The Garment District Alliance unveiled a 225-foot-long painted mural by local artist, Steed Taylor. Broadway in the Garment District will receive a custom ‘road tattoo’, titled Magic Hour, created by local artist Steed Taylor. Presented by the Garment District Alliance, the 225-foot-long painted road mural stretches from 39th to 40th Streets on Broadway in the Garment District and will be available to the public through this fall. New Yorkers can watch the design come to life, as artist Steed Taylor finalizes the mural on Wednesday, August 4th. The artwork is also part of GDA’s summer programming, which features Broadway Rhythm, a series of weekly musical performances from 12 – 2pm on the Garment District plazas.
The ‘road tattoo’ concept pays homage to communities, with roads serving as the ‘skin’ of the community. The Magic Hour mural creates a winding path in the heart of Midtown’s Garment District through trees and planters, representing the transition from day to night, when the sun is setting and the light is golden. As Taylor completes the design, he is asking passersby what they consider to be their Magic Hour; their responses will be painted within the design.
“From Broadway’s vibrant new road mural to live musical performances on the plazas, we are thrilled to create an urban oasis for locals and visitors in the heart of Midtown Manhattan this summer,” said Barbara A. Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance. “Steed Taylor is an exceptionally talented district-based artist, and we know Magic Hour will bring joy to all who work in and visit our neighborhood.”
Born near Fayetteville, North Carolina, Taylor’s practice includes public artwork as well as gallery settings. His art has been displayed across the U.S., including the Bronx Museum, the Mint Museum, the San Bernardino County Museum, and the Neuberger Museum of Art’s 2001 Biennial Exhibition of Public Art. Taylor’s solo shows include The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Ambrosino Gallery in Miami, and Il Ponte Contemporanea in Rome. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Master of Business Administration from American University, and also attended the Skowhegan School for Painting and Sculpture.
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 Art Program. The Garment District Alliance and DOT work closely to coordinate the exhibit and install the pieces, which enhance the public plazas and make them even more welcoming to New Yorkers and visitors alike. The installation is also a component of DOT’s Seasonal Streets – temporary transformations of streets into vibrant public space.
“The Magic Hour mural adds another exciting layer to the Garment District Alliance’s lively summer programming along Broadway. Urban art enhances the quality of our public spaces and inspires New Yorkers and visitors alike to reimagine the purpose and potential of our streets,” said DOT Manhattan Borough Commissioner Ed Pincar. “We thank the Garment District Alliance and Steed Taylor for helping create and bring even more vibrancy to Broadway.”
Steed Taylor: Magic Hour will be located on Broadway between 39th and 40th Streets in the Garment District.