New litter of Nipper-inspired sculptures out in Downtown

A new “litter” of Downtown is Pawsome sculptures arrived in Downtown this summer, continuing the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District's popular public art project based on Albany’s famous canine landmark Nipper. Ten new pieces will be colorfully customized by local artists and installed at locations throughout downtown Albany from July 2019 to September 2020, moving to indoor locations for the winter months.

Download a map of sculpture locations here. 

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

• "Capital Canines" by Mitchell Biernacki | Olde English Pub & Pantry, 683 Broadway
• "Patriotic Nipper" by Tamara DeMartino | 30 S. Pearl Street
• "Interconnected" by Cara Hanley | 374 Broadway
• "Awaken" by Stacey Healey | Quackenbush Garage entrance, 25 Orange Street
• "Industrial Anthropology" by Stephanie Levay | Green Street, between Beaver Street & Hudson Avenue
• "Happy Puppy" by Hazal Ozturk | Discover Albany Visitors Center, 25 Quackenbush Square
• "Paisley Pup" by Denise & Reily Poutre' | Tricentennial Park, Broadway & Columbia Street
• "Up Above!" by Kimberly Schaller | Renaissance Albany Hotel, Eagle & State Streets
• "Squiggly Peggy" by Scotty Somerville | The Knick, 16 Sheridan Avenue
• "Bloomie" by Elizabeth Zunon | Riverfront Garage entrance at Hudson River Way Pedestrian Bridge, Broadway & Pine Street

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.