Brighter Days by Melvin Edwards

Legendary sculptor Melvin Edwards has spent his 50-year long career creating public art for display all over the world. He is currently being honored with a retrospective collection in front of City Hall in Manhattan, featuring several sculptures created between 1970 and 1996, and one new work, commissioned in 2020. Titled “Song of the Broken Chains,” this new sculpture consists of several enormous chain links, broken open and glittering in the sunlight. All of the sculptures in the retrospective include chains in some form, as chains are a signature motif for the artist. In his work, he utilizes the formal qualities of chains—their movement, shape, and weight—while exploring the various metaphorical meanings of the material. In Edwards’ work, chains “can represent bonds that [either] constrain or unite us, while broken fragments might suggest [either] liberation or loss.” Often present in his work is also the clear historical connection to chains “as tools of slavery and violence.” His most recent piece has a sense of optimism, with the broken chain links “suggesting both liberation and rupture,” shining brightly on the site of both a colonial African Burial Ground and New York’s Black Lives Matter protests.

We Should be Making it as Easy as Possible

Murals by Kobra

Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra, better known simply as Kobra, has painted countless murals over the course of his career, many of which can be found in New York City. He has a distinct style, mixing black and white photorealism with geometric patterns in a rainbow of colors. He often layers color over the grayscale elements, creating figures that can seem simultaneously ghostly and very present. Once you know what to look for, you begin to see his work all over the city, especially in downtown Manhattan. The incredibly prolific artist often deals with social issues in his work, frequently commenting on immigration, race, war, and religion. He is a master of powerful, thought-provoking images that make any street corner more beautiful.

Wimbledon Tennis Championships

After over a year of cancelled sports, or games played to empty stands, the crowd at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships is finally enjoying their favorite sport in person. There’s something special about gathering together to watch a match, experiencing the highs and lows of the competition firsthand. Between the vivid green court and the bright blue sky, the energy of the crowd is palpable. No matter which players they’re rooting for, the tennis fans at Wimbledon are once again feeling the vibrant excitement of sitting in the stands at a live sporting event, a feeling that can’t be replicated by watching in their living rooms at home.