Marie Roberts Banner for Kingsborough’s Homecoming Days
Farleigh Dickinson University Professor Marie Roberts has recently gained even more acclaim and attention with her art work of Sideshow and Coney Island banners her recent displays of work appearing at the Brooklyn Museum and P.S. 1 in New York City drew huge crowds and lots of positive press.
Just a few years ago, in 2007, Kingsborough was proud to host a display of her work in our KCC Art Gallery along with a specially designed banner for our Homecoming Day celebration.
Snake oil and sideshows are normal to Marie Roberts. Her father’s family was involved in early 20th Century Coney Island; her grandfather was acting battalion chief of the Coney Island District and her Uncles Harry and Guy were at Dreamland the night of the fire. “My Uncle Lester and my father worked at the Dreamland Circus Sideshow in the 1920’s.”
“Coney is so peopled with ghosts and memories, there is no place in Coney Island that is totally mine, except for Coney Island USA.”
That not for profit arts center is a haven where both sides of my life can co exist – the academic and the sideshow. It is the only place in the earth where I feel back at home, with my relatives (deceased) gathered around. Coney Island USA lets me paint as much as I want. Making the corner of West 12th and Surf beautiful is a testament to my family, and a challenge to my present as an artist.
Since 1997 I have been exploring the contemporary sideshow banner; using the traditional format, I have been experimenting with the use of acrylic. I believe that one has to know and understand one’s tradition and medium in order to take it further. I believe that a college education is an opportunity to replace one’s ignorance with a broader prospect. –
Born in Brooklyn, Professor Roberts lives and works in Brooklyn. She studied painting & drawing at CUNY with both a BA from Brooklyn College & an MFA from Queens College.
She is currently a Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University, in both painting and drawing.and is also an Artist in Residence, Coney Island USA
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