By Ernie Garcia, Thompson & Bender

Oct. 26, 2022: Artist Amanda Browder has installed a soaring, six-story fabric sculpture, "Metropolis Sunrise," on the exterior of ArtsWestchester’s headquarters located at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue in White Plains.

The monumental work of public art at 31 Mamaroneck Ave. has transformed ArtsWestchester’s historic neo-classical building into a colorful, contemporary public art installation on display through the end of November. The installation recruited about 1,000 volunteers at 35 public sewing days to assemble the work.

“Sewing, pinning, laughing, and telling stories are at the heart of 'Metropolis Sunrise.' Together, as a collective, we spent time learning about each other and how creativity can be a bond that lasts a lifetime,” said Browder of her collaboration with sewing-day volunteers. “Each piece of fabric, thread, and stitch represents the connection that we developed while making this work as a community.”

Browder, a Brooklyn resident, used about 10,000 square feet of donated and recycled fabric to create “Metropolis Sunrise.” The donated fabrics are a celebration of location, community, sustainability, and self-beautification.

“Amanda’s projects are so powerful because they bring communities together at every level of their construction, offering multiple opportunities for inclusion,” said Janet T. Langsam, CEO of ArtsWestchester.

Browder has created fabric sculptures for more than 20 buildings, including the University of Alabama, Stratton Elementary School in Illinois and the University of Las Vegas. ArtsWestchester is the largest building on which the artist has installed her work.

About Amanda Browder

Amanda Browder is a Brooklyn-based installation artist known for her large-scale fabric installations on building exteriors and other public sites. Her work incorporates donated materials and local volunteers, creating site-specific art. She is the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, and Transformation Fellowship from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

About ArtsWestchester

For more than 50 years, ArtsWestchester has been the community’s connection to the arts. Founded in 1965, it is the largest, private, not-for-profit arts council in New York State. Its mission is to provide leadership, vision, and support, to ensure the availability, accessibility, and diversity of the arts. ArtsWestchester provides programs and services that enrich the lives of everyone in Westchester County. ArtsWestchester helps fund concerts, exhibitions and plays through grants; brings artists into schools and community centers; advocates for the arts; and builds audiences through diverse marketing initiatives. In 1998, ArtsWestchester purchased the nine-story neo-classical bank building at 31 Mamaroneck Avenue which has since been transformed into a multi-use resource for artists, cultural organizations, and the community. A two-story gallery is located on the first floor of ArtsWestchester’s historic building in downtown White Plains.