The Lincoln Square BID and American Folk Art Museum are partnering to create a new public art project on the Broadway Mall between 60th and 70th Streets. The painting will take place on Friday, October 12th from 9:30am to 5:00pm, when they will be working with New York Cares volunteers.
Titled “Folk Art on the Broadway Malls“, this new initiative is part of the Lincoln Square BID’s signature and ongoing Streetscape and Beautification program and is organized in cooperation with NYC Parks’ public art program Art in the Parks.
The project involves community-based, temporary public art inspired by textile works from the American Folk Art Museum’s permanent collection and will consist of 7 stencil painted murals on the interior walls of Broadway Mall barriers between 60th and 70th Streets. Mural locations include: 60th Street (the “gateway” to the Malls), 63rd Street (both sides), 64th Street (northern side), 67th Street (both sides), and 70th Street (south side, the BID’s northern boundary).
The barrier murals will alternate between two original designs created by graphic designers Dresser Johnson. The first mural is based on a flower basket depicted in Baskets Quilt, artist unknown, c. 1850-1860, symbolizing the open public space of the community (pictured above). The second mural is based on a tree motif found in the Applique Bedcover piece, a quilt created by Sarah Ann Garges of Pennsylvania, in 1853, symbolizing the warmth of the neighborhood.
Work will begin on Friday, October 12th and continue until all are murals are fully installed – with an anticipated finish date by November 26th, in time for the Winter’s Eve Festival. Folk Art on the Broadway Malls will be on view for about a year.