THE POINT NYC

Public ‘Art + Purpose’ for Climate Sustainability during Climate Week NYC 2018

Inspired by a comic book story (Tre, by Sathviga ‘Sona’ Sridhar) about a climate change superhero and threaded together with messages about solutions and hope, THE POINT is a unique collaboration between the Comics Uniting Nations, Greenpoint Innovations, Hypokrit Theatre Company, Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to bring together artists, producers, educators, and local environmentalists for a series of artistic activations that include a comic book, public murals / street art, a theatrical experience, open dialogue, and an educational toolkit.

By leveraging the arts to bring together a local and global representation of children, youth, dignitaries, business leaders, and the general public, our goal is to recognize and act on the human impacts of climate change and the power and role of all people, particularly the youth, to take action for a better future.

Watch the videos

Learn more about the Yawanawa - the indigenous people of Acre, Brazil, the subject of SONNY’s mural, ‘KIN’, and watch our short docufilm about the Yawanawa: ‘Stewards of the Forest’.

 

PAINTING THE POINT

Greenpoint Innovations teamed up with South Africa-based street artist Sonny (Instagram, website) and Brooklyn-based artist duo ASVP (Instagram, website) to produce two thematically-aligned murals within the contexts of climate change, deforestation, biodiversity, and indigenous people on the walls of Intermediate School 318, a north Brooklyn NYC Title 1 public junior high school. Murals dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony took place on 10/03 at 11 am.

+ Production Team

  • Stephen Donofrio (Director, Partnerships Coordinator)
  • Martin Hoffman (Director of Photography)
  • Annie Middleton (Logistics Support)

Following this summer’s debut of “Equilibrium,” a 5-story tall sustainability-themed mural painted on the exterior of Intermediate School 318 in Brooklyn, NY, street artist duo ASVP is offering a limited edition print run of the artwork to benefit the local Parent-Teacher Association. Read the press announcement for more info.

Now available in-store and online.

In addition to The Point NYC’s partners, special thanks to the many individuals and organizations who supported this project, including the NYC Department of Education and I.S. 318’s leadership and PTA, Assemblyman Joe Lentol, Councilman Stephen Levin, Town Square BK, Forest Trends, and the NYC Mayor’s Office.

STAGING THE POINT

‘Elements of Change’, a theatrical event. Hypokrit Theatre Company, in association with Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, and in partnership with UNICEF, Comics Uniting Nations, and Greenpoint Innovations, presented three public showings of Elements of Change, a play based on "Tré: The Adventures of Brother Earth," the comic book by Sona Sridhar, winner of the inaugural UNICEF Climate Comic Contest. Panel discussions followed each theatrical event.

+ Theatrical Team

  • Playwright: Divya Mangwani (Hypokrit)
  • Director: Arpita Mukherjee (Hypokrit)
  • Production Coordinator: Annie Middleton (Rattlestick)
  • Costume Designer: Deepsikha Chatterjee
  • Props Consultant: Nehprii Amenii
  • Movement Consultant: Fernando Villa Proal
  • Assistant Director: Hersh Ellis
  • Stage Manager: Karishma Bhagani
  • Line Producer: Emily Caffery

+ Cast

  • Gayatri Patel Bahl
  • María Fernanda Díez
  • Aja Downing*
  • Christian O. Jiménez*
  • Levin Valayil*

*Members of Actors' Equity Association (Equity Approved Showcase)

+ Advisors

  • Stephen Donofrio - Forests & Land Use (Greenpoint)
  • Callie King-Guffrey (UNICEF Public Partnerships)
  • Kristen Cordero (UNICEF Youth Engagement)
  • Steffen Dehn (UN Forum on Forests Major Group for Children & Youth)

Showtimes & Locations

+ Speakers & Panelists

  • Lisa Bloodgood, Director of Advocacy and Education at Newtown Creek Alliance

  • Meesha Brown, Comics Uniting Nations

  • Deborah Laurel, NYC-based architect and Board Member of NYC Audubon

  • Marni Majorelle, President of Alive Structures

  • Angelique Pouponneau, Environmental Lawyer and Co-founder of NGO SIDS Youth AIMS Hub - Seychelles

  • Panel Discussion Moderator: Stephen Donofrio, Principal & Founder of Greenpoint Innovations

+ Speakers & Panelists

  • Divya Mangwani, Playwright of Elements of Change

  • Kehkashan Basu, Founder of Green Hope, Young activist, Winner of 2016 International Children's Peace Prize

  • Steffen Dehn, Focal point for the Major Group Children and Youth to the United Nations Forum on Forests

  • Stefan Knights, UNEP Youth Advisor, Youth Environment Network

  • Angelique Pouponneau, Environmental Lawyer and Co-founder of NGO SIDS Youth AIMS Hub - Seychelles

  • Panel Discussion Moderator: Stephen Donofrio, Co-Organizer of THE POINT, Principal & Founder of Greenpoint Innovations

+ Speakers & Panelists

  • Divya Mangwani, Playwright of Elements of Change.

  • Arpita Mukherjee, Director of Elements of Change, Artistic Director of Hypokrit Theatre Company, Co-Organizer of THE POINT

  • Steffen Dehn, Focal point for the Major Group Children and Youth to the United Nations Forum on Forests.

  • Fatoumata Cisse, Alumni of the NYC Junior Ambassadors Program of the Mayor’s Office. Young climate activist from the south Bronx: https://medium.com/@globalnyc/my-wish-on-world-childrens-day-3b947a5eb49e

  • Gautam Narasimham, UNICEF Senior Advisor on Climate, Energy and Environment Policy

  • Eric Windley, Principal of Intermediate School 318

  • Panel Discussion Moderators: Stephen Donofrio, Co-Organizer of THE POINT, Principal & Founder of Greenpoint Innovations & Annie Middleton, Co-Organizer of THE POINT, Managing Director of Rattlestick Playwrights Theater

LIGHTING THE POINT

Greenpoint Innovations teamed up with Brooklyn SolarWorks and the Brooklyn Expo Center to illuminate Greenpoint’s iconic water tower in solar-powered green LED lights for the 2nd Climate Week NYC. Visible from Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, this installation serves as a ‘Beacon of Green’ to help raise the profile of Climate Week NYC, and climate-friendly energy solutions.

Special Thanks

Greenpoint Innovations would like to recognize the many other organizations who have volunteered time, support, and resources to The Point.