In August of 2014 Steven Allen Cohen and Curtis Richard Cox purchased a home in Springs, NY where Steve would have space to evolve his passion for painting. In 2015 Curtis started Parsons Close Pottery, an experimental ceramics studio focused on fusing cutting edge technologies with the ancient art of pottery.
A 2017 extended trip to Arizona brought Curtis back to jewelry design. Incorporating computer-controlled laser cutting technology with custom semi-precious stone cutting resulted in a new line of custom pendants for men and women.
“As with clay, working with natural stone helps me feel connected to the Earth. But I am an engineer at heart. Geometry informs my design , and technology gives me the tools to create my visions.”
Steve’s work has thrived in the atmosphere of The Springs. He has tapped into the deep well of mystic creativity found in the light and silence of the Accabonac .
“Parsons Close is equal distance from the Pollock and De Kooning studios. The turbulence and energy of those artists seep from the ground out here. As a lighting designer, I have been painting with light my whole career. Putting those images on canvas is a thrilling discipline for me.”
In 2018 we consolidated all the artistic disciplines we were working on under the name The Parsons Close Project.
“Steve Cohen- Designer
Steve Cohen is an award-winning production designer, lighting and video designer and director. Over his 40 year career in the music and television industry, Cohen has designed tours and major events for many of the world’s most prominent music and comedy artists, including Billy Joel, Elton John, Reba McEntire, Sugarland, Tim McGraw, Lenny Kravitz , Blake Shelton , Justin Timberlake, N’Sync, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, , John Mellencamp, Hall and Oates, Paul Simon, Simon and Garfunkel, Don Henley and The Eagles to name a few, as well as numerous TV productions for HBO , Showtime, MTV, VH1 including Whoopi Goldberg on Broadway, Dane Cook and George Lopez.
For George Lucas, he designed and directed Star Wars in Concert. In 2008, he produced the feature documentary “The Last Play at Shea” He has lent his talent and production acumen to multiple charitable events, including The Power of Love multi talent television specials, The Global Poverty Central Park concerts, and the Andre Agassi foundation, co-producing 15 consecutive “Grand Slam For Children” concerts, helping raise over 150 million dollars for the Andre Agassi charter school in Las Vegas.
In recent years he has designed, the Stephen King- John Mellencamp production of Ghost Brothers of Darkland county, Lenny Kravitz World Tour, IHEART Latina festival and Jingle ball, Jenifer Lopez Neighborhood concert and Television special, Global Citizens Festival in Central Park, The Keep Memory Alive tributes ( 4 years running) to Muhammad Ali, Quincy Jones, Andre Bocelli, and Gloria Estefan, The Classic East West Festivals in Dodger Stadium and Citi field featuring the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. He has also produced the concert film and documentary “Plain Spoken John Mellencamp, currently on Netflix, and has produced the Emmy award winning documentary “At Home at the Garden” for the Billy Joel Madison Square Garden residency which has just sold out its 55th consecutive show.
Steve Cohen Productions began in 1974 under the original name of Troup-A-Theatre. Steve began his career as a lighting designer, touring for years, expanding his company to include all aspects of live production design. He is one of the original mentors and creators of the live music touring lighting and production discipline, which is now a multi-billion-dollar industry.
Steve Cohen-Painter
14 years ago, he picked up a set of oils.
“Lighting for music is ephemeral. My goal has always been to give the concert experience a visual sense memory. When you hear a song, after the concert, your awareness of color and composition of the lighting and visuals from that moment plays in your mind. Painting is my exercise to create those emotions in the physical realm.”
“My process is to let the negative space drive the creation. The painting takes me on my journey. It is my music soundtrack.”
Alternately Meditative and bold in color and composition, the work evokes the abstract, and the figurative. Hidden shapes that shift and emerge.
Steve Cohen’s premier exhibition at the White Room Gallery in Bridgehampton ( Aug. 24-Sept 16, 2018) was well received, resulting in multiple sales. His work is hanging in the homes of such luminaries as James and Margo Nederlander, Billy and Alexis Joel and Ron Delsner. Steve will be having a solo exhibition at the Eric Butterbaugh Gallery in West Hollywood Nov 8-18, and again at Aqua Miami, during Art Basel, Dec 5-9.
Steve’s Studio is in Springs, NY
www.parsonscloseproject.art
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