Fiber Arts Take Over a Former Seaport Warehouse in NYC

Works of art made from felt, thread, yarn, colorful fabrics, and other textile materials have transformed a former 18th-century warehouse into an immersive art experience. After a successful debut exhibition last year, The Golden Thread, a fiber-arts exhibit presented by BravinLee Programs, returns to the South Street Seaport with 60 new artists and over 100 artworks, including 8 site-specific installations.

Private After-Hours Tour of The Golden Thread 2

Saturday, May 3rd at 6:30pm ET: Join public art curators John Post Lee and Karin Bravin for an exclusive viewing of this new exhibit!

⭐ Free to members at the Insider tier and higher!

Book Here

The Golden Thread 2: A Fiber Art Exhibition occupies all four floors of 207 Front Street, a former textile warehouse. The building is one of the oldest extant structures from when Front Street was Manhattan's waterfront. The first building at this site was erected in 1797 and occupied by Benjamin Stratton, Jr., a grocer and cooper. By 1816, the original structure was demolished or expanded (records differ), and the newer iteration is what we see today.

Several prominent mercantile families occupied the building throughout its history, and you can see remnants of its various former uses inside. A 12-foot diameter grain hoist sits under the peaked roof at the top level, rugged floor joists can be seen throughout, and the building maintains its original brick facade and stone window trims.

Among these original architectural elements, visitors to Golden Thread 2 will see dazzling works of art that incorporate embroidery, stitching, quilting, sewing, and crocheting, among many other textile mediums. Crafted by a diverse array of artists thoughtfully chosen by gallerists and curators Karin Bravin and John Post Lee, longtime New Yorkers and textile art masters, many of the pieces on display engage directly with the building.

Ana María Hernando's stunning El intento del agua/The Intent of Water (2025)—comprised of two voluminous arrangements of tulle, felt, and velvet in various hues of blue, white, and green—appears to be flowing straight out of the building's brick walls as two waterfalls.

If you're not paying attention, you may miss Jess Blaustein's Transmission 36-44919 (2025). This subtle piece, crafted specifically for the site, channels the past lives of 207 Front Street. Elements of archival research on the historic building and the South Street Seaport appear on cloth scraps and plastic tarp that wrap around roughly 300 linear feet of discarded coaxial cable snaking through the building.

A more overt interaction between the building and the art can be found on the top floor, where Tura Oliveira incorporates the massive 18th-century grain hoist into Wheel of Fortune (2025). The work is comprised of a limp, humanoid figure made of reclaimed textiles, cyanotype on hand-dyed silk, piping, and yarn, tangled within the spokes of the wheel. With a title that plays on the name of a tarot card and the popular TV game show, this work reflects on the premise of history turning like a great wheel, catching us in its spokes. 

Each level of the exhibit brings with it exciting new pieces to discover! Walking through the exhibit and getting up close to the works, it's clear to see the skill, work, and time that have gone into every stitch. Check out a few more pieces in the gallery below:

On May 3rd, join Untapped New York Members for a free guided tour led by curators John Lee and Karin Bravin! Not a member yet? Unlock access to exclusive experiences, tour discounts, and an archive of 300+ on-demand videos when you join today.