NEW YORK, NY.- The Garment District Alliance unveiled the latest in its ongoing series of public art installations, titled Crossroads – a series of paintings created by Italian artist Umberto Squarcia Jr., which represents the crossings that individuals face in their daily lives.
Located inside the Kaufman Arcade building on 132 West 36th Street, the free exhibit is accessible to the public through November 11th. Squarcia’s installation is part of the Garment District Space for Public Art program, which showcases artists in unusual locations throughout the year and has produced more than 175 installations, exhibits and performances.
“Umberto Squarcia Jr. is an incredibly talented artist, and we are delighted to showcase his paintings through the Garment District Space for Public Art program,” said Barbara Blair, president of the Garment District Alliance. “Crossroads is a dynamic, interesting exhibit that everyone can relate to, and I encourage all New Yorkers and visitor alike to visit this installation.”
Crossroads represents the intricate system of pathways and crossings that humanity faces daily, symbolizing how choices are made, people meet, opportunities arise, luck changes and destinies collide. The dynamic paintings feature monochromatic paint layers on reclaimed wood, generating different matrix-like patterns. The varying depths of each cut add a sculptural dimension to the artwork, allowing the visual perception of each piece to change as the viewer changes their distance to the work.
In his paintings, sculptures and installations, Squarcia draws inspiration from the combination of architecture, design, and art between Italy’s cultural landscape and New York’s vibrant avant-garde. His pieces are often a reinterpretation and re-visitation of art movements from classical to contemporary times.
Originally from Parma, Italy, Squarcia completed his classical studies in Parma and graduated from the University of Architecture of Rome, Italy. He moved to New York in 1998 and worked at M/G New York Architects, specializing in interior design at the Parsons Design School. In 2005 Squarcia established his design company, practicing a wide variety of architectural services, including historic restoration and conservation, building alterations, industrial design, fashion and jewelry design, photography, and guided tours of the architecture and art of Italy. He also formed the Columbi Experience, an internship program for international students.
In July, Squarcia Jr. showcased a sequence of original sculptures through the Garment District Space for Public Art program. Titled Endangered Species, the sculptures were crafted with driftwood, old steel, stone and other construction pieces, and symbolized the risks that the environment and its inhabitants are presently facing.
