Art Production Fund and The Standard, High Line Present Light Cave by FriendsWithYou, on view from September 8 – October 1, 2014

Light Cave’s nebulous shape simultaneously evokes a prehistoric figure and a cavern. The 55ft x 25ft x 14ft semitranslucent inflatable is a living breathing piece of architecture, pulsating with energy and light, creating a sensory rich experience that unifies viewers under its canopy. “ Light Cave is a cathedral of the spirit,” the artists explained. “This interactive experience is manifested with the purpose of joining people together in a metaphysical sense.”

“We are very drawn to FriendsWithYou’s ethos of accessibility, and their work’s continued ability to resonate with people of all ages,” said Art Production Fund Co-Founders Doreen Remen and Yvonne Force Villareal. “This fully immersive installation is an experiential gift to the city.”

FWY often fuses minimalism with the aesthetic of pop art, promoting “magic, luck, and friendship.” By incorporating animism, the healing arts, modern rituals and unified symbols, FriendsWithYou addresses the human need to relate to a communal experience as well as the importance of the internal connection and the development of consciousness. Their sculptures, paintings, inflatables, and objects are meant to trigger a wide range of the viewers’ untapped emotions, from playfulness to self-reflection, enabling both personal and collective experiences.

“The Standard and FriendsWithYou are longtime friends, and we’re thrilled to work with them here in NYC this Fall. We love their magical, playful, soulful work, and can’t wait to share this interactive piece with the neighborhood,” said The Standard’s creative director, Claire Darrow Mosier.

The Plaza at The Standard, High Line has become a meeting place for both locals and visitors from around the world. The inventive seasonal offerings for The Plaza aim to capture the surrounding community’s imagination. From a winter ice rink to last summer’s installation of a sculptural work by Kenny Scharf entitled Squirt, Big Kastenman (Big Box man) by Erwin Wurm in 2012, and Companion by KAWS in 2011, The Plaza at The Standard, High Line acts as a creative hub for downtown New York.

FriendsWithYou is the fine art collaborative of Samuel Borkson (b. 1979) and Arturo Sandoval III (b.1976), who have worked collectively since 2002. The artists work in a variety of mediums including painting, sculpture, large-scale experiential installations, public playgrounds, and live performances, and strive to cultivate moments of spiritual awareness and powerful interactions. Their work has been exhibited at various prestigious institutions including the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, MN; Indianapolis Museum of Art, Indianapolis, IN; Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami FL; and the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA. Their Rizzoli published monograph “We Are FriendsWithYou” was released May 2014, spanning the artists’ 12-year career.

Art Production Fund (APF) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to commissioning and producing ambitious public art projects, reaching new audiences and expanding awareness through contemporary art. Recent projects include: After Hours: Murals on The Bowery, NYC, 2011; David Brooks, Desert Rooftops, NYC, 2011; Josephine Meckseper, Manhattan Oil Project, NYC, 2012; Kiki Smith, Chorus, NYC, 2012; Yoko Ono, Imagine Peace Times Square, NYC, 2012; Yvette Mattern, Global Rainbow After The Storm, NYC, 2012; Ryan McGinley, Taxi TV, NYC, 2013; Tony Smith, One-Two-Three, NYC, 2013; Tracey Emin, Roman Standard, NYC 2013; Marco Brambilla, Anthropocene, NYC 2013; Vanessa Beecroft, VB73, NYC, 2014. Co-Founders: Yvonne Force Villareal & Doreen Remen; Director: Casey Fremont. The Standard, High Line has an ongoing commitment to presenting and supporting public art projects. The Standard frequently collaborates with artists on publications, products, installations, and events throughout its network of properties and shops.