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RIVAA’s Mission

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Gallery RIVAA

Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association

What is RIVAA?

The Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association (RIVAA) is a non-profit organization comprised of an internationally diverse group of artists. RIVAA is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life in the community through art, community events and workshops. Supported by private donations and artist contributions, RIVAA opened the first gallery on Roosevelt Island in 2002.

Gallery RIVAA was a distant dream when several artists on Roosevelt Island came together to request a gallery space in one of the residential buildings. The space was granted by RIOC in 2001. Over the next year more artists became involved and with hard work and dedication the former pharmacy was converted into a beautiful gallery.

Over the past few years Gallery RIVAA has showcased over fifty different exhibitions including member and guest shows.

RIVAA’s Mission

We want to establish Roosevelt Island as a major art center in New York as a gateway between NYC, Queens and LIC – PS 1, Noguchi and Socrates Park. We aim to bring world class art to Roosevelt Island and revitalize the economic environment through the arts.

We want to be an outreach to the community, collaborating with the Island schools, hospitals, UN and associations. Our purpose is to augment the natural beauty of our environment through talent and vision e.g. the beautification of Main Street, artwork on the aerial tramway, open art shows by the river and sculpture gardens.

RIVAA has about 25 active members and is open to all visual artists in the community. We are comprised of painters, sculptors, photographers, installation artists, computer imaging artists, graphic artists and ceramists. Shows are juried and curated by professional artists.

History and Accomplishments

  • Ran a sculpture center for emerging sculptors for six years at Motorgate which was a juried exhibition. Our first President, Arline Jacoby was on the committee with Marion Griffith, former Director of the NYC Sculpture center.

  • Successfully held an art show “ARTFRENZY” at PS 217, sponsored by the Beacon program in association with PS1, Queens Council for the Arts, LIC Business Corp., Socrates Park and the Noguchi Museum. This was coordinated with MOMA’s move to LIC. 800 people attended.

  • Officially recognized as part of the ART LOOP, linking us with the most prestigious institutions in NYC, LIC and Queens. Published for 4 years.

  • September 11th 2001 Memorial Exhibition, Rivercross window.

  • RIVAA holds childrens’ shows, “Island Schools of Art” including all Roosevelt Island schools including public and private.

  • RIVAA presented “ Coming to Light”, the Louis I. Kahn Monument to Franklin D. Roosevelt exhibition with the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture of Cooper Union.

  • RIVAA hosts “ART from the Heart”, an exhibition showcasing the work of patient artists from Coler and Goldwater hospitals on Roosevelt Island.

  • The announcement of the International Ideas Competition was held at RIVAA Gallery together with the Emerging New York Architects Committee (ENYA) and AIA Chapter for the renovation of the Renwick Ruin. There were over 300 entries from all over the world.

  • Gallery RIVAA is known to the community for holding events such as the Isadore Duncan ballet, Shakespeare’s “Titus and Adronicus” by the Gilgamesh Theatre group, poetry readings and musical performances.

  • RIVAA gives free drawing classes, still life and portraits on RI Day each year. Attended by children and adults.

  • We host free community workshops over several weekends each year teaching Painting, Drawing and Photography.

  • We collaborated with RIOC on the first Fall for the Arts Festival in 2006 and have continued each year in October. In 2008 we hosted events for four weekends for the public at Gallery RIVAA with art, music, dance, poetry, theatre and opera.

  • We are listed in Gallery Guide.

527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, NY 10044 Tel 212-308-6630 http://www.rivaa.com