"I don't know why the caged bird signs...Ah me" Public Art Sculpture by José Carlos Casado

About

I Don't Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Ah Me... is inspired by writer and activist Maya Angelou’s groundbreaking 1969 autobiography “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."  The title reflects the artist deep respect for the black female experience, and how he found a personal connection to Angelou while reading her life story.

Created out of archival printed aluminum morphed into unique sculptures, no two individual pieces are the same. The sculpture becomes interactive when another dimension is revealed with an augmented reality app.

I Don’t Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Ah Me… is made possible in part with funding from the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. 

Funding has also been provided by the Marcus Garvey Park Alliance Public Art Initiative. Additional funding provided by the Harlem Community Development Corporation, Socrates Sculpture Park, and Council Member Bill Perkins. Additional support provided by Materials for the Arts.

Special thanks & gratitude to: Jean Patrick Guilbert (installation and support); Ethan Edwards (augmented reality app); Connie Lee (curation); and my neighbors in Harlem.

NYC Parks has been showing public art in city parks since 1967. For information on their temporary public art program please call (212) 360-8163. For general information, call 311 or visit nyc.gov/parks. Follow @nycparks on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.