Join us for Live at the Archway!
Thursday, July 18th 5-8pm

The DUMBO Improvement District is hosting its annual Live at the Archway series beneath the iconic setting of the Manhattan Bridge Archway with free concerts and visual art exhibits every Thursday. Join us on Thursday, July 18th from 5-8pm alongside 20x200 artist Jennifer Sanchez and the contemporary salsa band Sonóra Nuyorkina. Sanchez designed an iconic black and white 8'x8' image for the event—and we need you to help us color it in!

A proud Lower East Sider and New York neighbor of ours, Jennifer’s art stands out. Her electrically-hued pattern-dense paintings capture the vibrancy of the city, and her own unstoppable ebullience. Her deep respect for the organic evolution of each artwork as it takes shape makes this an extra special moment to share in communal art-making.

Soooo come celebrate (and join!!) Sanchez's quest to live large in exuberant color and shapes. And read on to get up-to-speed on what Sanchez has been excited about lately, and her process developing the image that we'll be working on.

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1. What have been your sources of inspiration lately?
It continues to be a good dose of Memphis and 80's design aesthetics, with a sprinkle of their hyperactive cousin, Vaporwave. It’s their rich colors and clean geometric forms for me! Recently, I've been exploring the concept of borders in my paintings - acknowledging them explicitly, then playing with how shapes extend beyond or cut into these boundaries. I've also started integrating my Spoonflower fabrics into my pieces, adding another layer of texture and pattern.

2. You often use the NYC environment as a reference. Is that the case these days, and if so, what does it look like for you?

Oh, totally! New York City still inspires me all the time. It can be seen in a composition or a pattern within a painting. The city creates an amazing mix of patterns and shapes everywhere you look - in architecture, interiors, how people dress and move in the city. I just found a “new spot” (for me), the Chanin Building exit at Grand Central. Hello Art Deco greatness! The gorgeous forms and lines, the gleaming brass, and the warm glow cast by the intricate light fixtures. The space is packed with stunning ornamentation. I’ll be using that exit more often.

3. What was your process like for creating the image for the DUMBO Art Wall?
I created this design in Illustrator, a natural fit for my work with geometric shapes and repeating patterns. The process was fun, and it was great to dive back into the software. I drew inspiration from my 2018-2020 paintings, specifically my 'patternfuck' series. I thought the intricate, chaotic patterns would be the most engaging and fun for people to color in together. I'd like to create more digital work - there's so much I'd like to do!

4. We know doing public art like a large-scale mural has long been on your list of #artgoals. What would a dream commission look like? (Be detailed—let’s MANIFEST this sh!$ and make it happen!)
So many ideas. I love with the subway mosaics - Seeing my riot of patterns further “patterned” by being turned into a mosaic would be wonderfully nuts! It would be incredible to see my work on that scale, bringing energy to a public space. My recent paintings have a playful feel, like courts, playgrounds, or pools. I want a mural that invites interaction. Kids inventing games within the different sections, or people using it as a vibrant backdrop for photos and gatherings. I'm all for bringing color and life to any space that wants it and needs it.