Reine Mère de la Réalité

Queen Mother of Reality by Paweł Althamer is a monumental, mixed media sculpture of an elegant figure that is peacefully reclining in the shaded southern section of the park overlooking the East River waterfront. Althamer’s sculpture is dedicated to and inspired by “Queen Mother” Dr. Delois Blakely, a U.S. Ambassador of Goodwill to Africa,who has been the Community Mayor of Harlem since she was sworn in by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani in 1995. Queen Mother of Reality serves as a call to highlight the numerous displaced and homeless of New York City – Dr. Blakely’s paramount cause.

Originally built as a part of Althamer’s Performa Commission in 2013, Queen Mother of Reality at Socrates Sculpture Park acts as a platform for creative dialogue and interactive programming, reflecting the park’s commitment to engaging audiences through public art. This spring the sculpture was reassembled by Althamer and his collaborators – a team of artists and community members, including artists Noah Fischer, Roman Stańczak, Rafal Zwirek, Jim Costanzo (aka the Aaron Burr Society), Brian Fernandes-Halloran, and Eric Gottshall, as well as the artist’s sons Bruno Althamer and Szymon Althamer.

Continuing Althamer’s commitment to social collaboration, which underlines most of his work, Socrates and the artist are programming workshops, events, and talks throughout the summer that invoke Dr. Blakely’s pursuits of social justice and community building. The sculpture is situated in the midst of an active community. The park is surrounded by three of the nation’s largest public housing complexes (Astoria, Ravenswood, and Queensbridge Houses), and the local community has been a park stakeholder since its creation in 1986.
April 25 & 26 – EARTH DAY EVENT
Partnership for Parks and Socrates’ own horticulture team led high school and middle school volunteers as they planted vegetables, herbs, and flowers throughout the Socrates Sculpture Park. The group also designed and planted around Queen Mother of Reality, which remains on view with the sculpture.
Sunday, May 11 // 2-6pm – OPENING MOTHERS DAY EVENT
This Art-making workshop for kids and families was led by the Minor Miracles Foundation and focused on the celebration of Mothers and families. Artworks created in this workshop remain on view inside of Queen Mother of Reality
Sunday, May 11 // all day – NAILS ACROSS AMERICA
Artist http://www.nailsacrossameri.ca/” noreferrerBrianne Trammel provided free manicures for local mothers from the Astoria Housing Projects inside of her traveling social salon.
Sunday, May 11th  – DEDICATION BLESSING by QUEEN MOTHER DR. DELOIS BLAKELY
Saturday, May 17th // 11am-2:30pm – UN FORUM ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
A tour, lunch and ceremony lead by Queen Mother Delois Blakely with members of the United Nations Forum on Indigenous Peoples.
Saturday, June 7th – FOOD PROGRAM
Lead by Queens Action Committee, this delicious event focused on healthy nutrition and the local food landscape through discussions and cooking instructions, alongside Socrates’ weekly