A Washington Square Park Tribute to the 50th Anniversary of Bob Dylan's arrival in New York City

 

Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in Duluth, Minnesota.

Bob Dylan was born in New York, New York.

The 50th anniversary of this transformation is but a few months after Phase 2 of the renovation of Washington Square Park, which is scheduled to be completed in late Autumn of 2010.

Due to New York City Department of Parks and Recreation regulations restricting paying homage to living persons, we now are petitioning the New York City Council and Mayor’s Office to support commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bob Dylan’s arrival in New York City in a concrete and lasting way, by designating a section of Washington Square Park with the name of an illuminating song of his, apropos for this and every occasion, Eternal Circle.

Bob Dylan’s candidacy is not only due to his far-reaching plethora of influences among those who have been touched by his art, but also because of what we can learn from his personal and musical journey over the last fifty years. Dylan has received many accolades over the years, including innumerable industry awards, the Thomas Paine award, an honorary doctorate in music at Princeton University, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, Kennedy Center Honors, The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, the Polar Music Prize, Prince of Asturias Awards, the Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards, and the National Medal of Arts. It is time for the City of New York to finally join this list by honoring one of its most distinguished citizens.

In conjunction with this petition, we plan to host a concert event in Washington Square Park to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Dylan's arrival to New York City in May 2011. We extend our invitation to everyone to attend, whether in person or in spirit.

Even though many of us consider Eternal Circle a reality already, please sign our petition and offer your support for the City of New York to come to this realization and act accordingly.

Keep On Keepin' On,

Delores DiGiovanni
"Being part of the Dylan generation in Greenwich Village; his ideas and music ignited a sense of individuality. The presence of Bob Dylan in New York was part of a positive and exciting time of change, a renewal of ideas. His style and creativity cannot be surpassed."

Jason Keis
“Dylan is the exemplar of the New York story. He shows there is an inherent art to living and self-reinvention, which can only be achieved through the practice of free will. The fine line between the artist and the person is immediately diminished at the instant one recognizes choices are our own to make and once we act upon them. We are all artists. This we can learn from Dylan.”

Jake Kuhnle
"Eternal Circle goes beyond just celebrating what Dylan has accomplished the past 50 years. As a fellow Midwest native who also shed his roots to come out to New York, I have been deeply inspired by this journey of self realization that this great city inspires in all artists and dreamers who call it home. Bob Dylan epitomizes this journey perfectly, and few can compare with his talent and his impact on the world. To me Eternal Circle is a celebration of Dylan as well as all poets, musicians and artists who have come through New York both past, present and those yet to come. We are Eternal."

Brian Slattery
"When we are long gone, Bob Dylan’s music will remain. It is timeless and speaks to all people of every generation. He would not be the artist he is today if he did not come to New York City. With all respect to his hometown, Bob Dylan is a New Yorker and should be celebrated as such."

We, the undersigned, call on the New York City Council and Mayor’s Office: • to have a section of Washington Square Park named after the Bob Dylan song Eternal Circle. • to hold a celebratory concert event in Washington Square Park coinciding with the unveiling of Eternal Circle, for the 50th Anniversary of Bob Dylan's arrival in New York City in early 2011. Click Here to Sign the Petition

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This petition was written by Jason Keis and is hosted at GoPetition.com.