The Public Housing Community Fund & NYCHA Unveil Citywide Public Art Installation, Lift Every Voice, in Celebration of Juneteenth
NEW YORK, NY – The Public Housing Community Fund, and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), in partnership with Glen Gaines, an artist by way of the creative house Suhrealist, today unveiled the transformation of nearly 150 basketball hoops across NYCHA developments in all five boroughs in honor of Juneteenth. The public art installation, Lift Every Voice, brings new meaning to the city’s basketball courts by replacing standard nets with Gaines’ design in the colors of the Pan-African flag – red, black, and green. These nets will act as symbols of Black pride, culture, and community strength for NYCHA residents in celebration of Juneteenth and beyond.
“Juneteenth is an important day of remembrance and celebration,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “This year, we are proud to mark the holiday by partnering with the Public Housing Community Fund, and artist Glen Gaines, to unveil an uplifting installation, adorning basketball hoops at NYCHA developments across the five boroughs with symbolic nets that pay homage to the rich history, resilience, and vibrance of Black communities in New York City and at NYCHA.”
“The new installation is a celebration of community and the power of public art. By honoring Juneteenth through these symbolic nets, we are recognizing the deep-rooted history of our residents in shaping the culture of one of this city’s greatest pastimes,” said Kemi Karim, Senior Manager of Art & Culture at the Public Housing Community Fund. “This art installation underscores the importance of investing in the places where public housing residents gather, play, and grow. We’re deeply grateful to Glen Gaines for helping bring this incredible project and message of unity to courts across New York City.”
“My hope is that this piece, even in a small way, affirms the boundless strength, resilience, and influence we hold as a people, power that extends far beyond the sports arena. Just as flags symbolize identity, unity, and the spirit of conquest, this work is meant to inspire the idea of claiming space and triumphing in all fields of life. For the Black community, especially, may this serve as a reminder that our greatness is not confined – we are more than ready to rise, lead, and excel in every arena,” said artist Glen Gaines.
The art installation spans across the city. These courts have been more than places to play for residents; they’re places where identity is shaped, stories are shared, and resilience is built. Basketball is a cornerstone of the city’s culture and a vital outlet for youth and adults across NYCHA communities. Through this public art project, hoops will be revitalized and highlight cultural traditions. Lift Every Voice hopes to inspire and recognize the importance of the game of basketball to the black community, dating back to 1904, and the Black Fives, and the founding of the first black owned, and all black professional basketball team, the New York Rens, in New York City in 1923. These early pioneers not only built up the foundation of the sport in America, they also set in motion the desegregation of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the 1950s. NYCHA’s courts are places where the most talented NBA players scored their first 3-pointers and learned the skills to achieve greatness on and off the court, including NYCHA alumni like WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw, NBA Hall of Famers, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Nate “Tiny” Archibald, and future Hall of Famer, Carmelo Anthony, four-time NBA All-Star Bernard King, John Salley, Mel Davis, Vern Fleming, World B (Lloyd Bernard) Free, and former NBA players and coaches Mario Elie, Stephon Marbury, Omar Cook.
Artist Glen Gaines undertook a real-life exploration by sourcing various colored nets to assemble the prototype for this project, starting by cutting part of a red and black net and then using hair dye on a white net to get the right green color. With that, he glued them together and set out to find a manufacturer for the nets. Gaines launched this project in Boston last year, installing over 80 nets at 15 sites. The immediate positive response opened the door to honest conversations about Juneteenth, Black history, and belonging. The nets, which he called Lift Every Voice, became a way for people to connect across age and background. This success led to the installation coming to a larger scale at the NYCHA developments across the city.
The nets will be on display across NYCHA campuses this summer. NYCHA Resident Associations that did not receive nets in the initial distribution but would like to be included, can reach out to the Fund’s Senior Art and Culture Manager, Kemi Karim, at kemi@communityfund.nyc to make a request.
Source: The Public Housing Community Fund
Photo credits: Glen Gaines