Greenpoint artist’s mural is the talk of SoHo
Tourists staying at The James, a hotel in SoHo, can get a taste of the New York art scene with the price of a room. The hotel’s garden, called The Garden at the James NY, contains a colorful mural created by Molly Dilworth, an artist who lives in Greenpoint. The hotel’s owners chose Dilworth, who has created numerous artworks in public spaces in New York City, from among 75 artists submitting ideas. The theme of Dilworth’s mural, called “Ghost Acre,” is the history of Lower Manhattan. The work was unveiled on April 22.
“Ghost Acre,” is a mural that wraps around the entire central pillar in the garden, a public space outside The James at 27 Grand St. Because the garden is a public space, pedestrians as well as hotel guests can enjoy the mural.
Dilworth employed a design pattern that was inspired by the decorative histories of the original settlers of the city. The artist said she does a great deal of research when she takes on a project.
“In Lower Manhattan, you just scratch the surface. There is so much history here,” Dilworth told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. She was particularly interested in the history of slavery as well as the history of farmland established by Dutch settlers, she said. The relationship between the Caribbean and the city also fascinated her, she said.