Camminando and Vernissages | NYC February 16

Gemini GEL. at Joni Moisant Weyl

Will Ryman at Paul Kasmin

Walking Playlist

"The First Time" U2

"In the Air Tonight"Phil Collins

“Aquarius”   Hair

"Skateways" Dire Straits

"State of Independence" Moodswings

"You Get What You Give" New Radicals

"The Face of Love" Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Total Walk Length: 10.8 km

Public Art | NYC, East 50s

Yesterday evening we celebrated a feast for sight, hearing, touch, and taste as we sauntered from Eataly, having had our tasty glass of bubbly, to St. Peter’s church (for the ears), by way of Bloomingdale’s (the always-welcome touch of silk, diamonds, etc.).





But for the eyes, it was all sculpture, sculpture, sculpture. Created by the French artist Julien Marinetti, we once again couldn’t believe how superbly Doggy John XXL surveyed its domain in The New York Palace Courtyard. From the largest perspectives to the cave-man like etchings/scratchings? on its body, it stood firm keeping St. Patrick’s Cathedral in its sight.




From dogs to teddy bears, right there on Park Ave. Urs Fischer, New-York based Swiss artist, has plopped BIG ART, a big yellow sculpture, 35,000 pounds, right in front of the Seagram building. Where have we been? And what about that light? A reading lamp? A miner’s hat?



And check out these roses created by Will Ryman of Paul Kasmin Gallery in conjunction with the NY City Dept. of Parks and Recreation. We thought of it as “Petals on Park,” because our mind jumped to “pedals on Park” (more bicycles, less cars, please). 38 giant pink and red roses climb between three and 25 feet in height, dwarfing the neighboring streetlights and avenue traffic.


And finally, a lovely concert by the community-based Centre Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alex Guzman included works by Handel, Bach, and Saint-Saens. Playing with them on the church’s organ, built by Johannes Klais of Bonn, Germany, was world-renowned organist Michael Bower.

Vernissages | September 10, NYC

Second "Grand" (?!?) opening day of the fall 2009 art season in NYC... A long list of vernissages, it will be difficult to follow up with all of them. My taxonomy mania would lead to genre, but my time/transportation limitations leads me to a more realistic geography proximity based tour.

I start with Soho, with Allan Wexler's display of archi/design conceptual chairs:

Allan Wexler at Ronald Feldman

I move to Chelsea, wonder through the 529 West 20th, not so exciting to me, quite traditional and expected work. PW at W22, Maya Lyn's landscape interests me, but when I arrive the pusher at the door does not let me in, too late. Usual story in NYC, too much, too little time, hard to choose and prioritize...
I continue to Marlborough, at W25 St, hosting Will Ryman's A New Beginning : meagsculptures of flowers from 2' to 7'. The sculptures are hand made (by the artist himself) of steel, epoxy, aluminum, plaster and paint, and grouped in clusters of three at the base. Sculptures of urban waste ---cigarettes, beer cans, paper cups--- are combined with the flowers. Ryman chose to reproduce roses as  the rose is, in the artist's words "the most recognizable flower and most symbolic across the world"

Will Ryman's at Marlborough

More hyperreality from "nature" at One Doosan, with deer, branches and twigs by Myeongbeom Kim,

Getting tired and moving uptown, a final glance to the overcrowded W26th Street:

My final impression / question of the day: "What's art got to do it?"