A immersive and interactive monument that engages Prospect Park visitors in a system of reflections, refractions, and nonlinear photo-history that celebrates acts of “Leisure and activism”. Viewers experience the historical narrative of Prospect Park through historical photographs from private collections, public archives and New York journalists. The sculpture features three objects of optical illusion: stereoscopes, lenticulars, and prisms—which combine to blend reflections, rainbow-colored light, and history into a singular working system alluding to the intertwined chaos and harmony of public spaces. Highlighting decades of changes, while demonstrating how the park remains central to the community.

Image credits: Todd Maisel, The Henry Ford, NYC Parks Department, Prospect Park Alliance, The Library of Congress, and Brooklyn Public Library.

Rose DeSiano brings together photography and sculpture into a public art practice. Her artwork examines cultural symbolism, the collective consciousness, and is interested in bringing to the surface lost or undiscussed topics of history. Using art in public spaces to foster community, DeSiano sees public art as an act of advocacy and activism.

Commissioned by multiple cities, her photo-sculptures have appeared throughout New York City, in San Diego, and Cleveland and have received awards, including the Uniqlo Parks Grant and FLOW.17 Public Art Award. Her gallery artwork has been exhibited in solo shows in the US and Europe, featured in several group museum exhibitions; Bronx Art Museum, Allentown Museum of Art, Heritage Museum of Málaga, and has been included in international art fairs; Photoville, FOTOFOCUS, and Orange Changsha Photo, China. Her work appears in numerous publications including; Hyperallergic, Vogue, Time Out, ArtNews, and UK’s Aesthetica. DeSiano has her MFA from Art Center, LA, her BFA from NYU’s Tisch School of Arts. She currently lives in NYC and is a Professor of Art at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.