NEW YORK, NY.- The Fashion Center Business Improvement District has a new public art installation titled Broadway Green that will delight and intrigue onlookers along Broadway Boulevard this summer. Designed by Fashion District-based environmental artists Patricia Leighton and Del Geist, the exhibit occupies the neighborhood’s pedestrian plazas through August 27th .

“Everyone knows the Fashion District is America’s fashion capital, but it has emerged in recent years as an artistic center of New York City as well,” said Barbara Blair Randall, president of the Fashion Center BID. “Broadway Green is part of a new tradition of world-class public art installations in the neighborhood that began three years ago with Sidewalk Catwalk and continued most recently with Figurations and Tour de Fashion.”

"With crisp, green grass and striking stands, Broadway Green is far from garden-variety art,” said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “This installation instantly brightens the streetscape and dresses up the heart of the Fashion District so it is more inviting.”

Broadway Green is a unique sensory experience, introducing a touch of nature and green sculpture of sod and plantings to the Broadway Pedestrian plaza.

Six elevated metal cubes filled with live vegetation and one with green slate have been elevated to symbolize the significance of “Green” philosophy. The galvanized-steel-framed growing sculptures offer a thought-provoking juxtoposition with the surrounding buildings of Time Square and Broadway. The green cubes extend from 36th Street to 41st Street.

“As we have concentrated on a vertical city, our green spaces have become more precious,” explained the artist team. “The Broadway Green installation visually and contextually elevates nature in a traditionally busy, built environment, creating a contemplative natural presence in the vibrant core of New York City.”

Ms. Leighton has been creating art for more than 25 years, and has completed large-scale permanent commissions worldwide. Most of her projects utilize natural elements including soil, stone, plantings and other indigenous materials. Born in Scotland, Ms. Leighton earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at Edinburgh College of Art.

For more than 30 years, Mr. Geist has been integrating art into the public realm. He has developed major site-specific artworks throughout the United States and Europe. His work is on display around the world, including the US, England, Germany and South Korea.

The exhibit was created with the assistance of fabricator Millenium Steel and structural engineer Manifesto Architecture – both based in the Fashion District.