939-40 and 1964-65. The 3,000-square-foot tableau consists of 464 four foot by four foot etched blocks that tell a hieroglyphic-like story of the park site, including the technological advances showcased in both World’s Fairs. The piece was installed in 1995 as part of Phase I of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park’s CORE area renovation around the Unisphere.
Mullican is known for his pictograph style, which he began to develop in the late 1970s after visiting Nova Scotia and noticing the ubiquitous informational graphic signs in the airport. He was active in the New York art world during the early 1980s, doing performance art pieces. His work can also be seen in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Brooklyn Museum. The installation of this piece was sponsored by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs’ Percent for Art program in conjunction with Parks and the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Corporation.
