by Navy Yard Philadelphia
May 5, 2023
Categories: Amenities, Community, Events, Fun, Press Releases, Public Art,
ARTIST CREATES “GREETINGS FROM THE MIRAGE”, A FLAMBOYANT DESERT LANDSCAPE VISITORS CAN WALK THROUGH AT THE NAVY YARD
#NavyYardMirage
Group X and PIDC announced its latest public art installation at the Navy Yard, Greetings From The Mirage (#NavyYardMirage), a domed sculptural art installation that will transport you to a surrealist soft desert created by sculpture artist Matty Geez. Greetings From The Mirage is located in the grassy field found at 11th Street and Kitty Hawk Avenue at the Navy Yard. Greetings From The Mirage features an artist’s vision of a desert landscape made with over a dozen larger-than-life-sized cacti created from colorful and soft textiles, which all sit inside a 20’ x 36’ dome. Following 11 months of planning and creation and an eight-day installation period, the exhibit is open to the public now through June 18th, 2023. The Navy Yard welcomes visitors from sun up to sun down, Monday through Sunday. This artwork is free for all to view and experience, and it requires no ticket or reservation.
“We can’t wait for Philadelphians and people from all around the region to come see this wholly original work of public art from Matty Geez,” says Group X. “Each of the projects we curate for the Navy Yard is different, and with this project we’re thrilled to offer something that will transport visitors into a surrealist mirage of a desert land. Colorful, bold, and soft, it’s less a public art sculpture and more like walking into a painting.”
Working in the realm of sculpture, Matty Geez’s pieces are three dimensional but maintain a kinship to two-dimensional works. His sculptures verge on the edge of fantastic, flamboyant and oversaturated, while holding onto familiar botanical shapes. Juxtaposition of hard and soft along with the use of color explores gender identities and breaking the binary that exists in our current world.
With the support of Group X, Matty has created an entirely new body of work that has crash landed onto the Navy Yard for Spring 2023. These are some of his largest sculptures to date, and are meant to envelope and engage viewers in an entirely surreal environment.
“We are really excited to continue our partnership with Group X for another project,” said Kate McNamara, PIDC’s Senior Vice President at the Navy Yard. “Our public art program seeks to deliver unique projects that showcase local, national, and global artists to create long-lasting impressions on the Philadelphia community. This year’s installation, Mirage by Matty Geez, will do just that – it’s a truly incredible piece.”
This is the sixth collaborative public art partnership between Group X, a group of Philadelphia-based artists, curators, and organizers whose members are anonymous, and the Navy Yard, the “coolest shipyard in America” and leading model for repurposed military base where 15,000 employees work at 150 companies, surrounded by iconic parks, Complete Streets, and a riverfront greenway.
The Navy Yard and Group X welcome visitors of all abilities. Like the previous exhibits, this exhibit is outdoors and is accessible by wheelchair. The Navy Yard is open from sunrise to sunset and is accessible via car, bike, Indego bikeshare, on foot, and Navy Yard Transit.
About Group X
Group X believes in art and happiness. We curate and create public art projects. Let your imagination run wild with us. www.groupxprojects.com
About the Navy Yard
Since acquiring the 1,200-acre former naval shipyard from the federal government in 2000, PIDC, Philadelphia’s public-private economic development corporation and master developer of the Philadelphia Navy Yard, has led the planning, development, and operation of the Navy Yard PIDC’s mission—to spur investment, support business growth, and foster developments that create jobs, revitalize neighborhoods, and drive growth to every corner of Philadelphia—strongly informs the strategy for the Navy Yard, which focuses on creating an environment that drives employment, innovation, and production.
The Navy Yard is a growing community of 15,000 employees and 150 employers who occupy 8 million square feet across a mix of property types, including office, retail, industrial, R&D, and institutional.
In addition to its proximity to a large, diverse talent pool; airport and highway access; and the ability to create customizable workplaces, the Navy Yard offers community members a range of amenities including restaurants and cafes, a riverfront greenway, free shuttle access, bikeshare, and over 20 acres of open green space. The Navy Yard is a collaborative community with curated food trucks, health and wellness programs, rotating public art installations by local and international artists, and hosts a variety of food, fitness, and philanthropic events in its parks. www.navyyard.org
About Matty Geez
Matty Geez graduated with his BFA in Illustration from Pennsylvania College of Art & Design in 2014. After moving to Philadelphia, his work began to take on aspects of three dimensional art. Inspired by practical special effects of the 80s and 90s and the flamboyance of nature, his work evolved into an environment and space all its own. Matty has exhibited at various galleries in eastern and central Pennsylvania and most recently has worked with the Lancaster City Public Arts board to facilitate community engagement with the local LGBTQIA+ community. He currently lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. www.instagram.com/anordinarydaze
