Sunday, January 19, 2014

Saturday in New York

One of the things on my 2014 to do list is to get into New York more often. Far too many exhibitions have been missed in the 8 years that we've lived in Connecticut. Now that the little urchins are 6 (nearly 7!), they can take ski lessons at the local mountain. So...while the girls and my husband go skiing, I catch the train into the city.

Yesterday's wander include Vogue Knitting LIVE! Marketplace to see what it would be like, but mostly to see


Ashley V. Blalock's installation of larger than life crocheted doilies. 

I learned to crochet from my grandmother at 8 years old. It is, in fact, what set me on the path to becoming a fiber artist. Needless to say, I've crocheted my fair share of doilies so to see this humble, functionally decorative (or is it decoratively functional?) piece transformed into such a striking and commanding art installation is magnificent.

After lunch, I went in search of the Gagosian galleries to experience the sculptures of Richard Serra.

  
Intervals, 2013
Weatherproof steel, 24 plates
72 x 336 x 570 inches (182.9 x 853.4 x 1,447.8 cm) 


Contrary to the emptiness of my photos, the gallery was filled with people - standing and strolling around the outside, walking among the plates, posing for photos behind a plate so tall that only their eyes and the tops of their heads were visible.


I watched. Waited. Noticed the rusting on corners


and tops of plates.


Noticed the markings that looked like peeling paint and reminded me of abstracts.


I tried to stay out of the way of others' cameras. And wished the whole time to have arrived at opening


so that I could have been free to photograph without dodging others. To have experienced Intervals in peace. Maybe next Saturday...

The room next door held

 

7 Plates, 6 Angles, 2013 
Weatherproof steel

Far too large for me to photograph well, I opted for sections and markings.




 Then I walked over to the 21st Street gallery to experience


Weatherproof steel




This gallery was very crowded...especially the path leading through the sculpture. Clicking on the title will take you to the Gagosian site which has an aerial photo. There are 4 entries into Inside Out. I walked into each and ventured through Inside Out several times...wishing all the while to have arrived at opening when it must have been less crowded. 

Yes. Definitely. Next Saturday morning. What to see in the afternoon?


18 comments:

  1. What a stunning post - thank you so much for sharing and for introducing me to the work of the two artists. The contrast between them was fascinating.
    I most enjoyed the work of Richard Sera at the Gagosian - amazingly powerful. I will keep a look out in case he brings his work to the UK - I suppose he might - and remember the Gagosian if I come again to New York.

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    1. If either artist is ever in your neighborhood, go! Both works are stunning. The Serras are breathtaking not only for their mammoth size, but the creativity and imagination that went into producing such large scale, seemingly simple pieces. I wonder how they are moved...fork lifts? Enjoy!

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  2. magnifique exposition.. j'aime tout.. le tricot rouge et la rouille spectaculaire!

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  3. Looks like a wonderful place to wonder. nice post!

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    1. Funny that you say New York looks like a nice place to visit. My very first time there, I absolutely hated it. Liked the places my boyfriend (now husband) took me to, but hated the city itself. It was nothing like Washington, DC. Had none of the charm, the openness, etc. that DC has. I'm still a bit ambivalent about the city, but love all it has to offer. Enjoy!

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  4. Thanks for 'taking us along' on the gallery-hop. Jennifer. I, too, learned to crochet from my Grandmother. I never thought of what a probable influence that was on my later career as a fiber artist!
    Happy week, sus

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    1. I suspect many of us learned to crochet or knit from our grandmothers and haven't realized that it may have been the start of our fiber careers. All those little craft projects as kids only added onto/into my desire to be an artist.

      Glad you enjoyed the gallery hop. Not quite sure what is on next Saturday's agenda. Stay tuned! Have a great week!

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  5. be still my beating heart ........ seriously. Wandering through your photographs of Richard Serra's work took me straight back to the Guggenheim at Bilbao where I was early last year where I spent an hour in amongst his 'Matter of Time' with my heart thumping, unable to think beyond being enveloped in his structure and being so very very reluctant to come out. I may never get back to Bilbao but I will definitely make it to New York again. We could meet there and go on a Serra immersion! Bliss.

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    1. Oh my! Just googled his Matter of Time. I can understand how and why you spent an hour amongst it. One would think that steel that large would be overwhelming and cold...but that's not the case at all, is it? The structures do envelope you and promise to keep you safe.

      My plan is to try to get to the galleries as close to opening as possible next Saturday. I want to walk thru Inside Out alone. To simply be able to stand midst its narrow maze-like path and just breathe. And, being me, take photos and possibly sneak in a video of the stroll.

      A Serra immersion tour? Sign me up!!!

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  6. Lucky you, have wanted to see the Serra work in person. Good that you're getting out.

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    1. Christine, I've been lucky enough to see several Serra pieces - all in New York. Have seen 2 others at MOMA. Shame you can't take an extra few days in February so we could go see these. One of the Gagosian galleries has the work there until mid-March. Inside Out closes early February though. Food for thought...

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  7. Love that red crochet J - but oh my the Serra work. I still pinch myself that we saw it. All of your words and thoughts are mine - I was stunned into silence. It felt so friendly and caring (Inside Out), gently unfurling around you. And yet the details…I saw whole lifetimes and histories in those marks. I hope you get there quietly on Saturday. B & I both took wee videos - great reminders of the sense of it.

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    1. I got one short video of walking thru Inside Out, but it ended when I met with a pack of people coming from the other direction...and had to hug the wall (practically) to get out of the way. If the weather cooperates...excuse me...if the polar vortex cooperates, the plan is to go back to see this again or go to the Dia: Beacon in Beacon, NY to see yet another Serra that is part of their permanent collection.

      Then again, I may just lock myself into the studio as more snow is predicted. So...is now a good time to come visit you? Ha! If only. One day though...and Pam wants to come too.

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    2. Soryy about your vortex…we have had warm days and now some cooling rain for which we are grateful. You know - come on down anytime and there's room for two! Would love to have you both visit one day...

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  8. J - so glad we have shared the Richard Serra works - I was right back there amidst it all - one of the highlights of NYC for me. Seems like we all have our walking through videos to remind us - the brilliance of technology. Go well and continue to enjoy. B

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  9. I would love to see the Serra pieces especially if there were less people about. Also googled Matter of Time.... wow!

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  10. Thanks for the info on, and link to, Inside Out - it must be wonderful to be alone in the sculpture, as shown in the video on the gallery's website - and quite different to be in there with lots of people. I came across some of his work near the Louvre in Paris one summer - it felt quite different in the open air than it looks in the gallery, even though those rooms are large! And there's a "small" Serra in the corner of a room in Tate Modern here in London.

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