Artist Chinon Maria at the World Trade Center’s New Gallery
“CREATING PUBLIC ART in the World Trade Center has been one of the most humbling and emotional experiences of my life,” says Colombian-born street artist Chinon Maria at the World Trade Center
Chinon has four large-scale murals that call the World Trade Center home. Her latest, One World, Our Childrenwill be placed at the future site of 5 WTC and features faces of nine refugee girls from around the globe. Maria asked 1,500 children from 40 countries to mail drawings and descriptions of their dreams for the future, which she incorporated into the mural, with the help of 350 local student volunteers.
Drawing Inspiration Worldwide
“I like to think New York has a place for all these cultures, and all these ideas that I love from all over the world,” Chinon explains. “My artwork is vibrant, colorful, hopeful with an underlining message of unity, healing, and social activism.”
Chinon’s high-energy work has been comissioned for public spaces around the world, and always within her preferred medium—public domain.
“Public art is so important to me, that accessibility, you can’t put a price tag on it,” she says. “It has the ability to actually change space with positive reinforcement and the resurgance of hopeful attitudes.
Taking It Home to New York
“While new projects take her to Mexico and beyond, it’s in lower Manhattan where she feels most at home and spiritually connected.
“In Downtown, you can walk on any block and at any moment you can see people from all over the world and that’s, for me, really inspiring as an artist.”
Art’s transformative power is especially meaningful to Maria’s downtown work., as she aims to positive contribute to the area’s rebirth.
“Art has a power to bring together people from different cultures to identify with a piece of work, to enjoy a piece by just being able to see it on the street and getting the community involved,” Chinon says.
Murals at 4 World Trade Center
To do just this for 4 World Trade Center, Chinon wanted her mural to depict the rich history of New York City in an inviting way, and also sat down with children from the community to talk about the future of the city.
“It was not only 9/11, the tragedy that happened here,” she says. “There were so many other things that have made this city what it is today—good and bad—so I wanted to make sure we could honor that through a piece of artwork.”
“To end it on a hopeful note, I worked with community children to say the future of New York City is going to be bright, and beautiful, and filled with diversity and color.”
Larry and Klara Silverstein stand with Frank Stella in front of his Caspers Split Star Culture. Photo: Joe Woolhead
Larry and Klara Silverstein stand with artist Frank Stella in front of his new sculpture, Jasper’s Split Star, at 7 World Trade Center. Photo: Joe Woolhead
Silverstein Properties has announced the installation of a new sculpture – Jasper’s Split Star by legendary artist Frank Stella – in the Silverstein Family Park at 7 World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan.
Larry Silverstein, Chairman of Silverstein Properties, acquired the artwork to display in the center of the park’s fountain, a location that was previously occupied by Jeff Koons’ Balloon Flower (Red). Mr. Koons’ sculpture was on loan from the artist since 7 WTC opened in May 2006 until late 2018.
One of the most influential American artists of the 20th century, Frank Stella has explored the formal imperatives of art, including line, color, and form. Mr. Stella has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the National Medal of Arts, which was bestowed on him by President Obama in 2009. Mr. Stella lives and works in New York City, and his work can be found in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Tate Gallery, London.
Mr. Silverstein had previously purchased two paintings by Frank Stella in the late 1990s that he displayed in the lobby of the original Seven World Trade Center. Laestrygonia I and Telepilus Laestrygonia II were both destroyed on 9/11.
“Art has always played a big role in my personal and professional life,” said Mr. Silverstein. “It adds an exciting dimension to our lives and everything we do. It expands our thinking and offers a glimpse into the creative minds of the artists. I am thrilled to bring this stunning piece by Frank Stella to the World Trade Center so that Downtown’s workers, residents and visitors can enjoy it.”
Jasper’s Split Star was inspired by a painting Mr. Stella made in 1962, Jasper’s Dilemma, itself a tribute to his contemporary Jasper Johns. Six of the star’s sides are solid aluminum, and six are open and spray-painted pale shades of blue, purple and grey. Mr. Stella created the 202” x 257” x 249” sculpture in 2017. Most recently, Jasper’s Split Star was included in an exhibition of 25 works by the artist at the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut, from September 2020 to September 2021.
Frank Stella commented: “Jasper Johns often played a grey-scale against an obvious chromatic scale of red, orange, yellow, green and blue. For the most part, it was on a two-dimensional surface. It was hard not to think of transposing that kind of dynamic into three dimensions. So the split star came rather naturally into being as a play of Jasper’s early paintings.”
Silverstein Properties has supported art and artists in its office buildings for over 30 years, ensuring they remain an integral part of the fabric of Downtown Manhattan.
When Larry Silverstein opened the original Seven WTC in 1987, Larry and his wife Klara spent several years filling the lobby with contemporary art. Installations included The Third Circle by Al Held, a Roy Lichtenstein entablature, Cloud by Louise Nevelson, Crusading Euphoria by Ross Bleckner, the two large paintings by Frank Stella, and others.
When the company opened the new 7 WTC in 2006, Silverstein collaborated with Jamie Carpenter and architect David Childs on the building’s stainless steel façade, as well as on the lobby art installation, For 7 World Trade, by Jenny Holzer. The lobby also features two metal sculptures, Easter Monday and Equilateral Quivering Tower, by Kenneth Snelson; two large paintings, Element No. 1 and Element No. 31, by Ran Ortner; as well as work by Richard Jolley, Nicole Chensey, Andrew Kuo, Greg Bogin, Regina Sculley and Scott Reeder. The other World Trade Center buildings feature large art installations including Joystick by James Rosenquist at 3 WTC, and Sky Memory by Kozo Nishino at 4 WTC, among others.
Last year, Larry Silverstein’s grandson Cory and his friend Josh Pulman launched Silver Arts Projects, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting emerging artists. Each year, 25 young artists work out of a studio on the 28th floor of 4 WTC. The residency space is dedicated to art making, providing artists with customized studios and the tools, platform, and resources to expand their practices and further their careers. The floor also features community spaces for study and dialogue, and allows artists to collaborate while enjoying sweeping, 360-degree views of the New York City skyline.
In recent weeks, you may have seen vacant downtown storefronts be transformed into public art galleries. The Downtown Alliance has tapped the inspiring power of art to convey the city’s resilient spirit. They have joined with Art on the Ave NYC, to create Resiliency-A Gallery Walk.
“Public art in Lower Manhattan will help us mark our return in a thoughtful and joyous way,” Downtown Alliance President Jessica Lappin said. “Whether it’s storefront galleries, permanent outdoor sculptures or performances taking place across the neighborhood, the arts are flourishing downtown. We welcome New Yorkers to come rediscover and explore our neighborhood with fresh eyes.”
Thought Form I: Resiliency by Joan Aglaia Choremi
Home + Coming by Kevin Byrd.
Art on the Ave NYC Gallery Walk
The public-art nonprofit Art on the Ave NYC launched the initiative in partnership with the Downtown Alliance in September . More than two dozen artists currently have pieces for sale, on display. They will remain up through Nov. 28.
For more information about the exhibits, or participating artists, or inquiries to purchase, visit artontheavenyc.com
In today’s fashion landscape, influencers are everything.
Influencers have become the new innovators and early adopters that oftentimes will take the place of major mavens from yesteryear, as the runway designers. The beauty of such fashion leaders on the tiny screen is the direct link between them and their followers.
Why do you think influencers’ brand representation is so coveted?
Think about the spike in sales when influencer Kendall Jenner started tagging Alo Yoga in her social media channels, or when Emma Chamberlain nearly made Amazon sell out of yoga pants from one hard Instagram post. It is this kind of philosophy that birthed Lauren Wilson’sDora Maar. The luxury consignment brand that centers around the link between influencers, their coveted closets, and customers.
Dora Maar ingeniously links these “Muses” of all different walks of life with their customers. Now, followers can own their favorite influencer’s best pieces.
Wilson is changing the game of luxury consignment, with the help of her brilliant concept for Muses that offer up their beloved high-end pieces to be sold on Dora Maar, lovingly nicknamed DoMa. You’ll find that this born and bred brand is reimagining what it means to consign.
Lauren Wilson, Dora Maar’s Founder
Downtown: What is your personal background in fashion?
Lauren Wilson: Fashion has been an integral part of my life on both a personal and professional level. I’ve always felt that fashion is synonymous with storytelling, which in essence is the brand ethos of Dora Maar. Fashion allows one to express themselves and share creativity, emotions, and feelings in ways words cannot. Curating outfits and being thoughtful about the craftsmanship of clothing have always been important to me.
As for my career, following my graduation from USC, my first full-time job in fashion was at Gucci as an assistant in their celebrity PR dept in NYC. After Gucci, I began my Master of Art in Costume Studies from NYU, which I describe as the anthropological study of fashion. I was so passionate about the program and it played a large role in my interest in vintage clothing. Outside of fashion, I also worked in the art world at Christie’s where I was a part of their marketing team for luxury. There, I developed the keen ability to identify the importance of provenance or the origin of a piece of fine art. I realized how this concept of provenance to showcase value and authenticity was missing from luxury fashion in the secondary market. Following Christie’s, I moved back to luxury fashion e-commerce at Moda Operandi. Through the mix of these experiences, my idea for Dora Maar was born.
DT: What is the story behind Dora Maar’s name?
LW: I named my platform after Henriette Theodora Markovitch – also known as Dora Maar – an influential French photographer, painter, and poet. She was depicted in many of Picasso’s paintings, including his famous Portrait of Dora Maar and Dora Maar au Chat. She’s widely known as Pablo Picasso’s ‘muse’ which does play a role in the idea behind my Muse concept. Our Muses are influential to our consumers by providing a human element to buying clothing. That being said, Dora Maar was my point of inspiration for her unprecedented, independent, and fresh perspectives and ways. She challenged the norms through her surrealist art whether it be her paintings or poetry.With my platform, my mission is to do the same. We’re reimagining our relationship to pre-owned luxury fashion by leveraging the story behind each item through provenance and storytelling.
DT: How many designers do you carry at Dora Maar?
LW: We carry over 300 designers at Dora Maar, from Chanel to Emilia Wickstead and Carolina Herrera. We’ve designed our platform to be extremely user-friendly and serve as the link between influencers and our consumers. We’ve strategized our layout so our customers can be inspired by the apparel and accessories through various lenses. First, consumers can go through a dedicated closet page, carrying the items in a Muse’s closet. Or, they can opt to buy by the designer if they’re specifically looking for a Chanel or Saint Laurent item. We also curate special Edits which are theme-based and always a big hit for our clients. We’re really excited about our recent Bridal Muse Edit, a curated collection of hand-picked favorites for all types of wedding celebrations. We have innovative silhouettes from Huishan Zhang to incredible Balmain pieces.
DT: What does the consignment process look like at Dora Maar?
LW: Dora Maar is a high-touch consignment service, meaning we take all of the logistics in-house. Trust between our Muses and our customers is our number one focus, which is why the process behind each consigned piece is highly specialized. We handle the authentication, styling, and photographing, all the way through to the packaging and delivery of the item to our customers once a piece has sold. The reason we decided on this business model is that our mission is to connect our Muses and consumers, and we serve to make the consignment experience easy and bring a high level of trust to our customers when they are shopping for pre-owned luxury.
DT: Tell us about your “Muses” at Dora Maar. It is a really smart concept that is unique to Dora Maar. How was that idea born? What does being a DoMa muse entail?
LW: Thank you! Along with our commitment to sustainable fashion, our Muse concept is our favorite part of the platform. The idea was born when I ideated Dora Maar and was searching for a way to link influencers and customers.
We are thrilled to see how our Muses have connected the Dora Maar customers. Our Muses are inspiring tastemakers of all different shapes, sizes, and voices. We scout women (and some men!) who care about the craft and quality of clothing, and want to see their clothing passed on. Some of our Muses includeLauren Levison, Edward Barsamian, Lyn Slater, and Krystal Bick. Many of our Muses use their proceeds from their closet sales to raise funds for organizations that are important in their lives. For example, Lauren Levison recently donated 100% of her proceeds to the Present/Levison Advanced Fellowship in Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Mount Sinai Hospital.
DT: Does New York City influence and inspire Dora Maar in any way? If so, how?
LW: New York is certainly an incredibly huge source of inspiration for Dora Maar– so much so that I would say the city is a Muse in and of itself for me and our team. I moved to NYC right after college to pursue a career in fashion, so the story of New York is woven through everything we do. The energy and collision of ideas, innovation, and joy for life are all that make New York one of a kind. We are a born and bred NYC brand and our studio is headquartered in Brooklyn. All of the creatives– from photographers to our models (who are also Muses to us!) are based in the city. It’s amazing to be able to bring so many forward-thinking, talented individuals together to create Dora Maar amidst the backdrop of New York.
DT: What is your personal favorite spot to get inspired in NYC?
LW: That is a tough question! What I love about NYC is that every neighborhood is its only little world, so I am constantly inspired by so many different pockets of the city. When I am in need of an injection of inspiration, I am a sucker for the Met or Neue Galerie, an old 5th Ave mansion that was converted to a museum for early 20th century German and Austrian art – the space is just beautiful. On the flip side, my first apartment in NYC was on Bleecker Street in the West Village, so when I need a dose of New York City magic, I love wandering the streets over there. They are beyond charming, and I love popping into the small neighborhood shops and cafes, like Rosecrans on Greenwich Ave for delicious coffees, beautiful flowers, and small and unique home goods. I could probably go on for days about the places and people that have inspired me in the city, that’s what’s so amazing about it, I am always in awe of New York.
Meet Your Neighborhood Jewelry Co. That’s Putting the Whimsy Back Into Accessorizing
Gen Z-ers and millennials know the grip that colorful beaded jewelry had on us in our adolescence. Our fashion identities were measured by how many charm bracelets, necklaces, and rings we could stack on.
Furthermore, the more varying colors you had on your plasticky-crystal adornments, the better. Think highlighter oranges, lime greens, bubblegum pinks, and so on. Meet Susan Alexandra: the jewelry and accessory company that is right under your feet here in NYC. It is time we bring this gem out from underground.
The Susan Alexandra success story had humble beginnings, starting out of Susan Korn’s Chinatown Apartment.
It all started with Susan Korn’s Merry bag, named after her mother. It is boxy, crystalline, and evokes a true sense of nostalgia. It was when Gigi Hadid posted a photo with the adorable accessory in the foreground to her X-follower Instagram page that the brand took off.
“I’ll be sitting on the subway and just look down at my purse and I just feel sort of a sense of delight and calm. It’s my personal antidote to such a strange time that we’re living in,” Korn told Glamour in an interview.
Susan Alexandra is bringing that childhood joy back – and taking over the jewelry industry one sparkly bead at a time. High fashion and nostalgia meet at a crossroads in the creator’s studio; a “warm, welcoming and inclusive home for creativity and design”.
Customizable Jewelry
Alexandra’s products range from jewelry to bags to accessories to home, and more. More, includes, of course, a Bead Box, which allows SA lovers to curate their own personalized pieces from the assortment of signature beads. The thing is on a page ripped out of the late nineties and early 2000s. Seriously.
You can get as playful as you want with Susan Alexandra’s pieces. Try a lovely beaded bag or a pair of statement earrings that resemble a shrimp cocktail. Customize your own piece on the more sophisticated side with the “*Make Your Own*” “Spells” pieces. Or try the “*Make Your Own*” “Tiny Joys” collection, where you can choose from charms that represent you, like shrimp, dollars, boobs, smileys, fries, rainbows, eyes, watermelons, moons, and more!
Ethical Accessorizing
The best part about SA is the message behind the company. Every piece is handmade right here in NYC, offering a plethora of job opportunities to the market. “We believe that pieces made with intention and heart feel better, look better and create a better world,” per their company’s website.
They also make a significant effort to give back. SA uses their platform to promote charities such as ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union), G.L.I.T.S. (Gays and Lesbians Living in a Transgender Society), No Kid Hungry, and Black Girl Smile. “Our community has given us so much and in turn, we want to do the same by giving back to communities that inspire us.” Talk about ethical fashion.
Whimsy and Delicious Nostalgia
Take a gander at some of Susan Alexandra’s signature pieces and let them tickle your fancy!
Welcoming Jenna Chrisphonte as Director of Civic Alliances
As of July 6, The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center welcomed its new Director of Civic Alliances, Jenna Chrisphonte. She will work under the leadership of the theater’s Artistic Director Bill Rauch and President Leslie Koch. Chrisphonte will serve as the liaison between the PAC and “community-based organizations, NYCHA residents, community boards, immigrant groups, marginalized populations, cultural institutions, and elected officials”, according to a press release.
Support from Artistic Director Bill Rauch
“I am so thrilled to welcome Jenna to our team, given the vast experience, passion, and energy that she brings to this new role,” said Rauch. “The work of the Director of Civic Alliances is core to our mission of making connections between artists and communities from across all five boroughs of New York City.”
Chrisphonte’s new leadership is not the only change being made at the PAC. The theater, located at the World Trade Center, is under renovation. The improved establishment “will celebrate life and humanity, redefining Lower Manhattan as a cultural destination and serving as a living testament to the power of the arts to inspire and unite,” according to the statement.
President Leslie Koch Cheers Her On
“The PAC aspires to be a shared space for neighborhood residents and workers in Lower Manhattan, New Yorkers from throughout the city, and visitors from around the world,” said President Leslie Koch. “Jenna will be building relationships well before we open, introducing our new center to the city and world.”
Much like Chrisphonte, the PAC will match the energy in versatility and will create and present performance in many forms. It will be a sanctuary for dance, music, and chamber opera.
Chrisphonte was born in Haiti and got her education in New York City’s public schools. Her impressive background is multifaceted. It begins with her B.A. and J.D from the University at Buffalo, and branches into her experience as director of community engagement at the Dramatists Guild of America. She also served as the Assistant District Manager at Manhattan Community Board 4 and worked at the Consulate General of Canada in New York City. She now resides in Douglaston, Queens.
Jenna Chrisphonte Director of Civic Alliances
“It is an honor to join the PAC, said Jenna Chrisphonte. “Helping New York foster new relationships and opportunities to come together in peace and art is a privilege that I am excited to share with everyone.”
