Client: Brookfield Properties Arts & Culture

Overview

Discover new work by Wendy Letven in the lobby of 200 Liberty Street inspired by the vibrant sunrises and sunsets on the waterfront at Brookfield Place. The artwork captures the mysteries of the cosmos and our place within it.

“The sun has long been understood to be one of our most powerful and universal symbols of life. It is also our greatest source of energy. These two qualities converged in my mind as I developed the artwork, fueled by the dramatic sunsets I have seen at Brookfield Place. Besides references to time, change, the moons and planets beyond, other motifs in the work are representations of the waterfront at high and low tide and the spectacular palms of the Winter Garden. As a public installation, the exhibition will stand daily as a reminder of the dramatic colors of both sunrise and sunset, as well as the mystery of the cosmos and our place within it.”
– Wendy Letven

Goals

I was asked by Arts Brookfield to create an exhibit for the two large walls flanking the entrance to offices at 200 Vesey Street, New York. It was important the work be eye catching, lively and vibrantly colored, to add life to the monotone grays of the minimalist architecture. My work is abstract, however, through the bold shapes of my iconography I find subtle ways of making the work site specific. It's important to me because I know this adds meaning for the community. One of the most impressive things about this location is the incredible sunrise and sunset views over the Hudson River at this point of Manhattan where the river is opening up to the Atlantic Ocean. One can see the statue of liberty, Ellis Island and beyond from three. It is breathtaking. It occurred to me just how much the residents of the area and the people who work in these buildings must appreciate and have pride in that aspect of their environment. The idea for Sunup on the left and Sundown on the right came to me soon after this realization. I knew it was a winning idea right away and sure enough, that was the proposal that was selected for the commission.

Process

Working on monumental artwork of this scale requires alot of collaboration. From the initial input from the curator at Arts Brookfield to my collaborations with my artist/sculptor/partner, Gary Fredriksen, I had plenty of help. After the drawing phase my digital designs are laser cut, welded, powder-coated and hand-painted by me and later assembled and installed. Arts Brookfield provided 6 experienced art handlers to suspend the work. They hire professional photographers to properly document the work and create a web page for the exhibit. Their marketing team advertises in banners throughout the building. The exhibit is included in an art walk amongst the work of other artists who have work up at Brookfield Place concurrently.

Additional Information

SUNUP/SUNDOWN Discover new work by Wendy Letven in the lobby of 200 Liberty Street inspired by the vibrant sunrises and sunsets on the waterfront at Brookfield Place. The artwork captures the mysteries of the cosmos and our place within it. “The sun has long been understood to be one of our most powerful and universal symbols of life. It is also our greatest source of energy. These two qualities converged in my mind as I developed the artwork, fueled by the dramatic sunsets I have seen at Brookfield Place. Besides references to time, change, the moons and planets beyond, other motifs in the work are representations of the waterfront at high and low tide and the spectacular palms of the Winter Garden. As a public installation, the exhibition will stand daily as a reminder of the dramatic colors of both sunrise and sunset, as well as the mystery of the cosmos and our place within it.” – Wendy Letven