5 minute read
Art Is Everything SVACE’s Flatiron Project: “Art Is...”
By Calley Nelson
Approximately 60,000 people walk in the shadow of the Flatiron Building every day, from tourists to commuting workers to locals. With its foot traffic and central location just outside of Madison Square Park, the Flatiron North Plaza was the perfect spot for a summer event series with the Flatiron NoMad Partnership.
During the Partnership’s Salsa and Art Nights event series, the Division of Continuing Education was delighted to contribute a site-specific installation consisting of two black boxes with historically relevant symbols to NYC’s Flatiron District. Between dancing and enjoying live salsa music from the Benny Lopez Latin Jazz Ensemble, passersby and event attendees were invited to write and draw in colored chalk on the installation, reflecting on the prompt and classic SVA slogan “Art is…”
The SVACE Flatiron Project: “Art Is…” was conceptualized and fabricated by professional sign painter and longstanding SVACE faculty member, Stephen Gaffney (BFA 1987 Media Arts). Stephen Gaffney began teaching at SVA in 1991 and has exhibited his paintings, drawings and collages in New York, Connecticut and Atlanta. His murals appear in NYC Parks and various restaurants, including Paul’s Daughter on the Coney Island boardwalk. He is the restaurant’s resident sign painter and creative director.
“Throughout [my] 32 years of teaching at the School of Visual Arts Division of Continuing Education, I often meet my students at Madison Square Park to draw and enjoy the merging of nature and the city,” said Gaffney. “I was thrilled to participate in the ‘Art Is...’ project, and to connect the Flatiron NoMad Partnership to my relationship with SVACE.”
The phrase “Art Is...” forms part of a long-standing tradition at SVA. Since its founding in 1947, the College has produced over 200 posters for the New York City subway system. In his rendering of SVA’s classic “Art Is…” statement, Stephen Gaffney commemorated iconic landmarks and key features of the Flatiron NoMad neighborhood. These include a physical flatiron, the cast-iron clothing press from which the Flatiron Building gets its name; a Victorian boot representing The Ladies’ Mile Historic District, a shopping area established at the end of the 19th century; a teddy bear, representing the historic International Toy Center; and the SVA logo, which was designed to emphasize brushstrokes and is often interpreted as a flower.
Over the course of the five Salsa and Art Nights, one major theme emerged as people imparted their own personal symbols to the “Art Is…” installation. Amongst the doodles, love notes, and remembrances of friends, family and home countries, the contributions celebrated the following consensus: art is boundless, expansive, seemingly everywhere and anything you want it to be.
After completing the “Art Is…” Flatiron Project, the Division of Continuing Education had the honor of receiving the 2023 Flatiron NoMad Partnership Award. The annual award is given to a neighborhood partner creating positive change and demonstrating a commitment to the district. “We couldn’t think of a more deserving recipient over the past 12 months,” said Megan Garcia, the chief of staff and vice president of Marketing and Outreach of the Flatiron NoMad Partnership.
SVACE looks forward to strengthening its partnership with Flatiron NoMad and bringing accessible art-making activities and inspiring installations to future community events.
Learn more about the symbols
THE FLATIRON represents the building of the same name, originally the Fuller Building. This now iconic building and neighborhood was built in 1902. Its triangular shape recalled the cast-iron clothing press of its day and the name stuck. The subtle nod to the architecture of the area is in the pattern of the top of the frame in the design of the boxes.
THE VICTORIAN BOOT represents The Ladies’ Mile Historic District, a shopping area established at the end of the 19th century. In May 1989, the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission designated the area as a historic district of 440 buildings on 28 blocks in and around the Flatiron neighborhood.
THE TEDDY BEAR represents the connection of the area to the historic International Toy Center. Built in 1909, the Toy Center exists in what was originally known as the Fifth Avenue Building, marked by the landmark sidewalk clock just outside its doors.
THE SVA LOGO, which was designed to emphasize brushstrokes and is interpreted as a flower, represents SVA as a thriving artistic hub of the area around 23rd Street. Adding a stem and leaves suggests that it is alive and growing and is a subtle nod to the Flower District nearby on West 28th Street.
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