Shanthi Chandrasekar Explores the Meditative and Mathematical Beauty of Traditional Kolam Art, Creating Patterns that Intertwine Cosmology, Neuroscience, and Anatomy

BRONX, NY (June 5, 2024) – Simone Development Companies announced the opening of Shanthi Chandrasekar’s KOLAMS: Memories and Patterns exhibit at The Gallery of ARTFul Medicine, located in the lobby of Simone Development’s Hutchinson Metro Center’s Tower One at 1250 Waters Place in the Bronx. Ms. Chandrasekar’s unique and very personal exhibition is now open to the public and will run through September 6th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Shanthi Chandrasekar’s KOLAMS: Memories and Patterns exhibit at The Gallery of ARTFul Medicine (Photo Credit: Lori Adams)

Ms. Chandrasekar is a multidisciplinary artist who experiments with drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking and papermaking. She has also been trained in the traditional art forms of Kolam and Tanjore-style painting. While many of her works are influenced by her Indian heritage, Ms. Chandrasekar’s true inspiration comes from the mystery and majesty of the world around her; her muse lives at the intersection of the scientific and the spiritual.

“My artistic journey is a search toward understanding life and its place in the cosmos- questioning everything around me, exploring new ideas and experimenting with mediums, to create work that combines ancient traditions and current science,” said Shanthi Chandrasekar. “Making art is a thought provoking, contemplative and meditative process for me.”

Kolam is a traditional Indian drawing done by women in front of their homes at dawn and dusk as a daily ritual. For Shanthi Chandrasekar, Kolam took on new significance upon her move to the US, serving as a means to cope and navigate her new surroundings while reconnecting with her heritage. Inspired by the teachings of her mother and grandmother, Ms. Chandrasekar views the dots in Kolam as life’s challenges and the patterns as paths to navigate them. The repetitive drawing process is both meditative and intellectually stimulating, revealing mathematical aspects like geometries and fractals. KOLAMS: Memories and Patterns intertwines themes from cosmology, neuroscience, and anatomy, making it a profound and multifaceted medium of expression.

“We are thrilled to present Shanthi Chandrasekar’s exhibit at the Gallery of ARTFul Medicine,” said Jodi Moise, director of the Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore Einstein. “The exhibit both showcases the intricate beauty and cultural significance of traditional Kolam art and highlights Shanthi’s unique ability to blend this remarkable ancient practice with modern scientific concepts and her own personal journey. Visitors will be captivated by the work’s depth and complexity; it’s an honor to host such a thought-provoking exhibit.”

The Gallery of ARTFul Medicine encourages artists to interpret scientific/medical research and create works of art depicting issues of cultural, political, and technological significance. The Gallery is a key component to Montefiore’s Fine Art Program and Collection, an innovative visual arts program that fosters a life-affirming, restorative and supportive environment for patients, families, caregivers, students, faculty, and staff. Montefiore’s Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore Einstein is now one of two healthcare entities with art programs featured on the Bloomberg Connects app.

“Shanthi’s KOLAMS: Memories and Patterns perfectly embodies our vision for the gallery by merging cultural heritage with contemporary scientific exploration,” said Joe Simone, president of Simone Development Companies. “Her work is a testament to the power of art to inspire and heal, making it a wonderful addition to our space.”

71 Nardozzi Place, New Rochelle, NY

NEW ROCHELLE, NY (May 8, 2024) – New Rochelle residents will soon be seeing things more clearly, as Simone Development Companies announced that Dello Russo Laser Vision has signed a lease for 3,000 square feet of retail space at 71 Nardozzi Place in New Rochelle, NY. This is the clinic’s first location in Westchester County. Dello Russo Laser Vision joins LA Fitness, My Salon Suite and PXG (Parsons Xtreme Golf) in the complex. The property is also adjacent to several popular retailers including Costco, Home Depot, CVS, Bank of America, and Land Rover & Jaguar.

Katelin Van Voorhis and David Scotto of RM Friedland represented ownership in the lease negotiations, while Dello Russo Laser Vision was repped by Marshall Wade of Conquest Advisors.

Dello Russo Laser Vision is a dedicated LASIK center that’s performed LASIK eye surgery since the 1990s when the first Dello Russo Laser Vision center opened in Bergenfield, NJ. With multiple locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, New Jersey, Westport CT and now Westchester County, each eye care center is outfitted with a dedicated top-of-the-line surgical suite.

“We are delighted to welcome Dello Russo Laser Vision to their very first Westchester location at 71 Nardozzi Place,” said Joanna Simone, President of Leasing & Property Management Operations at Simone Development Companies. “Our property’s convenient location just off I-95 with abundant parking and a mix of service-oriented and experiential retail make this an ideal home for medical tenants.”

“We have some of the most experienced and dedicated LASIK surgeons in the Northeast along with a unique position in the market as one of most respected and well-known practices in the tri-state region and the largest family-owned practice in the country. We now look forward to providing outstanding LASIK care to patients in Westchester County in this wonderful new space,” said Dr. Jeffrey Dello Russo, CEO of Dello Russo Laser Vision.

The adjacent building has remaining medical/retail space available for lease, with 20,224 square feet available at 80 Nardozzi Place as well as 8,890 square feet at 110 Nardozzi Place. Both are divisible.