Woody De Othello transforms the familiar into the sacred. Drawing from the West and Central African tradition of nkisi—objects inhabited by spirits—Othello reimagines mundane household items as vessels for healing and protection. This outdoor installation, his first major solo showing in New York's public space, uses warped telephones and oversized combs to probe the psychological depth of our daily rituals.

You're watching monumental bronze forms and hand-carved redwood totems stand against the Manhattan skyline. The scale is imposing yet the details feel deeply private: trumpet-like ears reaching for sounds, birds perched on carved hands, and heavy, sagging telephones that seem to hold the weight of every conversation ever held. The air from the East River moves around these silent guardians, turning a public promenade into a space for introspection.

• Spiritual dialogue: The works bridge the gap between contemporary American life and ancestral African practices, giving soul to inanimate objects.
• Material contrast: The juxtaposition of dark, heavy bronze and warm, organic redwood offers a sensory exploration of stability and growth.
• Urban sanctuary: Set in Pier 1's Vale, the exhibition offers a rare moment of contemplative silence within the bustling energy of New York City.

Walk slowly along the waterfront of Pier 1, letting the skyline fade as you approach the sculptures. Pay attention to the texture of the redwood totems, noticing how the hand-carved symbols of birds and hands shift in the sunlight. Afterward, find a bench overlooking the water to let the weight of the bronze sink in, then walk toward Dumbo for a quiet coffee to process the shift from the domestic to the divine.