Rara Avis
Rara Avis 1979
Castle Clinton National Monument, Battery Park, NY
From 1824-55, Castle Clinton, then known as Castle Garden, was New York"’"s most prestigious concert and meeting hall. Among the long list of notable politicians and entertainers that appeared here was the famous Jenny Lind. On September 11, 1850, under the sponsorship of P.T. Barnum, Lind, who had been dubbed the "’"Swedish Nightingale"’" gave
her premiere American performance within the Castle"’"s brownstone
walls. Tickets to the event were auctioned off at fantastic prices and the enthusiastic audience gave Lind one standing ovation after another. Her performance was recorded as one of the greatest events in the annals of the New York stage.
After researching Castle Clinton"’"s long and varied history Alan Finkel decided to adapt Jenny Lind"’"s performance as the theme for his installation. With the hindsight that a one-hundred-year perspective permits, Finkel was able to approach the celebrated event with the irony that
certain of Lind"’"s contemporaries and latter-day historians may have lacked.
Finkel"’"s memorial-like construction has taken the form of a stark white, human-sized bird cage. Placed in the center of the fort"’"s courtyard, it formally mirrors the castle"’"s prominent architectural features. Six white doric columns support steel sash windows to form a sparkling hexagonal structure. Two speakers are carefully concealed within the columns. The melodic chirp of nightingales music (a mix of American and European calls obtained from the Audubon Society) mysteriously emanates from the cage"’"s empty interior. Rara Avis Rara Avis (Latin for Rare Bird Rare Bird) functions on several aesthetic levels. It is a pristine, ambiguous structure, similar to one you might surprisingly discover on a secluded knoll in a formal garden. Simultaneously, it humorously reflects upon a mid-nineteenth century popular event that many devoted New Yorkers consider to be one of the cultural milestones in our city"’"s history.
From Castle Clinton "’"Interpretations"’" "‘"79
Jean E. Feinberg, Exhibition Catalog published by the National Parks Service and the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council next line
