NEW YORK, NY.- The Garment District Alliance is now exhibiting the latest in its ongoing series of public art installations, showcasing the varied works of painters Margaret Zox Brown and Arleen Joseph, as well as dye artist Kohrou Kawata.
The works comprise the latest components of the Garment District Space for Public Art program showcasing artists in unusual locations throughout the year. The arts initiative has produced more than 200 installations, exhibits and performances.
“These exhibits’ diversity is emblematic of the multi-faceted creativity embedded within the Garment District’s own character and history,” said Barbara A. Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance. “We invite both locals and visitors to visit these three installations and experience the diversity of cultural offerings throughout the district.”
Margaret Zox Brown offers a series of nine expressionist oil paintings titled Color and Life at the Kaufman Arcade building on 132 West 36th Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues. Her exhibit runs through November 2nd.
Working from a studio in the Garment District, Brown graduated from Hartford’s Trinity College and studied with prominent Southern oil painter Brian Rutenberg.
“The viewer gets to fill in his or her stamp on what I have presented,” said Brown. “Because I am revealing my emotional connection, yet only as an offering, not a conclusion.”
Japanese-born Kohrou Kawata, one of the world’s leading dye artists, is presenting Sōmeas a display at the Garment District Space for Public Art at 215 West 38th Street. Sōme -- the Japanese word for dye – is being shown in conjunction with a full exhibit of the artist’s work at the Medialia Gallery until October 27th.
Tapping ancient dying methods to soak ink into various materials, Kawata then uses wax or paste glue as blocking agents to keep the dye from coloring unwanted portions of the fabric.
“The final formats are wearable, wall hangings, and other forms of decorative art,” said Kawata. “Artistically, the challenge remains to connect to new directions while working through internal conflict.”
Finally, Arleen Joseph offers a series of “ethereal,” abstract oil landscapes named Journeys at the Staybridge Hotel at 340 West 40th St between Eighth and Ninth avenues. Currently in progress, her show ends November 1st.
A native New Yorker who earned a degree in fashion design from Parsons School of Design, the multi-talented Joseph was an internationally successful dress designer for 20 years when she turned to oil painting to continue her artistic expression.
With a professional history thus ideally suited to the Garment District arts initiative, she describes her approach as a “surrendering to the descent and rebirth of each painting, while building upon layers of paint and history…comfortable with the uncertainty of my journey.”
