so last week, nathan and i went to the high line, which, as some of you may know, is a brand new park / greenspace built on the old high line railway that runs from the meat-packing district to 34th st…
and i texted.
but seriously…
this place is amazing. i’ve read about the construction of this “park” for years, and am so glad that it was executed with such specificity and attention to detail. we initially wandered into the meat-packing district to view the amazing video installation in the standard hotel by marco brambilla and ended up strolling down the six bock promenade that comprises the semi-completed once-elevated-train-turned-wildflower-bonanza.
so i’ve been back in the city for almost a month now from my european adventure, and one of the things i’ve been attempting to do now that i’m back is to take advantage of the various cultural events and sites that give nyc it’s “best city on earth” moniker.
one such thing that i read about from abroad was the pedestrianization of times square. i had heard that they closed broadway and put out some lawnchairs. i thought that this endeavor would be approached with some kind of artistry or tact, rather than the random placement of cheap lawn chairs scattered amongst orange-coned off asphalt areas.
now i know that it’ll probably look real nice when they finish all the construction and plant some trees, but right now, it’s like a tailgate party that never ends.
Civilization is a video installation we created with artist/director Marco Brambilla for the elevators Standard Hotel in NYC. It’s comprised of over 400 video clips and it takes elevator passengers on a trip from hell to heaven as they go up or from heaven to hell as they go down.
anyone been here? i went to the standard in l.a. a long time ago, but haven’t been to the new york one yet. this installation looks awesome.
i wonder if you can see it without renting a room.
i didn’t apply to SVA for grad-school this fall because i thought their graphic design program seemed a little too “crunchy,” but this show looks awesome. and i think it’s free.
Steven Heller of PRINT magazine says :
The School of Visual Arts (SVA) MFA Designer as Author program is holding its first annual Thesis Forum at the new SVA Visual Arts Theater next Wednesday, April 22. During this daylong, marathon event (9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.), MFAD thesis students will present their entrepreneurial products on the big stage. The public is welcome for all (or some) of the day’s presentations.
Moderated by guest host/faculty members Milton Glaser (keynote) Scott Stowell, and Lita Talarico, with a special end note by Allan Chochinov, the day is divided into three sessions that will showcase the unique products, objects, and campaigns created for the contemporary marketplace. A catalog, entrepreneurial gifts, and delicious finger food will be available.
The SVA Theater is located at 333 West 23rd St. And if you cannot make the Thesis Forum, please attend the opening of “Potential Energy: 19 Designers Set Their Ideas in Motion,” the MFAD thesis exhibition, Tuesday, May 5 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Visual Arts Gallery, 601 West 26th Street, 15th Floor. (The exhibition is up until May 16). Come view the work and then give us your comments.
i snapped this photo with my cam phone last week on the A train on the way home in the middle of the night. i don’t know who these two guys were, or what their relationship was, but it was really beautiful to watch them sleep. and to watch no one else around seem to care.
i did this because deb satter, a video artist that i’m gonna be working with, told me to check it out. the show ‘after nature’ was all around cool, but liden’s piece was really interesting. if you go you should check it out - it’s on the back staircase between the 3rd and 4th floor galleries.
i asked one of the museum employees if that was her only work in the exhibit and she said, “yes, and thank you for noticing it.”
liden is part of reena spaulings, this art gallery/collective. the piece at the new museum, “untitled” (not pictured above), is this little cardboard room hidden away from the rest of the exhibit.
you walk in to find three little stools and a beautifully cut, textured wall of cardboard that seems to reach infinitely high. a small, shitty tv sits on the floor and you have to look down to see the video (which is of some dude walking backwards through various cityscapes shot in profile). at first it seemed kind of boring, but as you sit, the simple repetitive piano music kind of puts you in a kind of creepy zen situation.
then you notice the obnoxiously huge, black foamcore inverted representation of the new museum itself twirling above your head on a string. i loved this part. it was this awesome commentary on the hideousness of the building’s architecture, and it floated over you like a regret.
the new museum is free from 7-10pm on thursdays, FYI.
alas a non-photo post today, as i sit here typing on an archaic, hand-me-down compaq without adobe creative suite in jess’ kitchen. she’s getting dressed and singing ani difranco.
it’s summer friday’s at the ole’ office so i got out of work at 3 today. i was planning on posting something about witness relocation’s new show ‘vicious dogs on premises’ now in its last weekend at the ontological hysteric theatre. i saw this show last night because i’m a fan of the company and everyone that’s involved in it is a friend. it was awesome. it was kind of like an improv game peppered with sick, sick jokes and ridiculous dances. brilliance. the photos of the show from director dan safer’s facebook page are awesome - wish i could post one. (compaq, remmber?).
jess and i are going to park slope in a bit to see our friend andrew dinwiddie’s show ‘the accursed items’ at BAX.
our plan is to get some summer brew and drink it on the pulaski bridge before heading over. wish us luck.
it’s a lovely day. let’s keep it that way.
that’s a quote from this awesome band ‘poster children’ from seattle that i discovered in high school because their album cover looked cool.
