WE'VE SEEN SO MUCH FROM THESE HEIGHTS
September 5, 2024 - Moleskine Store, Moynihan Station, NYC
On September 5, 2024, NYC Salt proudly presented We've Seen So Much From These Heights by Devin Osorio at the Moleskine Boutique in Moynihan Train Hall.
This unique exhibition showcased 64 hand-illustrated Moleskine notebooks, alongside two original pieces on paper and special prints created by Osorio for the occasion. The 64 notebooks, hand-painted with acrylic and adorned with palm motifs, explored the histories of Washington Heights—paying homage to the Wecquaesgeek people's historical use of the land while reflecting on the present-day Dominican community. By merging the interior with the exterior, the real with the fantastical/spiritual, and the past with the present, Osorio sought to connect personal and collective histories.
Devin Osorio (b. 1993) was part of NYC Salt’s first cohort of students in 2005 in Washington Heights. A multidisciplinary artist based in the Lower East Side, Osorio creates shrine-like paintings infused with Dominican cultural symbols—plants, animals, and glyphs—to develop a visual vernacular for the Dominican American community. Their work has been exhibited in New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, London, Miami, Mexico City, and Madrid, at renowned galleries including Calderón Gallery, Wave Hill, The AHL Foundation, REGULARNORMAL, Sotheby’s Institute of the Arts, Adhesivo Contemporary, and Charlie James Gallery.
The exhibition launch was a celebration of culture and history, bringing together multiple artistic disciplines. Chef Sammy Gay curated a culinary experience translating the histories of the Lower East Side and The Bronx, while Dietician, Nutritionist, and Community Leader RD. Melanie Zuniga crafted specialty cocktails for the evening. Compositional duo Christian Rodriguez and Sahiba K. Johar contributed an original musical piece, combining anthropological and historical research to further explore the exhibition's central theme:
What is the history of this place, and how are we connected to it?
This immersive event honored nearly 20 years of NYC Salt’s mission to empower young artists and celebrate diverse creative voices.
