On May 22nd, AYON Studio attended the 2nd Annual Gene Norman Preservation Awards Gala at the beautiful Riverside Church South Hall in Morningside Heights, hosted by Save Harlem Now! Principal Angel Ayón, who serves as SNH! Board Vice President, offered opening remarks and was joined by his wife, daughter, and colleagues Sanika Kulkarni and Alicia Koledin.
The gala honored neighborhood icon Lana Turner with the A. Philip Randolph-Bayard Rustin Lifetime Achievement Award for her notable work in Harlem as an archivist, preservationist, and producer; the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture with the Arturo Schomburg Stewardship Award for preserving the contributions of Black individuals and communities; and Martin Spollen and Chen “Jenny” Jie with the Tandy & Foster Architectural Heritage Award for their work restoring the James A. Bailey Mansion. Jane Tillman Irving served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
Save Harlem Now! advocates for the designation of individual landmarks and historic districts in Harlem, for contextual zoning in Harlem, and educates the public about Harlem’s built heritage, history, and culture. The organization, which is dedicated to protecting, preserving, and celebrating Harlem’s irreplaceable heritage also celebrated its 10th Anniversary at the gala and presented its Board President Valerie Jo Bradley with a token of appreciation for her service.