The Garment District Alliance (GDA) is inviting New Yorkers and visitors to Midtown Manhattan to experience a series of seven gigantic, origami-inspired sculptures as part of its latest public art exhibit, Hacer: Transformation, created by California artist Hacer.
Celebrated for his bold, origami-inspired, metal sculptures that explore psychologically complex themes, Gerardo Hacer will take over the Broadway Mall on September 14th from 36th to 39th Streets, greeting pedestrians who will walk through the colorful exhibit of two dark turquoise coyotes, two medium turquoise rabbits, a magenta elephant, a yellow dog, and a green bear cub. Fabricated from powder coated steel, the sculptures vary in size; with the largest of the series, Coyote, Stalking, prowling over Midtown Manhattan at 14 feet long.
Meet Fremin Gallery for an unveiling of this fabulous installation on Tuesday, September 21st at 12:30pm on Broadway and 38th Street – on the Plaza.
Hacer’s introduction to the nostalgic art form began at age seven when a volunteer in one of his foster homes read, “Sadako And The Thousand Paper Cranes” by Eleanor Coerr. His reductive reinvention of the aesthetic evolved technically over decades along with its conceptual counterpart. The resulting work is an amalgamation of innocent childhood play, indirect exposure [in adulthood] to Alexander Calder’s fluid experimentation with form and [after recruitment by renown art fabricator, Peter Carlson] first hand working knowledge of Jeff Koons novel approach to materials, John McCracken’s exhaustive attention to detail and Ellsworth Kelly’s steadfast commitment to minimalism.
The perfection of his technique in combination with monumental vision have manifested museum and national art fair exhibitions and realized massive, permanent sculptural installations that include Wynn Macau Luxury Resort, The Los Angeles Pacific design Center, University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, OH; Los Angeles Trade Technical College and Autry National Center Southwest Museum.
The installation is part of Garment District Art on the Plazas, a year-round public art program made possible through Arterventions, part of the New York City Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Art Program. The Garment District Alliance and DOT work closely to coordinate and install exhibits and individual pieces, which enhance public plazas and make them even more welcoming to New Yorkers and visitors.
“As we head into the fall, we want the Garment District to be a welcoming and enjoyable space for all visitors, whether they are returning to the office, traveling, or just passing through,” said Barbara A. Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance. “We know these supersized sculptures will bring a smile to everyone’s face, and we encourage all to stop by and snap a picture with their favorite origami creation!”
Hacer has exhibited his work extensively in the western United States and is beginning to exhibit on the east coast with Hacer: Transformations, an exhibition brought to New York City by Fremin Gallery, as his first, large scale solo show in New York. He attended the Southern California Institute of Architecture and studied structural welding at Los Angeles Trade Technical College.
“We are delighted to present Hacer: Transformations, in which the whimsical works are transforming Broadway for New Yorkers and visitors alike,” said Emmanuel Fremin, owner of Fremin Gallery. “Following more than a year of COVID-19 related restrictions, Hacer’s works bring cheer and optimism to the heart of New York City.”
Hacer: Transformation will be on view from September 14 to November 23, 2021. .
Follow Gerardo Hacer (GH Studio) on Instagram and Facebook.
Lots more going on at Fremin Gallery in Chelsea, with Reka Nyari: Punctured Ink.