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by Vanessa Conte
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Dramatic and constant transformation is the heartbeat of metropolitan life. Cities are molded by the ideas and needs of an ever-changing and abundant number of inhabitants, who are ultimately the true architects of a city's structure. In this exhibition, four city-dwelling painters draw our attention to the art and intention of urban design. |
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Sharon Florin |
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A born-and-raised New Yorker, Sharon Florin often combs the streets of her hometown for new architectural subjects. "I pay special attention to the sites that are disappearing." After awhile, her subjects can no longer be seen on the streets of Manhattan. "It's like a legacy, something to pass on to those who were unable to see it all in person." |
West Village Fire Escape (1995)
Sharon Florin |
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Florin's works have inspired residents to take a closer look at their surroundings. "After an exhibition of a series of paintings I did on fire escapes, I received phone calls from people who spotted fire escapes that they thought I would find interesting. By having the opportunity to exhibit my work, I hope to bring to the viewer's attention aspects of their environment that they might not be aware of, and hopefully foster an appreciation for what a wonderful wealth of architecture and history remains all around them."
Sign the guestbook of Sharon Florin
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Angels (1992)" (1998)
Sharon Florin
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Sasha Meret |
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The themes in Sasha Meret's City Grid series "are intellectually very much related to the New York experience." Meret has lived in Moscow, Paris and Bucharest during the Communist regime, but names New York his "adoration" He describes a "basic regeneration" that he observes in the city. "As one area is eaten up by decay, another area develops." |
City Grid XI (1995)
Sasha Meret |
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The City Grid series reflects Meret's observations of a place where civilization has a direct impact on the environment. Each grid is a metal representation of the city's symmetrical organization, superimposed over aquatic imagery that is drawn in earth-colored bands at the lower half of each piece. These fantastical renderings are the artist's interpretations of the graffiti he sees embellishing the streets every day. "At first I thought graffiti was offensive, but then I wanted to imitate it." |
City Grid XIII (1995)
Sasha Meret |
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The marine imagery floating around the grid in each of Meret's works reminds us of the organic origins of a great metropolis. One often forgets that Manhattan is an island, after all.
Sign the guestbook of Sasha Meret |
City Grid XIV (1996)
Sasha Meret |
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David Russell Miller |
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David Russell Miller directs our attention to the often-overlooked antique craftsmanship of manhole covers, meters and water valves found all over American cities. The artist takes impressions of old foundry castings using a technique influenced by Japanese woodblock printing. Wet starch-treated, Japanese paper is applied to the subject and as it dries, it takes an impression of the manhole or valve cover.
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White Gas (1993)
David Russell Miller |
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Many of Miller's prints are viewed as documentation of rare industrial design. Pony Express is an icon that can be found in only six cities in the world, where the original Pony Express mail carriers made their deliveries. |
Rusty Valve (1991)
David Russell Miller
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Most of the utility companies that produced the metal covers found by Miller are no longer in operation, allowing the artist's works to act as cultural artifacts that capture a glimpse of time passed in urban history. His prints made such an impact on the San Francisco Water Department that it sponsored a print exhibition by the artist that was used to help promote water conservation.
Sign the guestbook of David Russell Miller |
Water Meter (1990)
David Russell Miller
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