Donate Clothing in celebration of Pistoletto's Rebirth Day in New York

In the symbol of the Third Paradise, the line crosses itself twice, shaping three consecutive circles. The two outer circles represent all the opposites, including nature and artifice where they have come into conflict. The central circle is the place where it is up to us to join them, so that they can impregnate the womb of a new society.

—Michelangelo Pistoletto, Hominitheism and Demopraxy

In 2003, renowned Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto wrote the Third Paradise manifesto and drew its symbol—a three-part reconfiguration of the infinity sign that represents the generative nature of opposites. In the concept of the Third Paradise, the two outer circles represent nature and artifice, while the central circle formed by their interaction signifies the combination of both poles to create an environmentally sustainable future. This idea has grown into a global Third Paradise initiative with the intention of bringing people and organizations together to address critical shared concerns as climate change.

Given the end of the Mayan calendar cycle on December 21, 2012, the date became a symbol of the end of the world. For Pistoletto, the day marks the collective realization that we must take action to create a sustainable future for the earth. He declared it Rebirth Day, a day to renew our commitment to enacting environmental change. Each year on December 21st, Third Paradise Ambassadors host participatory events in locations around the world, raising awareness of both the serious challenges we all face and the many opportunities available to constructively address those issues together.

In conjunction with its current, critically acclaimed exhibition Michelangelo Pistoletto, Lévy Gorvy New York invites you to participate in Rebirth Day 2020 by donating clothing that will be in turn given to those in need. Donated garments will become part of a Rebirth Day activation in Central Park. Whereas Rebirth Day is customarily celebrated with large public events, this year’s pandemic health and safety regulations dictate that the activation is performed privately, documented through photography and video, and then shared online with the wider community.

Garment donations should be brought to Lévy Gorvy’s gallery space in Manhattan or Open Source Gallery in Brooklyn. The pieces of clothing will be used in the Central Park action, then packed and delivered to a local charitable partner for timely distribution. All those donating clothing are encouraged to attach or place a note, photograph, and/or small artifact in the garment’s pocket, connecting the giver with the receiver.

Drawing upon the principle of “demopraxy” outlined in Pistoletto’s manifesto Hominitheism and Demopraxy, Rebirth Day events are part of the larger program and mission of Cittadellarte–Fondazione Pistoletto to encourage a more humane and sustainable future for people and the environment. [Additional information about the Third Paradise and Rebirth Day can be found here.]

Donations will be accepted through December 20 at the following locations:

MANHATTAN
Lévy Gorvy
909 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10021
Amelia Brown

BROOKLYN
Open Source Gallery
306 17th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Monika Wuhrer

If require assistance donating, please contact amelia@levygorvy.com.