4. A Forgotten 1950s Mural Was Uncovered at 5 Bryant Park
In March 2015, The New York Times reported that a large 1950s-era glass mosaic mural by Max Spivak had been uncovered behind metal panels. Owners of the building told the Times that the discovery of the mural was “unexpected.” The panels that covered Spivak’s work had been added during a previous modernization of the lobby. Within hours of the Times article’s publication, the mural was covered once again. This second concealment was only temporary as restoration work continued.
Spivak’s mural stretched over 40 feet wide and 18 feet tall. The funky abstract design is made of a quarter-million hand-cut glass tiles, according to the New York Times. The shapes are abstract depictions of tools of the garment trade. After Spivak’s work was unveiled, it was restored by mosaic craftsman, Stephen Miotto, “whose godfather, Carlo Rett, may have worked with Mr. Spivak on the original commission in 1958,” the Times reported.