Please join us for the opening reception of an exciting new exhibiton entitled “Coney Island, Spectacular”, curated by Melina Moe, Curator of Literature

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 event will take place in RBML’s Kempner Gallery at 5pm on September 26th.