Photo By Gail
Artist Ryan Callanan created this sculpture of the late Rapper Biggie Smalls as the Buddha, covered in gold leaf, draped in bling and seated on a big pile of cash. Nice. Buddha Smalls Cash Gold (2016) one of an edition of seven pieces, sells for $1,700 from Tag Fine Arts in London, UK.
Photographed at the Affordable Art Fair in NYC.
All Photos By Gail
Wednesday night was a beautiful night in the city; so warm and clear. It was not surprising to see so many people out in Madison Square Park, many of whom were not even in line for Shake Shack. Geoffrey and I had some time to kill before heading to an event in the neighborhood, so we ventured into the park to find the new resident public art project, which they have in the park every summer. Barely into the park’s east side at 24th Street we saw what looked like a giant elephant sculpture with big gold nose ring, just ahead to the west. “There it is,” we said in unison.
Big Bling
Big Bling is a public sculpture by American artist Martin Puryear (b. 1941). This forty-foot-tall work – the largest temporary piece he has created – is built of wood, the artist’s signature material, and a chain link fence. A shackle covered in gold leaf is anchored near the top of the structure.
Puryear has described Big Bling as “an event”; it is a short-term phenomenon. Through abstract means, he has crafted an on-going dialogue with history, art history, identity, and politics. Here, “Bling” – a slang term for flashy jewelry and accessories – is rooted in the urban youth, hip-hop and rap culture of the ‘90s. It is exceptional for Puryear to summon contemporary vernacular in titling his work. The name of the artwork and its placement in the heart of Manhattan demonstrates his recognition that Big Bling is a reflection of the character and the inhabitants of dense urban environments.
Big Bling Detail: It Reminds Me of an Ear
Big Bling is part animal form, part abstract sculpture, and part intellectual meditation.
Do Not Climb Big Bling
See Big Bling in Madison Square Park Through January of 2017!
I took this photo this past Thursday night, of a large scale print representation of the Damien Hirst sculpture For The Love of God, displayed in the window of DTR Modern Galleries (458 West Broadway) in Soho. It is not a great photo, due to the high glare off the shop window, but I just love this work so much, I had to put it up.
Photo By Anne Raso
This Hot Pink Blinged Out Cake Mixer sits in the front display window at Georgetown Cupcake on Prince Street in New York City. We heard that it was a gift to one of the owners (they are a pair of sisters, so we are not sure which one owns this awesome thing) from her husband. Wow, nothing says Love to me like the gift of a Hot Pink Swarovski Crystal-studded Cake Mixer. Happy Love! Happy Valentines Day!
This Birthday cake in the shape and likeness of rapper Lil Wayne’s head was created for the 14th birthday of Ireland Baldwin (daughter of Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger), back in October of 2009. I just found it today after Googling “Rock Star Cakes” hoping to uncover something as cool as this. I’m not a fan of Lil Wayne’s “music” or anything, but I do think this cake looks amazing. Lil Wayne’s dreads are cleverly fashioned from licorice and his sunglasses are made from modeling chocolate, but based on what is obviously the photo on which the cake was designed (below) I think they could have put more bling in his grill. I’m not sure why there is a name tag (Bandaid?) on his face that says “Wade.” Maybe someone can explain that to me in the comments. I’d like to credit the bakery of origin, but I couldn’t find the name anywhere online, though I did learn that they are located in Beverly Hills, which makes sense.
I Wonder if Damien Hirst Had a Hand in Creating This? The 50,000 shimmering stones encrusting this lovely toilet by Jemal Wright aren’t real diamonds — but who cares? The toilet is forever. The artist’s other bathroom fixtures include chrome-plated porcelain and crystalline patterns hand-laid on sinks or even urinals. Your price? About $75,000.
