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    Nick Cave’s Energetic ‘Soundsuits’ Dance Along the New York City Subway in a 360-Foot Mosaic

    
    Art

    #installation
    #mosaics
    #new york city
    #public art
    #transportation

    September 10, 2021
    Grace Ebert

    “Each One, Every One, Equal All” (2022). Photo by Photo by MTA/Trent Reeves. All images courtesy of MTA Arts & Design.
    Spanning the 42 St. Connector between Times Square and Bryant Park in New York City are a troupe of dancing figures dressed in vibrant costumes of feather and fur. The ebullient characters are based on the iconic series of Soundsuits by Chicago-based artist Nick Cave (previously) and are the first part of a massive permanent installation titled Each One, Every One, Equal All in the public transit corridor.
    Stretching 360 feet, “Every One” is the first in the mosaic trio and displays more than two dozen of the adorned figures inlaid in ceramic tiles. The pieces are based on James Prinz’s photos of Cave’s original designs, which are soulful and energetic forms that blend fashion, sculpture, and performance in full-body coverings. Soundsuits “camouflage the shape of the wearer, enveloping and creating a second skin that hides gender, race, and class, thus compelling the audience to watch without judgment.” Cave describes the impetus for the project.
    Times Square is one of the busiest, most diverse, and fabulously kinetic places on the planet. For this project, I took the aboveground color, movement, and cross-pollination of humanity, bundled it into a powerful and compact energy mass that is taken underground and delivered throughout the station and passage. ‘Every One’ places the viewer within a performance, directly connecting them with the Soundsuits as part of an inclusive community of difference.
    “Every One” was officially unveiled today with a short video work showing the colorful figures in motion playing every 15 minutes outside the corridor. “Each One” and “Equal All” are scheduled for 2022, and once complete, the project will stretch 4,600-square-feet with more than four dozen dancers. It will mark both Cave’s largest permanent installation and the MTA’s most expansive commissioned mosaic to date.
    To learn more about Soundsuits and the project’s history, read this explainer in Public Delivery, and follow the artist’s work on Instagram. (via Kottke)

    Photo by MTA/Trent Reeves
    Photo by MTA Arts & Design/Cheryl Hageman
    Photo by MTA Arts & Design/Cheryl Hageman
    Photo by MTA Arts & Design/Cheryl Hageman
    Photo by MTA Arts & Design/Cheryl Hageman

    #installation
    #mosaics
    #new york city
    #public art
    #transportation

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    A Short Documentary Explores the Life of the ‘Artifact Artist’ Who’s Been Excavating New York City’s Trash for Decades

    
    Art
    Documentary
    History

    #found objects
    #new york city
    #trash
    #upcycling
    #video

    April 19, 2021
    Grace Ebert

    Jordan in his home
    Descending into old privies, scouring landfills, and sneaking onto construction sites in the middle of the night are habitual activities for urban archaeologist Scott Jordan. For nearly five decades, he’s been excavating the trash and forgotten artifacts buried deep underneath New York City’s residential areas and fast-growing developments. His findings are diverse and revealing of the area’s past, offering a glimpse into the consumption habits and lifestyles of previous generations that date back to the 18th Century.
    A new documentary produced by Kaleidoscope Pictures chronicles Jordan’s lifelong practice that involves digging and uncovering items that he then transforms into new artworks. Dubbed “The Artifact Artist,” the short film by the same name follows the archaeologist and historian as he pulls glass bottles, Civil War-era garments, and small toys from the earth. While Jordan cleans and restores much of the pottery and well-preserved items, he utilizes the rest to create jewelry and assembled, sculptural works that nestle into shadowboxes, which he then sells at flea markets.
    Watch the full documentary below, and find more information on Jordan’s site, Things Found NYC, which he runs with Belle Costes. Shop the pair’s findings on Etsy. (via Kottke)

    
    Jordan digging in New York City
    Jordan in his home
    A collection of Jordan’s artworks made from items he found
    Jordan in his home
    Items in Jordan’s collection

    #found objects
    #new york city
    #trash
    #upcycling
    #video

    Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member and support independent arts publishing. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about contemporary art, help support our interview series, gain access to partner discounts, and much more. Join now!

     
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    Futura, a King of Graffiti, Returns to His Roots

    #masthead-section-label, #masthead-bar-one { display: none }The Best of 2020Best ComedyBest TV ShowsBest BooksBest MoviesBest AlbumsThe graffiti artist Futura, born Leonard McGurr, near the Eric Firestone Gallery in Manhattan, where “Futura 2020,” his first solo exhibition in New York in 30 years, is on view.Credit…Celeste Sloman for The New York TimesSkip to contentSkip to site indexFutura, a King of Graffiti, Returns to His RootsThe artist has gone from painting subway cars to the runways of Comme des Garçons. After a hiatus, his two exhibitions are his first in his hometown in 30 years.The graffiti artist Futura, born Leonard McGurr, near the Eric Firestone Gallery in Manhattan, where “Futura 2020,” his first solo exhibition in New York in 30 years, is on view.Credit…Celeste Sloman for The New York TimesSupported byContinue reading the main storyPublished More

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    “Now & Forever” by Tristan Eaton in New York

    Artist Tristan Eaton collaborated with Montefiore Health System and Alto NY to create an iconic artwork that captures the heroism of our nurses’ and medical staff’s efforts. A beautiful tribute to all the healthcare workers around the world. If you are in the area, the large-scale mural is located in Manhattan at 34th Street and 8th Avenue […] More

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    “The Rotting Apple” by The Rebel Bear in Brooklyn, New York

    Scotland’s ‘Banksy’ – The Rebel Bear just finished working on this new piece entitled “The Rotting Apple”. Street artist, known as ‘The Rebel Bear’ has been creating street art over the last 3 years throughout Scotland as well as London and Calais. The themes of his work cover politics, love, human emotion and comment on the “absurdity” of the […] More

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    Don’t Fret Brings New Works & “Noises” To New York

    This week we check in on Chicago’s prolific Don’t Fret. As usual DF has been busy creating, and this week he opens a solo show “O God, There’s Noises I’m Going To Be Hungry For” in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn. Fresh off the release of his killer new monograph ‘Life Thus Far’ DF has been working […] More