As night falls, the Garment District becomes less of a destination and more of a city you just passed through. But a new public art installation bowing Tuesday may stop them from getting off the ground.
Don’t miss the 14-foot-tall, neon-lit lantern that debuts on Broadway between 39th and 40th streets. Entitled ‘Living Lantern’, the piece was created by UK-based design firm Neon in collaboration with Wright and his artist Frankie Boyle, who is also an advocate for mental health and neurodiversity. This he will appear until February 24th and uses Wireframe. Garment District Alliance president Barbara Blair and the artists will attend the announcement Tuesday afternoon.
The wind opens and closes the lanky structure, filtering light from the core and infusing the space with flowing color with animated light sequences. The installation is part of Garment District Art on the Plaza, a year-round public art program made possible through the NYC Department of Transportation’s Art Program. It’s the 25th one. GDA Vice President Jerry Scupp said: We like to put out these illuminated things with a little warmth and hope when there isn’t much other public art going on.
Such free and unexpected art often surprises some of the estimated more than 40,000 people (about 85% of pre-pandemic levels) who pass through the Garment District’s public squares each day, he said. Told. There are about 56 hotels in the area, and the reduction in office workers due to hybrid schedules has not affected traffic as much as other parts of Manhattan. According to the New York City Partnership, as of mid-September, 49% of his workers in his Manhattan office returned to their respective workplaces on average weekdays, and only his employees were back in the office five days a week. was 9%.
On the other side, the Garment District Alliance has been advocating with city officials to convert some office buildings and side street loft-style buildings to residential use, but there are no plans at this time. Noting New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s public acknowledgment of the city’s housing crisis, Scup said, “We need to look at repurposing underutilized buildings, not just new developments.” said.