Original Sculptures Unveiled In Downtown New Rochelle

NEW ROCHELLE, NY — World-renowned 3D pop artist Charles Fazzino and his daughter Heather Fazzino joined New Rochelle city officials and the city’s Municipal Arts Commission Thursday to unveil two original sculptures on a plaza in Downtown New Rochelle. The 100-pound, 7-foot-tall 3D pop-art pieces will merge New Rochelle’s past and future in the letters NRNY, celebrating the old and the new in a city undergoing a transformation as a result of its $4 billion redevelopment initiative.

“We are thrilled to contribute original pieces to New Rochelle’s burgeoning art scene,” said Charles Fazzino. “These sculptures, which reflect New Rochelle’s rich history and bright future, hold special significance to my family as our studio is located here. We are seeing firsthand the transformation New Rochelle is undergoing, and it’s exciting to be a part of this change.”

Charles Fazzino’s piece pays homage to the rich artistic history of New Rochelle through the inclusion of homegrown characters, such as Mighty Mouse and Woody Woodpecker, and iconic American artist Norman Rockwell, according to a spokeswoman. By contrast, Heather Fazzino’s edgy street art style views New Rochelle’s history through a modern lens that captures the energy of the city’s creative future.

“New Rochelle understands the significant role public art plays in shaping a city’s culture and aesthetic appeal,” said New Rochelle Mayor Noam Bramson. “The Fazzino sculptures will be located at one of our most active downtown intersections, demonstrating our commitment to incorporating art and culture into the daily lives of residents, businesses and visitors alike.”

The new sculptures are part of a project entitled “Stacked!” spearheaded by New Rochelle’s Municipal Arts Commission and Department of Development. The project put out an open request to artists throughout the country to design 3D fiberglass statues of the City’s “Ideally Yours” logo. These 15 new NRNY statues will replace the city’s fleur-de-lis statues throughout the downtown.

The NRNY Fazzino sculptures are located in downtown New Rochelle at the corner of North Avenue and Huguenot Street.

Charles and Heather Fazzinos’ NRNY pieces will join the work of the winning artists from a selection of 13 finalists, whose sculptures will be revealed this fall.

Also debuting in the City will be the launch of the free Otocast audio narration app, which offers an interactive digital experience through self-guided audio tours. The audio guide will allow end users to hear directly from Charles and Heather Fazzino about their pieces. The Fazzino pieces will be joined by the remaining 13 finalists in the near future, allowing the public to enjoy the NRNY Stacked sculptures in a new and unique way. Otocast has a global art tourism audience with over 150 guides covering 2,500 points of interest.

In addition to New Rochelle, Charles Fazzino’s unique 3-D pop art work can be seen on permanent display in JFK airport and at museums and art galleries around the world. Visit www.fazzino.com to see the entire collection.

Photo caption: From left: County Executive George Latimer, City Manager Chuck Strome, Councilmember Barry Fertel, Mayor Noam Bramson, Charles Fazzino, Councilmember Ivar Hyden, Councilmember Jared Rice and Commissioner of Development Luiz Aragon. Photo credit: Submitted.