Arte Povera | The "Walking Sculpture" from the Streets to the Museum in Cold Spring

Arte Povera is definitely going through a renaissance. In the past three months there have been several exhibitions in New York and surrounding celebrating the Italian born art movement, coincidentally with its 50th anniversary—although it is difficult to pinpoint a birthday for something so fluid such a major art movement. In addition to the several major exhibitions in New York galleries,  yesterday Arte Povera has been celebrated in the quaint Hudson Valley village of Cold Springs (Putman County, NY) with the participatory performance "Walking Sculpture by Michelangelo Pistoletto.
     The "Walking Sculpture" is a sphere made of newspaper clips of current events and has been re-enacted for five decades worldwide, starting in 1967 with the sphere rolling through the streets of Turin. In Cold Springs the "Walking Sculpture" was transported by a red FIAT roadster and then rolled through the streets of the village by the artist, who was  joined by an enthusiastic crowd. Finally the sphere returned to its home at "Magazzino Italian Art" a small private museum near Cold Springs, founded by the collectors Nancy Olnick and Giorgio Spanu.

"Walking Sculpture" in Cold Springs

"Walking Sculpture" at Magazzino Italian Art

Michelangelo Pistoletto at Magazzino Italian Art, November 4 2017

waterways | Canoeing in the Hudson River at the Stockport Creek

Another memorable canoe outing in the waterways of the Hudson River at the Stockport Creek, led by Fran Martino, canoes courtesu of the DEC Hudson River Estuary Program. An educational tour while enjoying the less obvious vista of the meeting between the Hudson and the Stockport Creek, meandering through man-made infrastructure and natural habitat, within small islands and wetlands.

summertime | In, Out & About: Hudson Valley

A solarized view of the Taconic Parkway, the infrastructure of my weekend getaways

Summer is slowly, yet relentlessly, fading away and I am posting a few of the visual memories of the places and events I have been intersecting with. Photography has become a storytelling medium and the narrative is increasingly expanded to include some vertical panoramas where backbending aids in framing the composition.

Framed views of an opening at John Davis Gallery in Hudson

Walking while interacting with dancers in the Fields of Art Omi

Suspended whales in the industrial archaeology of Basilica Industria, reminiscent of the Hudson past

A view of the Huson river with the Catskill Mountains background

Warren Street, Hudson

Vernissages | Kinderhook: Nick Cave at Jack Shainman

The Hudson Valley sleepy town of Kinderhook (Dutch for "kids corner"), NY, woke up to wild art interventions. Thanks to the investments of New York based gallerist Jack Shainman, an old school building in the center of town turned into a minimalist white-box exhibition space, hosting sculptural costumes; the opening event was a performance orchestrated by American artist Nick Cave, who also authored the work on display – not to be confused with the homonymous Australian musician.

Events | New York State Heritage Weekend

Last weekend was Heritage Weekend. My choice among the very many remarkable sites was dictated by the proximity to the Hudson river and the relationship between houses and views. The most notable absence: Olana, Frederick Church home.

 

Gardens and river views at Boscobel

 

Nature and formal neoclassical arrangements at the Vanderbuilt Mansion

An intriguing helicoidal star at the Dr. Oliver Bronson House