Five days a week, artist Chris Soria hops on his silver bicycle at 7 a.m. and takes a five-minute ride from his Nyack home to an underpass on the Rockland County side of the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge. On the way, he picks up coffee and breakfast sandwiches for…
The first of ten original works of art is scheduled to be installed on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge path this month. A massive sculpture, TAPPAN ZEE, is the work of artist Ilan Averbuch. It is one of the site-responsive works chosen in a competitive selection process managed by ArtsWestchester in collaboration with the New York State Thruway Authority and the Arts Council of Rockland.
Is fashion no longer fashionable? Well, that may be so. Fashion waste has become one of the unintended consequences of that which we call ‘fast fashion’. So while the fashion industry tries to become more sustainable, celebrities like Jane Fonda are rewearing their old clothes in favor of buying new.
ArtsWestchester turns its lens on fashion waste with a monumental work of art by textile artist Amanda Browder. She has been recycling fabrics into contemporary art for more than 14 years. Her first fabric sculpture, Rapunzel, was made with donated fabric. She threw it out the window of her Chicago apartment and has been recycling second-hand vintage fabrics ever since – both for her own wardrobe and for her one-of-a-kind, large-scale fabric art installations.
So far, hundreds of community members have donated, arranged, pinned and sewed the fabric for a work of public art that will transform the front and side of ArtsWestchester’s nine-story historic building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue in downtown White Plains this May. Once known as the Peoples National Bank and Trust, it has new life as an arts center for the people of Westchester. ArtsNews Editor Mary Alice Franklin, sat down with Browder to find out more about the inspiration behind this project.
The balancing act for contemporary artists is complicated; they must be relevant to the narrative of art history while embracing the themes of current trends. This challenge is compounded by an inescapable need for the artist to promote their self-interest in a global time warp. The consistency of change for the artists is as regular as a heartbeat, to create something new and innovative needs to be a byproduct of intense observation, disciplined and deliberate self-examination. Artists that jockey for inclusion in the mainstream of art have an additional responsibility to consider. They carry the burden of telling their personal stories with high expectations of bridging multiple worlds; they look to examine their ethnicity and simultaneous connections to the mainstream of American history and culture.
Derrick Adams and Bisa Butler have both navigated their particular and universal environments with insightfulness and clarity. In their aesthetic practices, they have masterfully made artwork that speaks to their provincial and universal viewers. Adams and Butler are two artists who personify the words of Walt Whitman: “That you are here—that life exists, and identity; That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse.”
The group show is the backbone of the art world. From the Paris Salon of the 18th century, to the Biennials and art fairs of the 21st century, artists have benefitted from being part of a broader conversation about art and of being shown alongside their peers. Sometimes these ensemble casts are juried. Sometimes curated. Cuts are made to fit a space or to hone a theme. ArtsWestchester’s exhibition program is built on curated thematic group shows, featuring Hudson Valley region artists whose works advance thoughtfulness about topics that resonate within the community. In recent years, the organization has explored themes such as the contemporary immigrant experience, the construction of gender identity, life in the age of data, and the current state of voting rights in America. For many of these projects, ArtsWestchester’s curatorial department circulates calls for submissions or nominations, seeking uncovered existing works and visions for new works.
Creative shoppers can save Amazon and the department stores for another day. Instead, gift shops that are housed by Westchester’s local museums and arts organizations present opportunities for holiday shopping that results in one-of-a-kind memorable gifts. For arts lovers, it will be money well spent when proceeds support exhibitions, educational programs, and also artists. Here are some of ArtsWestchester’s picks…
ArtsWestchester is committed to nurturing the rising tide of public art throughout the county community and is currently hosting opportunities for a variety of artists to apply to contribute their own pieces to Westchester and greater New York area’s public spaces.
Local artists and arts groups with creative ideas for new art projects in Westchester and Rockland Counties are encouraged to apply for a 2020 Arts Alive grant. Imagine being transported to Asia by attending a festival of traditional music and dance, getting a front-row seat to the premiere of a new independent film, or reliving your favorite play at a nearby theater. Funding from New York State Council on the Arts’ Decentralization Program enables ArtsWestchester to make these types of arts activities easily accessible to all Westchester and Rockland residents, especially in areas where access is limited. Grants are awarded in three categories: Project Grants provide financial support for projects that demonstrate a strong community benefit; Artist Grants provide direct support for the creation of new work related to the community; and Education Grants support in-school and after-school learning projects.
This summer, paired with the lush grounds of Westchester County’s largest park, visitors will find artwork that breathes the same life as its green meadows and picturesque hiking trails. The WPA Gallery at Ward Pound Ridge Reservation will display the nature-inspired works of two local artists as part of its Art in the Park program.
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