Tatzu Nishi - Discovering Columbus

Went to see the Tatzu Nishi public art piece "Discovering Columbus" which entails a temporary living room set up surrounding the 13ft statue of Christopher Columbus that sits in the middle of Columbus Circle in Manhattan. Nishi is a Japanese artist and this is his first public project in the U.S.

Climbing up 6 flights of scaffolding stairs on a rainy night actually gave me a bit of vertigo but inside "the living room" the structure feels secure and cozy. The room has awesome 360 degree views of Columbus Circle below with the larger than life statue encompassing the middle of the room surrounded by couches, a tv, bookshelf, lamps, carpet, and pop culture wallpaper colored pink and gold. Only a certain number of people are allowed in at a time and the mood is relaxed and congenial like, you know, attending a party in someone's fabulous penthouse apartment. It was alot of fun, free, and provides a rare close look at the statue given that it's 75ft high! 

wallpaper detail

wallpaper detail

entrance hallway

central park

view from street

requires advance tickets so get them now.

why I volunteer

I've been doing volunteer work with a great organization called Taproot for about 7 years now. Pro bono design is rewarding and allows me to connect with people in other fields.  I find it gratifying to be able to use my skills to work on projects for organizations that help and contribute to society. Recently I was invited to a "founder's circle" lunch after which I was interviewed about my experience of volunteering.

1.  How did you get involved with Taproot originally, and what has kept you engaged for so long? 

I originally came to Taproot because they were a new organization advertising the concept that you could use your specific skills to provide marketing and branding for non-profit organizations (as opposed to stuffing envelopes). This idea was really appealing to me. I had also graduated school pretty recently and I thought it would be a great way to get some experience. 

2.  What is the most rewarding part of being on a Taproot project? 

The most rewarding part is at the end when you hand over the finished project to the client. Its gratifying that through all the shared work you put into it, you're able to deliver a product that the client needed. 

3.  How has being a pro bono consultant with Taproot affected other areas of your life?

It has affected other areas of my life in that I've gained lasting friendships with people from my team, I've garnered freelance work, and my network of contacts in general becomes expanded. I've met alot of smart people from both Taproot and the non-profits and have learned from their expertise as well. 

4.  What has been your favorite Taproot project moment or memory?  

I think my favorite project memory would be my very first project. We were assigned an annual report for SoBro. Not only was the Taproot team very strong and cohesive but SoBro was just a fabulous group to work with. Everyone got along so well and were so enthusiastic, it was truly a joy to work on the project. It worked out so well, the same team was assigned a second project with them shortly after.   

 5.  What advice would you give to a new pro bono consultant? 

My advice would be to look at the Taproot website and see what projects are staffing and sign up. Also, if by chance your first project has some bumps or glitches to not let that dissuade you from taking on a second project. Every project is vastly different, that's what makes it interesting and engaging.