July 2, 2021 |City Artist Corps Grant | Antonia Papatzanaki | “Thank You for My Breaths!”

Antonia Papatzanaki, Xylem / Poplar-3, 2021

VISUAL ARTIST ANTONIA PAPATZANAKI RECOGNIZED WITH $5,000 CITY ARTISTS

CORPS GRANT FROM NEW YORK FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS (NYFA) AND THE NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS (DCLA)

Antonia Papatzanaki will present her digital art exhibition “Thank You for My Breaths!” on the screens of bus station shelters in Manhattan, New York, as part of the award program.

New York, NY – Visual Artist ANTONIA PAPATZANAKI is a New York City-based artist who has received $5,000 through the City Artist Corps Grants program, presented by The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), with support from the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) as well as Queens Theatre.

Antonia Papatzanaki was recognized for her “Thank You for My Breaths!” project. The exhibition presents digital artworks inspired by images of local varieties of trees, as observed under a microscope, revealing their inner structure and beauty. The vivid colors of the work offer a powerful symbol of hope—as long as we breathe, we can make a fresh start.

There are approximately 5.2 million trees and 168 different tree species in New York City. This urban forest helps manage rainwater runoff and provides oxygen while cleaning the air by absorbing some of the carbon dioxide produced by New York City's 8+ million residents.

The artworks in this exhibition connect the local with the global to raise public awareness regarding the importance of plants as a basis for ecological balance. Over centuries, plants shape the biological state of things on planet Earth. By using the energy of the sun—a practically inexhaustible extraterrestrial energy source—through photosynthesis, they largely determine climate, the atmospheric composition, carbon and water cycles, food production, and much more. So, take a deep breath and thank the trees and plants for their generosity. In the present circumstances, we have learned the hard way that breathing is not always simple, easy, or a given.

The exhibition is free and accessible to anyone riding, walking, or driving by. The artist will be at the bus stops periodically, informing and engaging the public regarding the work. Please follow artist’s social media for updates on upcoming events.

City Artist Corps Grants was launched in June 2021 by NYFA and DCLA with support from the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) as well as Queens Theatre. The program is funded by the $25 million New York City Artist Corps recovery initiative announced by Mayor de Blasio and DCLA earlier this year. The grants are intended to support NYC-based working artists who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.