I think this one says it all…but Remember: It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity…
also these:
The last is my favorite. 😉
66th Street Subway Stop: I spy a Spero…
On our first night in the city, In the subway car I caught a glimpse of this mural by Nancy Spero!! It’s located at the 66th street Lincoln center stop. She is an American artist who was married to Leon Golub. This mosaic mural is discussed in Art 21:
“Spero is a pioneer of feminist art. Her work since the 1960s is an unapologetic statement against the pervasive abuse of power, Western privilege, and male dominance. Executed with a raw intensity on paper and in ephemeral installations, her work often draws its imagery and subject matter from current and historical events such as the torture of women in Nicaragua, the extermination of Jews in the Holocaust, and the atrocities of the Vietnam War. Spero samples from a rich range of visual sources of women as protagonists—from Egyptian hieroglyphics, seventeenth-century French history painting, and Frederick’s of Hollywood lingerie advertisements. Spero’s figures co-exist in nonhierarchical compositions on monumental scrolls, and visually reinforce principles of equality and tolerance. ”
Video clip here:
http://www.art21.org/artists/nancy-spero
More about Spero’s mosaic here:
http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/Artwork:_Artemis,_Acrobats,_Divas_and_Dancers_(Nancy_Spero)
Photo credits: Max Singler. Thanks Max 😉
This Car is Air Conditioned (Lies)
Today I rode a subway car within which the AC was not working. While my compatriots and I complained to one and other about our ultimately minor discomfort a woman chimed in, “It’s easy to appreciate things once they’re gone.” For me this was a good reminder to enjoy, as much as I can, every moment of this class. The experience is ephemeral, I am in NYC and seeing many things for the first time. No matter what, even if I end up back here, I won’t be able to recreate this.
– J.L. Gazabat
This Car is Air Conditioned (Lies)
Today I rode a subway car within which the AC was not working. While my compatriots and I complained to one and other about our ultimately minor discomfort a woman chimed in, “It’s easy to appreciate things once they’re gone.” For me this was a good reminder to enjoy, as much as I can, every moment of this class. The experience is ephemeral, I am in NYC and seeing many things for the first time. No matter what, even if I end up back here, I won’t be able to recreate this.
Day Three: Guggenheim, Neue Gallery, Frick Collection, and MoMA
Day three was a lot to take in. We went to four major institutions and saw a lot of very famous artwork and my eyes were bleeding by the end of it. First we went to the Guggenheim where I gave my presentation on Doris Salcedo’s Plegaria Muda. Her work is so moving and I probably had the most emotional response to an art piece that I have ever had in front her Flor de Piel. I stared at that thing for nearly twenty minutes and had a really hard time walking away. Pictures don’t do it justice but here it is.
The Neue Gallery was my least favorite place that we have visited so far. The people there were rude, including the staff, the art wasn’t much to look at and it was really small. Maybe I was just hungry, but the best part about the gallery was leaving it. Adele Bloch-Bauer was pretty cool. We couldn’t take any pictures there either so I don’t have anything to show for it.
The Frick Collection was really cool but we only had about 45 minutes to go through it. I saw some awesome works though and it’s crazy to think that it used to be someones actual house. That’s me when I grow up. I saw some van Eyke, Velasquez, and Rembrandt along with many other artists that I have studied. Unfortunately photos weren’t allowed in there either so I can’t take any of it home with me but it was a lot of fun and I hope I can go back.
Lastly we went to the MoMA and that place was absolutely massive. I saw some really great work their and saw all of the super famous pieces from Warhol’s Campbell Soup Cans to Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon to Van Gogh’s Starry Night. Actually I didn’t really get to see Starry Night that well because there was at least 60 people crowding it. My favorite exhibit there was on the very top floor and it was showing Latin American architecture from the 1950’s-80’s. There was some really great photos and models of buildings there that were very inspiring. A good looking building really does it for me. Here is a photos by Leonardo Finotti of a building by Jesus Tenreiro-Degwitz that I thought was particularly beautiful.
Today was a long day but I think it was the best one yet. I’m getting used to the city and seeing all this art is making me anxious to do some more research when I get home and start making stuff.
-Beaudry Allen
I didn’t gasp out loud and burst into tears, I swear.
Seeing people seeing art.
Independent excursion
I went off walking in the city on my own. I broke off from the second group heading home to go to FAO Schwarz. It is A LOT different than I was there last (back in the 90s). It looks like that they downsized. It’s still an overkill of a toy and candy store, but it is not as grand as I remembered it. I almost didn’t recognized it. Slightly disappointed, but there were still some elements of the store I have in my memories (with themed sections of toys) that brought up some nostaglic feels for me.
I’m sad that the store is closing forever, but I think it was a long time coming.
-Julie M.
Jasper Johns, Three Flags
While looking at a Jasper Johns piece, an elderly woman approached me and asked about the piece. She asked me what encaustic was, since it was listed as one of the materials. The work of Jasper John is known to utilize encaustic, the use of pigments and hot wax. I didn’t know the term myself, so i looked it up on my phone and told her the definition. She then proceeded to ask me how I looked up the definition on my phone and to show her how to on her phone. We greeted each other each time we ran into each other on another floor. The Whitney was fun.
Happy Birthday Too You
Today I awoke abruptly to a 1/4 hangover, but that did not discourage me. After a shower and quick coffee injection we began our long and arduous adventure. Our first stop was the Guggenheim which due to it’s beautiful design was a very enjoyable experience, beside the fact that the Kandinsky gallery was closed. We then moved onward to the Neue Gallerie which was quite a treat. I saw work that was incredibly moving such as Gustav Klimts portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer and the paintings of the German group The Blue Rider. We then moved on to the Frick which was overwhelming. Everything was gold encrusted and decorated with floral patterns. The paintings of Gainsborough were incredibly captivating, life-sized, and lit perfectly. From there we went to the MoMA which was even more overwhelming. There were more people than Disney Land and the shear size was amazing. Andy Warhols exhibit was my favorite section and was the first time I saw his portraits of Marilyn. It was a good day and I look forward too tomorrow.