Wednesday, October 14, 2020 All aboard for a memory filled afternoon afloat on your Transatlantic voyage

By admin

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 

OUR 182nd ISSUE

OF 

FROM THE ARCHIVES

FLYBOY ENROLLS

AT

CORNELL TECH

 
AND CHECKS INTO


GRADUATE HOTEL

First “guest” at Graduate Hotel has arrived!

THE PROJECT

(from Bridgewater Studio website)

Graduate Hotels partnered with Chicago-based artist Hebru Brantley and Bridgewater Studio to design and fabricate the largest commissioned sculpture of Flyboy, Hebru’s iconic character IP, for its hotel Graduate Roosevelt Island. The figure reaches over the Hotel lobby desk in a curious pose, shining light onto the lobby desk below with an over-sized, illuminated incandescent lightbulb. Flyboy’s design features a durable hardcoat, virtually seamless construction and a flawless, semigloss finish.

A UNIQUE SPACE

Our challenge was to integrate Flyboy seamlessly into the surrounding lobby architecture and furniture while still maintaining access to power and an accessible installation route. We successfully determined an optimal location and preliminary install direction using provided CAD data of the building and a rough Flyboy 3D model.

A DIGITALLY DRIVEN PROCESS

We were provided with a rough Flyboy 3D model and building CAD data that we used to block in the form and verify the intended installation location. After the rough concept was green lit, we acquired an 18″ tall Flyboy vinyl figure, 3D scanned it, remastered the data, and posed him to fit into the Hotel space according to Hebru’s vision. Employing a digital workflow allowed us to quickly process feedback, make updates to the sculpt and then preview them accurately inside a rendering of the space.

TO WATCH THE PROCESS OF BRINGING FLYBOY “TO LIFE”
SEE:https://www.bridgewaterstudio.net/case-studies-collection/flyboy-sculpture

THE ARTIST:  HEBRU BRANTLEY

About

(from Hebru Brantley website)

Hebru Brantley creates narrative-driven work revolving around his conceptualized iconic characters which are utilized to address complex ideas around nostalgia, the mental psyche, power, and hope. The color palettes, pop-art motifs, and characters themselves create accessibility around Brantley’s layered and multifaceted beliefs. Majorly influenced by the South Side of Chicago’s Afro Cobra movement in the 1960s and 70s, Brantley uses the lineage of mural and graffiti work as a frame to explore his inquiries. Brantley applies a plethora of mediums from oil, acrylic, watercolor and spray paint to non-traditional mediums such as coffee and tea. Brantley’s work challenges the traditional view of the hero or protagonist and his work insists on a contemporary and distinct narrative that shapes and impacts the viewer’s gaze.

Recognized internationally, Hebru Brantley has exhibited in Chicago, Hong Kong, London, San Francisco, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, Los Angeles and New York including Art Basel Switzerland, Art Basel Miami, Scope NYC, and Frieze London. Brantley has been recognized in publications including the Chicago Tribune, Forbes, WWD, HypeBeast, Complex Magazine, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the New York Post.

Collectors of his work include LeBron James, Jay-Z and Beyonce, Lenny Kravitz, George Lucas, and Rahm Emanuel, among others. Brantley has collaborated with brands like Nike, Hublot, and Adidas.

In October 2019, Brantley opened an experiential fine art installation fueled by the narrative of his characters FLYBOY and LIL MAMA. The 6,000-square-foot installation in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood hosted over 23,000 ticketed guests and offered them limited-edition merchandise. Brantley currently resides in Los Angeles where he is expanding into content creation including the adaptation of the FLYBOY Universe through his media company, Angry Hero.

Brantley earned a B.A. in Film from Clark Atlanta University and has a background in Design and Media Illustration.
HEBRU BRANTLYE WEBSITE (C)

WEDNESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY

IDENTIFY THIS 
SEND SUBMISSION TO ROOSEVELTISLANDHISTORY@GMAIL.COM
WINNER GETS A KIOSK TRINKET

TUESDAY’S PHOTO OF THE DAY
JOAN BROOKS identified 
FLYBOY FIRST

EDITORIAL

On Sunday afternoon I spent a few fun hours at the WFF Cat Sanctuary in Southpoint Park.  Many visitors stopped by to chat with Rosanna Cerruzi while she tended to the animals.
It is wonderful to watch her talking to parents and kids explaining the animals, their rescues and how she is rehabbing them to return to the wild.  It is sad that many of our island families do not take advantage of this fun way to learn about nature’s creatures.

It is also great to see so many visitors enjoying Southpoint Park, with bike riders and strollers enjoying the areas many of us take for granted. 

We drove north we spotted Flyboy in the future Graduate Hotel at the north entry to Cornell Tech campus.  Most of the barriers are gone and you can get a great view of him thru the lobby windows.
You can read all about Flyboy in today’s issue and on the Bridgewater website.

I think this would be a great opportunity for us to write about the adventures Flyboy will have at Cornell Tech and on the Island.   Let’s hear from you.

JUDITH BERDY

COME TO THE KIOSK
OPEN WEEKENDS

FOR YOUR SHOPPING

SUPPORT THE RIHS AND SHOP THE KIOSK
OPEN WEEKENDS 12 NOON TO 5 P.M.
ORDER ON-LINE BY CHARGE CARD
ROOSEVELTISLANDHISTORY@GMAIL.COM

CLARIFICATION WE ARE HAPPY TO GIVE WINNERS OF OUR DAILY PHOTO IDENTIFICATION A TRINKET FROM THE VISITOR CENTER. ONLY THE PERSON IDENTIFYING THE PHOTO FIRST WILL GET A PRIZE. WE HAVE A SPECIAL GROUP OF ITEMS TO CHOOSE FROM. WE CANNOT GIVE AWAY ALL OUR ITEMS,. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES, WE MUST LIMIT GIVE-AWAYS. THANK YOU

Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Deborah Dorff
All image are copyrighted (c)
Roosevelt Island Historical Society
unless otherwise indicated

BRIDGEWATER STUDIO

https://www.bridgewaterstudio.net/case-studies-collection/flyboy-sculpture

HEBRU BRANTLEY

https://www.hebrubrantley.com/about

FUNDING PROVIDED BY ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE GRANTS
CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THRU DYCD

Copyright © 2020 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com