Roman and Williams Guild Created a Universe of Light in New York City
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Every winter, Emily Dickinson's 19th-century poem, There's a Certain Slant of Light becomes relevant again. For those who need a literary rebuff: The poem is a dreary observation of how the sun sets during the colder months at 4 pm and serves as a metaphor for despair; and how it affects the mind and the landscape.
When Robin Standefer and Stephen Alesch of Roman and Williams Guild revisited the poem, they thought of light; not how the absence of it can bring our moods down, but how its presence can uplift our spirits and shape our minds. Thus, they conjured a solution that may mend the woes of winter. A Certain Slant of Light (an obvious nod to the poem's title) is a new exhibition located at the former New York Mercantile Exchange in Tribeca. It's almost a makeshift retrospective of the company, with over 100 original light fixtures descending from the ceilings to form a human-made constellation.
But, it's also an opportunity to introduce a new batch of stars. 12 new light fixtures are included in the exhibition. There's the Axil Pendant fixture, a seemingly relic of New York Art Deco in the 20s, made of nude glass and burnished brass. There's also the Dahlia lamp, a playful display of alabaster molded into a flowerhead. And, also the Lentium table lamp and sconce, are both made of cast bronze and cast glass. This technique sort of captures air bubbles within a clear finish, reminiscent of a body of water frozen in time.
"Far from being static, lighting is dynamic and ever-changing, capable of transforming a space by not just illuminating it but by creating an immersive environment that captivates the senses," Robin Standefer said in a release. " We wanted to create a happening that brings the power of lighting into focus. We wanted to give our lights room to breathe and glow in a way that allows us to observe their evolution and their connections."
Dahlia Table Lamp
It should also be noted that the decision to place the exhibition in the former New York Mercantile Exchange was not by accident. According to the duo, the Queen Anne-style room, made by Thomas R. Jackson in 1886, "recalls the early days of the late 19th century electrification of Manhattan" spearheaded by Thomas Edison's Electric Illuminating Company.
Whether or not you are looking for new lighting fixtures, or needing a douse of light during the darker hours of the day, A Certain Slant of Light is sure to offer solace in more ways than one. The exhibition is open to the public until December 1, 2024.
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