artdaily_NEW YORK, NY.- The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Silverstein Properties, Westfield World Trade Center and the Alliance for Downtown New York have sponsored a symbolic “Live 4 Love” art installation in the Oculus to celebrate WorldPride NYC and the 50th anniversary of Stonewall.

The large, colorful installation was created by two Australian artists to bring the story of the LGBTQIA+ community to life in a dynamic way. “Live 4 Love” is an inflatable structure that stands over 20 feet tall and is covered with powerful design symbols that represent freedom, inclusion, gender diversity, friendship, and adversity. In the evenings, the installation will be illuminated with internal LED lights and act as a large-scale lantern. On June 14, the installation came to life in the Oculus and will remain on public display until June 28. Segments of the installation will subsequently be showcased during New York City’s Pride March on June 30.

“I’m delighted to take part in New York’s World Pride celebration by introducing a new colorful work of the Goldberg Aberline Studio to Downtown Manhattan,” said Maurice Goldberg at the Goldberg Aberline Studio of Australia. “What’s most exciting about this new piece is its larger-than-life archway design that invites people to interact with the art itself. I wanted to draw people in and invite them to embrace what pride means to them.”

“When we set about rebuilding the World Trade Center, our goal was to create a place full of life and creativity that would reflect who we are as New Yorkers,” said Larry A. Silverstein, Chairman, Silverstein Properties, Inc. “We are proud to celebrate Pride Month with this terrific installation in the Oculus. It is fun, it’s exciting, it’s creative, and it’s what we are all about.”

“The World Trade Center has always been a worldwide icon, symbolizing the diversity of lifestyles and cultures from around the globe,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “That’s why we are proud to join with all of the campus’s stakeholders in focusing on the LGBTQ+ community this month to foster an inclusive environment for all those who visit or work here and those who live around the campus.”

“The Oculus at Westfield World Trade Center is a place to connect and experience the art of community where culture and commerce intersect,” said Shari C. Hyman, Vice President Westfield. “We are thrilled to be supporting World Pride and marking the 50th anniversary of Stonewall together with our World Trade Center partners and extended Lower Manhattan community.”

“For centuries, Lower Manhattan has been a welcoming gateway for change makers, tastemakers and influencers,” said Jessica Lappin, President of the Alliance for Downtown New York. “It’s in that inclusive spirit that we welcome WorldPride 2019 and stress the importance of visibility for our LGBTQIA+ community this month, and every month of the year. I can’t think of a better way to embody that message than with this magnificent rainbow archway at the center of our neighborhood.”

As part of its “Be Seen” campaign, the Downtown Alliance is looking to continue the conversation about LGBTQIA+ visibility with an Instagram video contest that asks people to submit a video to complete the statement #IFeelSeenWhen. The contest is live until June 17 and one lucky winner will get five tickets to walk in the 2019 NYC Pride March on June 30 with NYC & Company.

Every year in June, thousands gather for the NYC Pride March to celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community in New York City. The annual march has grown into a civil rights demonstration that honors those who have fought for equal rights and those who have lost their lives to AIDS. You can show your support for the LGBTQIA+ community by sharing your Pride story using the hashtags, #FeelSeenWhen, #WorldPride, and #WorldPride2019.