It should be no surprise that thoughtful art and design pieces are an integral part of The New York Palace aesthetic, particularly due to our history as a New York City landmark.
As we undergo renovations to modernize our hotel and enhance the guest experience, those staying with us will notice that our collection of unique art has expanded to include thought-provoking pieces, some with a contemporary elegance, but most rooted in the historical context that inescapably pervades The Palace.
One of these works of art, aptly named “Penny” due to the penny that can be found embedded in the piece found on the fifth floor of The Palace, is a wooden sculpture created from mahogany, mesquite, cedar and cherry. The materials have been transformed into individual sculptural elements that, when brought together in its current form, resemble the shape of a woman’s figure. In fact, the sculptor, Philip John Evett, finds much of his inspiration from the female figure, which is a common thread found in his work.
Philip John Evett is the master of creating extremely high quality, highly executed sculptures. Aside from selecting Mr. Evett for his notorious artistic talent and compelling work of art, we sought out to focus on American artists that worked during pivotal points in time throughout the hotel’s history, such as the 1870s and 1970s, to feature pieces that bridge the gap between time and aesthetics through The Palace’s art collection.
“This project bridges the gap between historical and contemporary, a perfect match for The New York Palace renovations,” says art consultant Nancy Sweeney, principal of the Art Advisory Service, who is working with The New York Palace to expand its art collection as part of the hotel upgrades.
In addition to the significance of Philip John Evett’s design, there are other integral factors that play a role in making the sculpture so distinctive.
The lighting surrounding the sculpture is one example of this. No matter the angle, the piece always looks silhouetted. Our art consultants chose to prevent the lighting from shining directly on the sculpture, and rather focus on illuminating the wall behind it, to create a staggering presence when viewing the work of art.
For guests and visitors of The New York Palace looking to admire Penny, our art consultants have some simple instructions to enhance the viewing experience.
“View the sculpture in the round,” says Sweeney. “Take time to dissect the individual elements of the sculpture. Look at the shape and form first, and then dissect the individual sculptural elements.”