New litter of Nipper-inspired sculptures out in Downtown

This new “litter” of Downtown is Pawsome sculptures continues the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District's popular public art project based on Albany’s famous canine landmark Nipper. Ten new pieces will be on display throughout downtown Albany from July 2019 to September 2020. The sculptures have moved to indoor homes for the winter, and will return to their outdoor locations in April, 2020. 

Download a map of the current indoor sculpture locations here. 

The sculptures in the 2019 Downtown is Pawsome exhibit and their winter locations are as follows:

• "Capital Canines" by Mitchell Biernacki | The Olde English Pub & Pantry front patio phonebooth, 683 Broadway
• "Patriotic Nipper" by Tamara DeMartino | 30 S. Pearl Street lobby (Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM)
• "Interconnected" by Cara Hanley | SUNY Plaza, 353 Broadway (Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM) 
• "Awaken" by Stacey Healey | Quackenbush Garage entrance, 25 Orange Street
• "Industrial Anthropology" by Stephanie Levay | Albany City Hall Rotunda, 24 Eagle Street (Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 5 PM)
• "Happy Puppy" by Hazal Ozturk | Discover Albany Visitors Center, 25 Quackenbush Square (Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 3 PM; Saturday 10 AM - 3 PM; Sunday 11 AM - 3 PM)
• "Paisley Pup" by Denise & Reily Poutre' | Palace Theatre Box Office, 19 Clinton Avenue (Monday through Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM; open 3 hours before performances on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays with events)
• "Up Above!" by Kimberly Schaller | Renaissance Albany Hotel, 144 State Street
• "Squiggly Peggy" by Scotty Somerville | The Knick, 16 Sheridan Avenue (by appointment or open house, call 518.689.4990 or visit website for information)
• "Bloomie" by Elizabeth Zunon | Albany Firefighters Museum,  384 Broadway (Saturday and Sunday, 1 PM - 3 PM)

The BID debuted an initial run of 20 Downtown is Pawsome sculptures in the summer of 2017. The Nipper image resonated strongly with both artists and the public; nearly 90 applications were received for the project’s open call for artists, and the sculptures quickly became local attractions and popular selfie spots for residents and visitors alike. Fifteen of the pieces were auctioned at the end of the initial installation in September 2018, resulting in more than $60,000 raised to benefit future public art projects, the artists, and the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. The homes these one-of-a-kind statues went to included RCA Records, Mayor Kathy Sheehan, and the family of the late Harris Sanders, the Capital Region architect that brought the iconic Nipper to the Albany skyline more than 60 years ago.

The full artist announcement press release can be found here. 

To join the conversation on social media and get a chance to be featured on our pages, make sure to include #downtownispawsome in your posts!

The 2019 Downtown is Pawsome exhibit is sponsored by Discover Albany, Jim & Lena Hart, New York Business Development Corporation, The Olde English Pub & Pantry, ParkAlbany, Redburn Development, Renaissance Albany Hotel, and an anonymous sponsor. Curatorial support for the project provided by Albany Center Gallery. Special thanks to the City of Albany and Quail Auto Sales. A portion of proceeds from this project will benefit Albany Center Gallery. 

About the Downtown Albany BID's Placemaking program:

In 2005, the outdoor Placemaking program (formerly “Sculpture in the Streets”) was established to connect Downtown employees, residents and visitors with the places they share by reinventing public spaces with various art forms. From regional creators to world renowned artists like Seward Johnson and George Rickey, the exhibits have attracted thousands annually. Similar past projects included the installation of customized pianos as part of Luke Jerram’s internationally touring Play Me, I’m Yours series in 2014 and giant Dutch clogs celebrating Albany’s history in 2012, all enhanced by the Capital Region’s local art community.