As part of Maker’s Mark® Bourbon’s city-wide #ToastToNYC, a public installation by local artist Risa Puno will make its way through three NYC neighborhoods during the month of October. The artwork is an interactive celebration of NYC stoop culture and shouldn’t be missed!
Entitled Open Invitation, the Kentuckian-turned-New Yorker’s interactive artwork is inspired by the interconnectedness of urban living. It welcomes city-dwellers to take a break from their busy lives, savor a moment together, and connect with fellow New Yorkers in shared space.
The installation’s form is reminiscent of the city’s iconic brownstone stoops, which serve as a site for spontaneous social gatherings.
Over the years, people have used stoops as informal places to sit, hang out, and be together. Although connected to the public, stoops still maintain a sense of intimacy. Even for people who have never lived in a brownstone, stoops are what we encounter on our way into someone’s home and symbolize a sense of belonging or hospitality.
“I love how this city welcomes people from all different backgrounds, cultures, and interests,” Puno said. “One of the most remarkable things about living in NYC is the mutual consideration that New Yorkers must have for one another in order to coexist, sharing our personal space with friends as well as strangers.”
Puno, whose family emigrated from the Philippines, said her artwork also draws inspiration from her heritage.
“There is a pre-colonial Philippine ideology called kapwa that essentially means ‘togetherness’ or ‘shared identity’,” she said. “It’s the idea that we navigate through spaces with a community rather than alone, and that we have a responsibility to care for others as we care for ourselves. I strive to carry forward the spirit of kapwa in the shared spaces that I create.”
Puno’s Open Invitation will make appearances at Chelsea Triangle from October 11th-15th, Cooper Square Plaza from October 18th-22nd, and Marci Triangle from October 25th-29th, so be sure to check it out while you can!
MADE WITH CARE. SIP WITH CARETM . Maker’s Mark® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, 45% Alc./Vol. ©2022 Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc., Loretto, KY.