Art On The Ave NYC and Apple Bank Bring Public Art Exhibit to 812 Lexington Avenue
Artist-in-Residence Program to Feature Multi-Disciplinary Art
October 9, 2023
Apple Bank has partnered with Art on the Ave NYC to showcase multi-disciplinary art by James Hsieh as part of a ten-week artist residency at 812 Lexington Avenue, in the retail space next door to their East Midtown branch. The installation will be on display for the public to enjoy as they pass by and visit on certain days of the week.
Art on the Ave, a nonprofit community initiative, provides artists with a platform to share their work with the local community. The program began in 2020 as an educational initiative by local teachers looking to discuss the pandemic with their students and has since expanded its galleries into activated spaces across the city.
Apple Bank will host Hsieh’s installation, titled "Fragmented Nature: Odyssey of Wonder,” which started September 28th. Vibrant embroideries and hand-sewn textile sculptures juxtapose childlike wonderments with adult thoughts and emotions. Hseih’s art has been exhibited around the globe from New York’s Fulton Center to Creative Park in Taipei, Taiwan.
“Art on the Ave’s Creative Spaces program has invigorated many NYC neighborhoods including East Midtown, and we look forward to bringing the community together through this unique installation,” said James Matera, Senior Executive Vice President from Apple Bank. “We are pleased to support the work of local artists as we continue to develop and foster community initiatives.”
"Art on the Ave's mission is to provide local artists with the opportunity to showcase work while providing the public with access to art in unexpected places and spaces,” said Barbara Anderson, co-founder of Art on the Ave. “We are excited to be able to do this with the support of Apple Bank in the heart of the city and in a location that is both residential and commercial. James Hsieh's textile art will be sure to add color, whimsy, and optimism to people's day. Commuters, building tenants, and the community at large will get to see the artist at work. We hope they'll stop to look and step in to chat."
Growing up on his grandparents’ farm in Taiwan, Hsieh became fascinated by nature’s extraordinary diversity. His practice transforms two-dimensional works into large-format installations by altering soft felt and textiles into solid forms. The immersive environments Hseih builds focus on activating the viewer's childlike amazement at nature.
About Art on the Ave NYC
Art on the Ave was conceived in June 2020 by school teachers looking for a way to discuss the year’s events with the students. In a year that saw both trauma and tragedy, heroism, and hope, we wanted to provide a platform for people to process their reactions. www.artontheavenyc.com
About Apple Bank
Apple Bank, established in 1863, provides consumer and small business banking services in greater New York through its branch network and online banking platform and is an active lender in the commercial real estate and corporate banking sectors. Apple Bank is the largest state-chartered savings bank in New York State, with $16.8 billion in assets, $15.0 billion in deposits, and 83 branches in the greater New York area, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester, Rockland and New Jersey.