LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the Brooklyn gala exhibition and
paying tribute to 83-year-old Otto Neals, Black Brooklyn Master, for his
artistic contributions on June 20, 2015

WHEREAS, The Arts, in whatever form depicted, are central to human
expression; they are truly a universal language and their contribution
to the development of friendship and understanding among all peoples
cannot be underestimated; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor and pay
just tribute to those whose creative talents and commitment to the arts
contribute to the enrichment of their community and the world, and to
pay homage to a man whose life of artistic accomplishment stands out as
an inspiration to others; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate
the Brooklyn gala exhibition and pay tribute to 83-year-old Otto Neals,
Black Brooklyn Master, for his artistic contributions on Saturday, June
20, 2015, at Restoration Plaza, Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, Otto Neals was born in Lake City, South Carolina to Gus and
Della Neals; at a young age, he and his family moved to Brooklyn, New
York, where he studied commercial art at George Westinghouse Vocational
High School; and
WHEREAS, A self-taught artist, Otto Neals studied briefly at the
Brooklyn Museum Art School, during which time he was introduced to stone
carving by sculptor Vivian Schuyler Key, who presented him with his
first set of carving tools; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, the Prospect Park Alliance and Ezra Jack Keats Foun-
dation commissioned Otto Neals to create a bronze sculpture entitled,
"Peter and Willie", based on the works of author and illustrator Keats;
for this work, which is located in the Imagination Playground in Pros-
pect Park, he was presented with the New York City Arts Commission's
Award for Excellence in Design; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, other commissions include 10 bronze plaques for
the Harlem Walk of Fame, a bronze sculpture for the Brooklyn Children's
Center, a 20-foot mural for Kings County Hospital and a bronze portrait
of the late Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton for the City
University of New York; and
WHEREAS, Otto Neals has long been at the forefront of the Black Arts
Movement, and he has been featured in several publications including
BLACK ARTISTS OF THE NEW GENERATION, THE NEW YORK TIMES and EBONY MAGA-
ZINE; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Otto Neals' work is currently being archived by
the Joan Mitchell Foundation, and has been exhibited at such renowned
locations as the Columbia Museum of Art, the Huntsville Museum of Art,
the Ghana National Museum, the Library of Congress, and the Smithsonian
Institute; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those individuals who add strength, vigor and inspiration to the
cultural diversity and quality of life in the communities of the State
of New York; and
WHEREAS, It is most fitting that we take time to celebrate the Arts of
our Nation, to honor our artists, and to express our appreciation to
everyone who patronizes the Arts; and as we celebrate the Arts, we cele-
brate and give thanks to our American freedom, the only atmosphere in
which artists can truly create and in which art is truly the expression
of the soul; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate the Brooklyn gala exhibition and pay tribute to 83-year-old
Otto Neals, Black Brooklyn Master, for his artistic contributions on
June 20, 2015; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Otto Neals.