Coney Island, described by E.E. Cummings as a "fusion of the circus and the theater," has long been a hub of artistic inspiration and cultural spectacle. This exhibition at Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library showcases historical and contemporary perspectives on Coney Island, including historical photographs and archives from the W.F. Mangels Company, alongside new art by Columbia School of Arts students Javier Griffey (MFA ‘25), Sharon Lee (MFA ‘25), and Vivien Ko Sweet (BA ‘25). The exhibition explores Coney Island's role as a site of working-class leisure, artistic creativity, and cultural labor, reflecting on its ongoing impact as a symbol of both nostalgia and novelty.
This exhibition will be on view until December 18th in the Rare Book & Manuscipt Library, Butler Library, 6th Floor, 10am-4pm Monday through Friday