New York, NY (1888PressRelease)
May 06, 2010 - "This is Not NYC!" Suspended above 929 Broadway, a 20-foot mural boldly reads this statement in a surrealist tribute to New York City. Artist Seth Mathurin donated his talents and created a provocative painting to feature Volume Black Gallery. This artwork pays tribute to the motif of artist Rene Magritte while celebrating the brave heroes of NYC.
When the Volume Black Gallery recently moved onto the 21st block of Broadway, it was in serious need of high-quality signage. Housed in an old novelty shop, the building was covered with real estate advertising. Curators Adam Berman, Nikki Milavec and Adam Green turned to Mathurin of Illuminated Designs to create a piece of art that would proudly announce their presence in the neighborhood. His banner appeals to the gallery's aesthetic of contemporary classicism, while making a strong statement about NYC's unique qualities.
"I wanted to paint something that would make passers stop in their tracks and look up," notes Mathurin. "I borrowed Magritte's imagery to make a strong statement about this city, which I explore more deeply through my art." Pictured in the painting, intermixed with surrealist imagery, are clear images of a NYC fireman and references to the monumental events of 9/11. The painting is bold in its imagery as well as very personal with symbols that are individual to the artist. In its totality, the 200-square-foot canvas is a dream of a city that is special in all the parts of its whole. As it clearly states: "This is Not NYC!"
Mathurin, who studied fine art at Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, is known in the New York City-area for his illustrations and utilization of light in contemporary lightboxes.
Volume Black Gallery, at 929 Broadway between 21st and 22nd Street, is featuring the show Masters of Merriment from April 30 to May 30, with more information at http://www.volumeblack.com. The works of Seth Mathurin can be found at http://www.sethmathurin.com.
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