Hudson Street Stoop 2021-22: Storytell & Sway by Gianna Stewart

Introducing: A Modern-day Stoop to Connect Neighbors

We’re proud to announce ACDC’s newest project in Chinatown: “Hudson Street Stoop”, a rotating public art initiative to transform One Greenway Park into an activated and inclusive neighborhood “stoop.” Our goals are to create art that reminds working-class individuals and families that they belong and honor the rich history of Chinatown. ACDC collaborates with Chinatown residents and local artists to create interactive, rotating public art installations every 18 months.

The 2021 Hudson Street Stoop installation, Storytell & Sway by local artist Gianna Stewart, was developed in collaboration with Chinatown residents. The Storytell & Sway exhibit is made of socially distanced bench swings inscribed with residents' quotes in their native languages and adorned with playful bells purchased from Chinatown shops.

The Process

In 2018, ACDC formed a Hudson Street Stoop advisory committee of Chinatown residents and local arts administrators, Yvonne Ng, Angela Soo Hoo, Sarah Hutt, Cher Knight Krause, and Lucas Cowan. The committee helped ACDC put our a request for qualifications (RFQ) to seek artists experienced in creating public art and engaging with community members as part of the creative process. The committee reviewed a number of submissions and selected artist Gianna Stewart’s proposal, Storytell & Sway.

ACDC worked with Gianna and local writer and former Chinatown resident, Cynthia Yee, to facilitate storytelling sessions with residents of all ages. At these workshops, residents shared memories about Chinatown. With permission, Gianna incorporated quotes of resident stories in their native languages on the swing benches. Cynthia Yee also contributed a quote from Snow Angels, her story about playing on Hudson Street in the 1950s.

Hudson Street Stoop Events

Storytell & Sway events have wrapped. Check out highlights of past events below!

Meet the 2021 Hudson Street Stoop Installation Artist

Gianna Stewart is a Boston-based artist with a passion for public art. Her recent installation Depth of Decision is installed in the Underwater Museum of Art as part of an artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico. Previously, Iceberg floated in the Fort Point Channel in Boston. She has created site-specific temporary outdoor works for the Fruitlands Museum in Harvard, MA, 8Nights8Windows in downtown Boston, ReCreation on the Boston Harbor Islands, and “The Local” commission on the Rose Kennedy Greenway. Magical Amass, 122 colorful cast plastic tents hung in a skylight at the Nashville Airport. She received her MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston/ Tufts University. 

Hudson Street Stoop is Generously Funded in Part By

thank you to our Hudson Street Stoop donors!

Community Partners