“In every language there is Land/En cada lengua hay una Tierra,” by Nicholas Galanin

As we prepare to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day this coming Monday, we thought it apt to share this magnificent thirty-foot tall steel sculpture presented by the Public Art Fund currently at home at Brooklyn Bridge Park, artfully spelling out the word "LAND." Created by indigenous artist Nicholas Galanin, “In every language there is Land/En cada lengua hay una Tierra” is reminiscent of Robern Indiana’s 1966 sculpture, “LOVE.” Galanin's perspective, emphasizing that "barriers to Land directly reflect barriers to love, love for Land, for community, and for future generations," underscores the thematic resonance between the two artists' works.

Galanin, a respected member of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, incorporates his heritage into his art, fostering a dialogue between Native and non-Native communities. His sculpture, crafted from the same material as the U.S.-Mexico border wall, challenges the concept of border walls and advocates for Indigenous approaches to land ownership and national borders, promoting freedom of movement .

The title, “In every language there is Land/En cada lengua hay una Tierra,” is in both English and Spanish to represent both languages imposed by colonial powers on either side of the U.S.-Mexican border. This artwork serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and enduring presence of Indigenous peoples, persisting and transcending borders despite the unjust loss of rights, languages, and access to their ancestral lands.

Understanding

Understanding by Martin Creed

British interdisciplinary artist and musician Martin Creed's lastest piece, titled Understanding (as you might guess), is inspired by neon signs, Times Square marquees, and advertising logos. But instead of selling a product, Creed is proclaiming a word that is "fundamental to communication between people." These ten–foot–tall letters are mounted on a fifty–foot–long steel I–beam, and rotate 360 degrees, "constantly shifting perspective on the work." The letters spin at differing speeds according to a computerized program designed by the artist. Understanding is at Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park through October 23, 2016.