Mannahatta

This book features a series of artworks that celebrate the architectural history of Manhattan. As a life-long New Yorker, Marilyn Henrion's vision has always been deeply rooted in the urban geometry of her surroundings, from the earlier geometric abstractions to the more recent mixed media works. She is particularly interested in the co-existence of past and present, especially in architecture and other man-made structures. Built during different periods in the history of Manhattan, we can delight in seeing them simultaneously, often side by side Both above and below ground, these rich visual treats abound as she makes her way through her neighborhood streets of Soho, lower Manhattan and beyond. Throughout the ages, the presence of the human hand upon the landscape has always expressed our eternal yearning for immortality, evidence that says "I was once here". Much as Edward Hopper did in the 20th century, Henrion synthesizes and transforms the "facts" of the material world to reflect her experience of a particular place. Whether focusing on historic landmarks with new eyes, or construction sites that testify to the vibrant ever-evolving cityscape, her objective is to illuminate beauty in unexpected places...a subway entrance, a doorway, a fire escape, a rooftop. An insightful essay by Ulysses Grant Dietz, Chief Curator Emeritus, the Newark Museum of Art, introduces the work.