NEW YORK, NY.- New Yorkers and visitors can now check out Broadway’s new ink, as the Garment District Alliance today unveiled the iconic street’s custom ‘road tattoo,’ Magic Hour, created by artist Steed Taylor.

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 the end of August. Magic Hour is part of the Garment District Alliance’s summer programming, which also features Broadway Rhythm, a series of weekly musical performances from 12 – 2pm on the Garment District pedestrian plazas that will run through August 18th.

“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.”

Taylor’s ‘road tattoo’ concept pays homage to communities, with roads serving as the ‘skin’ of the community; as individuals mark their skin as a means of commemoration, communication or ritual, Taylor marks roads to symbolize similar meanings. The Magic Hour mural, which creates a winding path on Broadway through trees and planters, represents the transition from day to night, when the sun is setting and the light is golden.

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.”