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Queens-based artist Sherwin Banfield created the 9-foot-tall work of art, which was commissioned by the Downtown Brooklyn + Dumbo Art Fund in partnership with NYC Parks’ Art in the Park program. He tells the Daily News the statue is in its rightful place. “I’m excited for the community to appreciate it, to have an opportunity to see it to see something that is laced with traditional art and having the monumentality of materials, such as bronze and stainless steel, made in a new way for a futurism type of thing that plays Biggie’s music,” he shared.
A selection of Banfield’s smaller sculpted pieces, including maquettes, framed prints and the “Golden Biggie” bust, will also be on display along with other artists’ work at the “Sky’s The Limit: Music is My Resistance” exhibition. The installation is free to view within the Billie Holiday Theatre’s lobby and gallery hall until May 30. “On the heels of hip hop’s 50th anniversary, we recognize hip hop as a primary form of protest music through one its greatest griots,” Billie Holiday Theatre executive director Shadawn Smith told The News. “Griot” is a French term, mainly used among West Africans, to describe storytellers and oral historians.
“Sherwin’s piece really anchors the entire exhibition, and I’m really excited for people to experience it as well as the other rich, beautiful pieces that will be on display,” Smith added. All works and other merchandise will also be available for sale. “Sky’s the Limit in the County of Kings” has a list price of $250,000. Although the Notorious B.I.G sculpture received lots of buzz during its outdoor jaunt, having it housed indoors offers a better perspective of the work, according to the Trinidad-born artist.
“It’s incredible because that allows me to showcase more of the story of how it was sculpted,” Banfield said. “Outdoors, it’s just a sculpture, but indoors, I get a chance to show the small versions … the materials used. I can truly showcase where it was in the past where it is now in the present.”
The Parsons School of Design alum thinks it’s even better that people can see the work in its totality, free of charge.
“In the museum, we have a paywall, but in the community, where these kids may not have access or be in position to pay to see it, they will for this,” Banfield said. “For me, I love to see youngsters learning art because it continues that cycle of education,” he added. “And there’s always someone talented hidden in the hay — and they just need a little bit of stimulation to branch out.” Banfield – who also works as a real estate agent – first gained widespread attention for his interactive bronze structure of LL Cool J in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in 2022 and hopes to continue celebrating the trailblazers of hip hop with future projects.
“With the money and resources, I would like to sculpt hip hop stars like Roxanne Shante, Queen Latifah, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, KRS-One and even the older cats like MC Sha Rock, Kool Herc and some of the pioneers I feel need to shine more than anyone else,” he said.
Source: NYDailyNews.com