Vernissages NYC | Geometry: Selected Works from the Estate of Mary Ann Unger

2011 witnesses a major comeback to geometry in visual arts, often in the work of artists whose creation date to the pre-digital era. Another important exhibition opened yesterday at the Maxwell Davidson Gallery: "Geometry: Selected Works from the Estate of Mary Ann Unger". The power of geometry and complex forms was explored in great depth by the late artist, who died of breast cancer in 1998. Unger was mainly known for her large scale three-dimensional public art works at the borderline between architecture and on sculpture, work shown in several major institutions, including the Albright-Knox, Hirschhorn, and Neuberger Museums. The work shown at the Maxwell Davidson Gallery is mainly two-dimensional: repetitions of primary geometric forms originate organic patterns and becomes a grammar for bio-geometric shapes.
A compelling exhibition, celebrating the power and harmony of geometry.

Geometry: Selected Works from the Estate of Mary Ann Unger
June 14 – July 22, 2011
Maxwell Davidson Gallery
724 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor

Exhibitions NYC | "Savage Beauty": Trans-Human

“Savage Beauty”, the Alexander McQueen retrospective exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum, is a must see.
The majority of McQueen’s designs shown at the exhibition are not wearable —as they do not perform the utilitarian function of clothes. His fabrications are often extension of the human body, which metamorphoses into snakes, trees, sea creatures; a reality which transforms nature into a fantastic world, where unicorns, butterflies, mussels and bones —among many other nature artifacts— become prosthesis of the human body in a surrealistic dark vision.
Romanticism is the recurring theme in many different versions, from the darkness of gothic to the more ethereal
McQueen’s design production was extremely prolific, often at the borderline between fashion and art. His fashion shows were real performance art experiences, including multimedia non only as enhancement of the fashion items presented, but as expression of his visionary thinking and designing. The movies shown are best representing of this thinking, as they can best communicate the itinerary taken by the designer in his creations.
The exhibition was somewhat disturbing but made me think.

And if you seek "grounding" visit the roof installation by Anthony Caro, very much down to Earth, compared to the surreal worlds of Alexander McQueen.

Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty
Metropolitan Museum of Art
May 4, 2011–August 7, 2011

camminando MIAMI | Holocaust Museum

Holocaust Museum of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation

“I memory of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust”

This is not a large memorial in area, but impact and sensitivity is not compromised in conveying emotional gravitas. Architect & Sculptor Kenneth Treister was successful in creating a disturbingly beautiful and poignant moment of reflection in a tucked away corner close to the action of infamous South Beach. Meant to provide a haven of remembrance and knowledge of an horrendous slash of history, Treister created achingly expressive full-size bronze sculptures throughout the site culminating in a 42 foot hand with 1000 figures crying out in anguish as they reach out to humanity.

Opened in 1990, the surprisingly evocative twists and turns of this tribute earn the title of “Memorial”. One emerges with the consciousness touched; uplifted to a time and place to clutch in our hearts and minds: reflecting pools, black granite, pink Jerusalem stone, names, historical facts, shrines and tunnels all bring us to a place of deep contemplation.

1933-1945 Meridian Avenue,

Miami Beach, FL 33139

Phone: 305 538 1663

Hours: 9:00AM - Sunset

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

http://www.holocaustmmb.org/

Heron having a contemplative moment on the steps of the Memorial

camminando NYC | Walking the Line and Encountering a "Roof Piece"

The High Line hosted the recreation of Trisha Brown Dance Company's "Roof Piece" on its 40th anniversary.
Ten dancers performed on different rooftops surrounding the southern end of the High Line, mimicing each other's improvised movements.
The northern end of elevated park also just opened. It was a lovely evening, in a successful, although unusual, marriage between industrial archeology and nature.

The new High Line extension celebrated by AOL with inflatable sculptures

camminando | NYC: Sol LeWitt "Structures, 1965-2006" at City Hall Park

A great encounter while I was walking uptown on Broadway, emerging from the belly of New Amsterdam: Sol LeWitt "Structures, 1965-2006" at City Hall Park.

Sol LeWitt (1928 - 2007) is one of the prophets of minimalism and art based on geometry, therefore, one of my favorite artists. His work spans from two-dimensional drawings and prints to three-dimensional artwork such as wall installations, sculptures (defined structures). Almost all his oeuvre is based on the repetition of a vocabulary of simple (primitive) shapes: triangles, circles, squares, cubes and prisms. Almost all of the above, on view at the City Hall Park exhibition, organized by the Public Art Fund.




Quite in contrast with typical Sol LeWitt's work is one his latest workd "Splotch" (2005). The description instead remarks that the work, in spite of its visual appearance is generated by a rigorous process based on laws of projections, combining extrusions of two-dimensional shapes with color. The work was also fabricated from a three-dimensional digital model —quite a déjà vu...

Public art, geometry and minimalism in a green space: what can I ask more?

Sol LeWitt: Structures, 1965-2006
City Hall Park
between Broadway, Park Row and Chambers Streets
May 24 - Dec 2, 2011
Mon – Sun: 6 am – 9 pm

camminando | Lip Service

Lip Service always provides an amusing and clever evening of stories read out loud.

Anyone can submit a true personal story to Lip Service, no more than 1,200 words, generally with a local Miami flavor. Several are chosen for readings that are always well attended. June 18th's submissions have a theme of "Out in the Tropics".

It is a pleasure to see writing enjoyed with such verve by the community. Miami is known for it's many quirks, and local writers pick apart every one with relish. Many authors have become quite well known by taking advantage of the outrageous nature that bouts of severe humidity play upon the lives of it's inhabitants. Carl Hiaasen, Dave Barry & Edna Buchanon

have made lucrative careers on this uniquely bizarre behavior.

Miracle Theater 305.444.9293
280 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134

TICKETS are on sale now. $15.

Links:

LipService

Plum TV

Stories

camminando | Governors Island: History, Quiet and Art Across the East River

If you are looking for a refuge from the overload of Manhattan urban life, take the (free of charge!) Governors Island Ferry.


In less than a ten-minute ride you will reach the 172-acre island which was called by the Native Americans Pagganck ("Nut Island") after its vegetation of hickory, oak, and chestnut trees. The island takes its current name from the British who assigned it to the "benefit and accommodation of His Majesty's Governors." The US Army used the island as a military facility for its strategic location and built Fort Jay, a square shaped courtyard surrounded by five bastions. In most recent years the island was transferred to the US Coast Guard, which used it as a base until 1996.





Governor Island is currently undergoing a revitalization plan and hosts several recreational and art events. The main art events of the 2011 summer:
The sculptures of Mark di Suvero, presented by the Storm King Art Center, are the largest, most “expensive” and least sustainable artworks in display — yet enjoyable, as they frame views of downtown Manhattan, with colorful assemblages of industrial steel.
Harvestworks organized an Electronic Art Festival with video and sound installations happening throughout summer 2011. The festival includes several video projections.

The sculptural installations by Figment, the community based art organization, are my favorite art presence in the island. The sculptures, in the spirit of Figment are participatory and engage the viewer in a series of actions, from taking photographs, climbing or playing minigolf.



A minor disappointment: none of the art installation is really site specific, as related to Governors Island historical, cultural or natural landscape — yet I spent a quiet and artful afternoon and it is always refreshing to see art outside the most commercial venues of Manhattan.

camminando | The Royal Poinciana: A regal addition to the Miami palette

The cusp of May/June brings out one of the most glorious art pieces in nature: the Royal Poinciana tree. I make it a point to drive by the older neighborhoods to drink in the explosion of orange-y red canopy drooping over roadways. After several weeks the 4-5” flowers drop and are replaced by a fernlike, brilliant grass-green series of leaves reaching 12-20” long. The flowers consist of four spoon-shaped scarlet or orange-red petals about 3” long, and one upright slightly larger petal.

Fallen Royal Poinciana Flower

Occasional trees will sprout a gold-yellow flower rather than the more common flame red variety. The fast –growing shade tree reaches 30-40’ tall with a canopy often of equal width. The long brown seed pods are called “woman’s tongue” in the Caribbean because of the rattling sound they make in the wind.

Long Poinciana Seed Pods

The Royal Poinciana is a native of Madagascar and seen in many tropical and sub-tropical cities throughout the world. They take at least 10 years to flower making the older neighborhoods a better viewing platform.

Named for the 18th century governor of the French West Indies, M. de Poinci and often merely called “Flamboyant” or “Framboyan” in the Caribbean as well as Flame of the Forest and Peacock Flower. Botanical Name: Delonix regia, syn. Poinciana regia

Purple Bougainvillea (foreground), Poinciana (background)

This riotous tree played a big part in the work of the outsider artists, The Florida Highwaymen, a group of 26 African American painters from the 1950’s –‘80’s, mostly from the Fort Pierce area who painted sunrises, sunsets and all the natural beauty of their region with vibrant tone. Primarily sold out of the back of vehicles for $25, today these paintings are now being sought out heavily by collectors with a shiny new price tag to match. For more info go to : http://www.floridahighwaymenpaintings.com/

Miami does not let this phenomenon pass unnoticed. The 74^th annual Royal Poinciana Fiesta will be held June 11-13. It is the oldest continuously celebrated community event.For more information click on the Tropical Flowering Tree Society site.

To add to riot of color, Miami also offers up a sweet treat to soften the blow of summers humidity seeping into our bones: Mango trees of all sorts are ponderously brewing their heady aromas, soon to be dispensed with all the juicy, soft-pulped wonderful-ness to transport one and all to fruit-full nirvana. A mango margarita whipped up in your blender is not to be missed.

Naturally, this event does not go by without fanfare. The always pleasurable Fairchild Tropical Garden will educate and entertain with workshops, lectures and displays of fruit, paintings and all means of mango recipes. Farichild’s International Mango Festival will be held Saturday, July 9, 2011 and Sunday, July 10, 2011 from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. For more information see the Fairchild Tropical Garden site.

Mango Tree Loaded with Fruit