Michael Cummings
	Carnival Time, Kitty With Flowers, Coral Reef and Monarch Butterfly Completion Date: 2000 Medium: Quilts Dimensions: n/a Location: New Children's Center Address: 492 First Avenue, Manhattan Architect: Perkins Geddis Eastman Sponsor Agency: Administration for Children's Services Design Agency: Department of Design and Construction

Michael Cummings created four brightly colored quilts that hang in the lobby of the New Children's Center, a processing center for foster-care children. Carnival Time, Kitty with Flowers, Coral Reef, and Monarch Butterfly all depict playful and recognizable scenes intended to comfort and visually engage the children staying at the center.

About the Artist...
Michael Cummings has been creating quilts for about 24 years. He creates his own composition and approaches the work like a painting. Cummings explains, "I have an art background and I accidentally found my way into this art form, because I didn't have any family member that made quilts." The artist constructs the quilts using the appliqué method and all parts are sewn with a sewing machine. Generally, he works in a series format and includes additional surface design elements, i.e. textile paints, found objects, and hand embroidery. The quilts are in many collections, both private and public. Images of the quilts can also be found in contemporary quilt books. Most recently, Cummings illustrated a children's book called "In the Hollow of Your Hand" and is currently working on a butterfly series.

Artist Quote...
"I think public art is a great idea. It allows a large number of people that normally don't go to museums or galleries to see artistic works. Public art can enhance a space, and provokes a person of any age to stop and consider what the artist is attempting to say. It is at this moment of viewer and art communication that new ideas are born and hopefully a better appreciation of art develops." -- Michael Cummings, 2001