**OPENING TOMORROW, JUNE 30**
New Art Installation at Cathedral of St. John the Divine Recognizing the Unhoused Population of NYC
Installation Created by Glass Artist Nisha Bansil Features 50,000+ Individual Glass Ginkgo Leaves
WHAT:
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Morningside Heights will unveil to the public a new art installation on June 30 titled UNSEEN. Commissioned from NYC- and Catskills-based glass artist Nisha Bansil, UNSEEN comprises an enormous pile of more than 50,000 cast-glass ginkgo leaves that will cascade down stone steps inside the Cathedral, mirroring both the forest floor and the urban sidewalk. The installation aims to inspire action and honor unhoused individuals in NYC. Created at the Corning Museum of Glass (CMoG) Studio Casting Center in Corning, NY, the mound of leaves will continue to grow during the installation’s run.
UNSEEN is included with admission to the Cathedral and will be on display during regular open hours, Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm, and Sunday from 12pm to 5pm. Additional leaves will be available for purchase in the Cathedral’s gift shop, with proceeds benefiting St. John’s food bank.
ON VIEW:
June 30, 2026 – Fall 2026
Monday to Saturday from 9:30am to 5pm
Sunday from 12pm to 5pm
WHERE:
Cathedral of St. John the Divine
1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Nisha Bansil works in NYC and the Catskill Region of NY, where she fabricates commissioned glass works as well as her personal projects. She has been a resident artist at The Studio of The Corning Museum of Glass, Bullseye Projects, and The Chrysler Museum of Art. Her work has been exhibited nationally. Nisha teaches her techniques to students around the world with various institutions including - The Penland School of Craft, Corning Museum of Glass, Pittsburgh Glass, Creative Glas, & The Bullseye Glass Co. She was a recipient of the 2024 Maxwell/ Hanrahan award in craft.
ABOUT CSJD:
Founded in 1892 and one of the largest cathedrals in the world, the trustees of the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine conceived its mission to be a house of prayer for all people, an instrument of church unity, and a center of intellectual light and leading in the spirit of Jesus Christ.
Today, as the mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the seat of its bishop, the Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine serves the many diverse people of our diocese, city, nation and world through the worship of God; pastoral, educational and community outreach activities; cultural and civic events; international ecumenical initiatives; and the preservation of the great architectural and historic site that is its legacy.
ABOUT CMoG:
In 2026, the Corning Museum of Glass celebrates 75 years as the foremost authority on the art, history, and science of glass. It is home to the world’s most important collection of glass, including the finest examples of glassmaking spanning 3,500 years. Live glassblowing demonstrations (offered at the Museum and on the road) bring the material to life. Daily Make Your Own Glass experiences at the Museum enable visitors to create work in a state-of-the-art glassmaking studio. The campus in Corning includes The Studio, a year-round glassmaking school celebrating 30 years in 2026, and the Rakow Research Library, with the world’s preeminent collection of materials on the art and history of glass. Located in the heart of the Finger Lakes Wine Country of New York State, the Museum is open daily 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. from April through December. Children and teens, 17 and under, receive free admission.
IMAGE CREDITS:
UNSEEN installation in progress at St. John the Divine. Credit: Adam Sternin.
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