Gathering
AC Hotel Times Square
steel, linen
2018
New York City is a place where people from all over the world come together for travel and enjoyment or for business and work. There is a flurry of activity as so many hearts, minds and souls gather together in this spot and then disperse across the wide world. We are all part of this current moment in history that flows into the next moment and the one after that. We may have an experience here that defines us for years to come.
My aim in creating this sculpture is to take the idea of movement: waves carrying ships to port; a model walking the runway with the train of her gown billowing behind her; a flock of birds spreading across the sky or rising from a field; leaves spiraling on the autumn wind and slow them down to a mere fraction of their pace. Through this act of slowing, I create a calm and steady focal point, a spot for quiet contemplation and a place to take a moment to pause to reflect on your day, month, year, lifetime, or travels.
The components in this installation are created from half inch round steel rod and linen textile panels that are hand stitched onto the framework. Each component commands its own space and, yet, interacts with its neighbors much the same way we as individuals are self- determined and also defined by what is around us. When creating the shapes for these components, I took inspiration from the lines of clothing patterns (men’s shirts, dresses, etc.) to pay homage to the historic textile industry of the New York Garment District. The blue and copper linen panels are hand stitched onto the framework to further celebrate the hand-work of textile labor and those individuals who worked in the textile factory where this AC Hotel building now stands.