Art Fairs | NYC, The Artist Project

Stock Ticker wall installation

Light Installation by Kilu

Croqueted Fiberglass Sculpture by Yvette Kaiser Smith

Peter Bynum

events | Shift of the Axis Mundi

A week has passed from the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan on March 11.
The terrible tragedy which has shaken and taken away so many lives seems to have repercussions also at an astronomical level. According to geophysicist Richard Gross at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena (California), the earthquake powerful temblor has accelerated Earth's spin and shortened the length of the 24-hour day by 1.8 microseconds. Gross also stated that the earthquake also shifted Earth's figure axis by about 6 1/2 inches (17 centimeters):

"This shift in the position of the figure axis will cause the Earth to wobble a bit differently as it rotates, but will not cause a shift of the Earth's axis in space – only external forces like the gravitational attraction of the sun, moon, and planets can do that"

More information can be found in the JPL NASA site
That the axis mundi is shifting is sadly becoming not only metaphorical but also literal. Human chaos of this decade part of a cosmic chaos?

camminando | NYC, Strolling along the Hudson

A few views from my strolls along the NYC Hudson waterfront. Spring is almost here as this evening was saying; a pale sun was setting, moving its cyclical path to the north. The setting sun was framed the ruins of the dock from the 69th Street Transfer Bridge.



A strange encounter with public art, always an important presence in the urbanscape...


And finally an almost full moon, framed by the buildings of 52nd Street, getting lost among the street lighting.

camminando | NYC: Bright Lights, Big City

My urban walkabouts of this evening were a meditation on lights, and images; transitioning from the view of the Empire State Building to Sixth Avenue, with a glance of the animation displayed on the Big Screen.

Finally on my way home a realization that media façade was becoming so ubiquitous, extending from the Times Square glamor to the neighborhood drugstore...

fitness | The Power of the Body to Guide and Educate

I work out. I walk. And I walk.

by Irene Sperber

A physical workout has come to bring great joy, serenity and awakenings. It sorts out thoughts; proves that I can do the unattainable. It expands the mind to make a mental leap to grasp that if I am doing the un-doable in the physical realm, I can take that knowledge into the mental and emotional world.

Recently I have slipped on one of life’s banana peels. Concerned about the outcome (and the long road before the outcome) of this unnerving situation, one night early in the siege, I dragged myself to the gym, if for no other reason than to exit my present state. By the end of the class I had sorted out my miasma a bit, and pushed myself to continue past my “point” just to prove that it is in fact possible with mind-strength, to ignore those previously self appointed markers. I have done this before and it is the outside source telling me, yes, I can use guts and gumption to muscle through all of life’s challenges. I test it out by just “thinking” my way to new levels of strength and endurance. What a rush of truth to experience in the middle of Lady Gaga playing at a hearing-disabling mega-blast. Dripping with sweat and less than adorable, the endorphin surge is there for the taking.

I have also met most of my dearest friends while huffing and puffing my way through some seemingly endless journey to a fit and healthful form. Anyone able to get themselves motivated to attempt some of these modern day burn-and-churn ordeals, is not likely to be a whiny, “poor me” dullard. If you care enough to make the effort, you are a positive life force doing what is necessary to get past whatever tricky bit of amusement life wants you to glean at this particular moment. And walking loosens the tongue....amazing what you can learn on one good day hike.

Exercise levels the playing field. You can’t show up with your latest Gucci handbag, groovy new multi $$$$$ outfit or vehicle and expect to stun the masses with the haul from your latest gilt-heavy shopping trip. You are the same slug in the gym/trail/water/field as everyone else.....no matter how drool-worthy your new outfit. Don’t do the work, you don’t get the “cred”. It may work against you to flaunt too much bling. Just fling beads of sweat to impress. The physical world is a get-real environment. One gets to the core of people quickly after struggling up some steep hill or gasping through a mean Ab workout. People are their very deepest selves when up against it. Bonding comes naturally.

Another plus is skin quality. Glowing, toxin-free skin, freshly pumped with life affirming pinkness, cannot be overthrown by any amount of make-up or facial; a toned body can trump any well-draped blob.

And for the biggest payback...to feel your body working as a team, knowing that if you trip up, it is plausible to right yourself before you lose one of those nine lives. It is powerful, for both the mind and spirit to be living in an encasement that is somewhat based on the original design plan. Have you watched a dance performance up close recently.

I am always fixated on how wonderful it must feel to be that young, agile and fit: the body as it is meant to function is a glorious thing to behold.

Irene running down the dunes at Great Sand Dunes National Park (Colorado) after walking to the top

Daniela after taking a spinning class


Irene (in the middle) Nordic Walking in one of the eight Miami marathon she participated in

March 8, International Women's Day

Today is International Womens' Day.

The history of this celebration ---which marks today its 100th anniversary--- and schedule of events worldwide can be found at:
http://www.internationalwomensday.com/
http://www.google.com/events/iwd2011/
http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2007/

In the meantime, I want to wish:

Happy Women's Day!
In celebration of our diversity
and recognition
of our individual beauty, creativity, strength, compassion and fairness!

Art Fairs | NYC, Armory Week: The Armory Show , Modern at Pier 92

Quite unexpectedly geometry in its many facets ---including optical art--- had a great presence at the Modern section of the Armory Show.

Victor Vasarely, an Op-Art classic

Not Op-Art, but still geometry: Ruth Asawa from Amy Wolf Fine Arts

Stanczack from Wigmore Fine Art

More Geometry from Cecilia Torres Gallery

The Geometry of perspective from Ben Johnson, Alan Cristea Gallery

Not so much about geometry, but fun from Marc Sijan

Art Fairs | NYC, Armory Week: Chelsea

Besides exhibitions related to video and film, more Armory related fairs take place in the capital of (mainly) commercial art: Chelsea.


INDEPENDENT, at its second edition, takes place at the former DIA Center for the Arts and building at 548 W 22nd Street. Dan Flavin light installation in the staircases still remains from the glorious days of what once was one the most exciting spaces of contemporary art.


Along the Hudson Pier 66 hosts the younger crowd of Fountain Art Fair showing quite eclectic works and performances.