FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

EARTH DAY 2005: ART, CONCERTS AND FAMILY-FUN FAIR AT GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL

NEW YORK CITY (April 16, 2005) – The Earth – in all its beauty and grandeur, along with eco-tips and great entertainment for the whole family – will be showcased at Grand Central from April 81-24 in celebration of Earth Day 2005.

FREE GIANT EARTH IMAGES SHOW

From Monday, April 18th through Sunday, April 24th between 11 AM and 8 PM daily, visitors to Grand Central Terminal will see an exhibition of “Giant Earth Images,” environmentally-themed works of art projected onto two of the north columns in the Terminal’s magnificent Main Concourse. Photographs, graphic images and other works by artists such as Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein and Rafal Oblinski will be punctuated by quotes, messages and facts about our planet and its natural resources.

For example, the paintings by Rafal Olbinski appearing in the “Giant Earth Images” communicate strong messages about protecting the environment. One striking example features a beautiful swan in a river beside a line of trees shaped as human faces. “I wanted to humanize the trees as a reminder that people so often forget that plants, like humans, are living species too.” Olbinski said. “It is a reminder we had better appreciate and care for all life on earth.” The surreal paintings of New York City-based artist, Rafal Olbinski, regularly appear in major publications such as Newsweek, Time, Business Week, Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times and New Yorker.

FREE WEEKEND EARTHFAIR

On Saturday, April 22nd and Sunday, April 23rd between 11 AM and 5 PM daily, Vanderbilt Avenue directly west of Grand Central Terminal will transform into a family-friendly festival of music, interactive and environmentally-themed exhibits, crafts and alternatively-fuled vehicles.

CHILDREN WILL LOVE LEARNING ABOUT EARTH WHILE MAKING CRAFTS: Kids activities include:
- Spoke-flower making with Recycle-A-Bicycle
- Mini Tug-Boat Making with Rocking The Boat
- Art Projects with Materials for the Arts
- Rocking Climbing on the side of a Vegetable-oil powered bus with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS)
- Coloring activities, face-painting, and more!

Sponsors: PC Richard & Son, ConEdison, Hugo Neu Recycling, TransitCenter, Lexus, and Toyota

The award categories are: “Public Official Of The Year”, “Environmental Business Leadership”, “Advocate Of The Year”, and “Excellence In Environmental Reporting”.

“The Earth Day Environmental Leadership Awards honor individuals and groups who have shown dedication to the New York City area and its environment through their words and actions,” said Pamela Lippe, Executive Director of Earth Day New York. “Each of this year’s award winners has worked to either better the public’s understanding of the environmental issues surrounding the September 11th attacks or have made environment a prime component of the area’s re-development.”

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rep. Jerrold Nadler were named “Public Officials of the Year” for their leadership on environmental health matters following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

Albanese Development Corporation was picked for the “Environmental Business Leadership” award for their work in the field of sustainable design and development. Their new development, The Solaire, is the nation’s first environmentally sustainable residential tower.

Dr. Stephen M. Levin was chosen for his work in providing medical care to thousands of people who suffered health problems associated with the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings.

New York Daily News columnist Juan Gonzalez was designated winner of this year's "Excellence in Environmental Reporting" award, and was recognized for his reporting on the environmental health effects of the Trade Center collapse.