I headed to the Garment District this weekend to catch up with the latest public art and fell in love with Kneeler, the wonderful bronze sculpture by Joy Brown.

Sculptures by Joy Brown

Kneeler was completed in 2016. The maternal curves and mild expression really are calming. From her website, Joy says: “For 40 years, my work with clay has challenged and nurtured me, enriched and transformed my life.”

I was so entranced that I forgot to take a photo from the front! I guess I’m headed back there next weekend, and I will update this post. I still want to share her other beautiful sculptures on display on Broadway at 40th St.

Update! I got back to W. 39th at 7th and snapped a frontal of The Kneeler:

This next sculpture is called “Two Together”. It’s interesting how the characters are looking in different directions. It definitely gives you a sense of protection and security.

Joy Brown completed her ceramic apprenticeship in Japan, and the influence is clear to see. The soothing, earthy feel of her work and the placid expressions brings peace in the middle of a very hectic place.

The third of Brown’s sculptures on display here is called “Animal with Rider”. If you feel like you’d like to hop on it, you’re not alone – her website has a photo of her riding it! You can check out Joy’s studio here.

Kneeler and Friends will be on display until August 31st, so take a minute to pass by and appreciate.

Needle Threading A Button Sculpture

While I was in the area, I checked out the redesign of Big Button sculpture. This one is called Needle Threading a Button. It’s thread gives a much more twisty-turny feel than the prior one. From this angle it makes me think of a giant egg yolk!

Big Button 15 feet tall and in the same spot (7th Ave at 39th) as the prior one, which had been here since 1993. Fortunately they removed the kiosk that stood here, and now you have the space to appreciate (and photograph) the sculpture.

Below is a photo of the old Big Button in 2021. At the time “Pin Cushion” was on display beside it. “Pin Cushion” was created by Patricia Gonzalez and Carlos Franqui of Floratorium and made up of over 50 bales of faux flowers.

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Garment Worker by Judith Weller

I couldn’t move on without a fresh photo of Garment Worker, by Judith Weller. You can’t look at this and not be moved by the concentration and earnestness of the sculpture. She modeled it after her father, who worked in the NY garment industry as a machine operator.

Weller says, “When I was a little girl, I recall seeing him at work. I utilized what I know of him as well as my memory in creating the sculpture.” The sculpture was created to commemorate the Jewish garment workers, the backbone of Jewish life in New York at the turn of the century. I don’t know what year she completed the sculpture, but the plaque at the base has the year 1984 on it.

Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think about these works of art. Until next time!

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