Tag Archives: Gazing Ball

Arts and Culture

Jeff Koons Gazing Ball Paintings at Gagosian Gallery

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Monet Water Lillies
Monet’s Water Lillies with Gazing Ball (All Photos by Gail)

Hey remember back in the spring of 2013, when Jeff Koons launched his magnificent Gazing Ball series? I sure do. Gazing Ball was a collection of stark white Greco-Roman statuary, augmented by assorted replicas of common objects such as a Mail Box or Snowman, each of which was enhanced with a bright blue mirrored globe, also known as a Gazing Ball. Trust me: it was Rad.

Ship

So, Gazing Ball is a Thing now. Koons revisited the concept when he created the artwork for Lady Gaga’s 2014 CD, ArtPop, and now he’s done it again with a massive show at Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea appropriately titled Gazing Ball Paintings.

Naked Chicks

As the title implies, Gazing Ball Paintings are Koons’ copies of works by Famous Masters with a Gazing Ball attached to the front of each canvas.

Klimt

As much as I am inclined to suggest that Koons “phoned it in” for this series, that is not to say that I didn’t totally love the work.

Rembrandt

Because, just as the crappiest attraction at Disneyland is still lots of fun, Jeff Koons is Jeff Koons. He could go full-on Yoko Ono and I would still go see the show.

Picasso

I should probably mention that photography using a “Professional Camera” — which is what the Gagosian staff call a point-and-shoot camera — is not allowed. You can only take photos of the art using a Smart Phone or, I am guessing, an iPad. Lame City.

Mona Lisa

Up Next: Gazing Ball with Food.

Jeff Koons Gazing Ball Paintings will be on Exhibit Through December 23rd, 2015 at Gagosian Gallery, Located at 522 West 21st Street in the Chelsea Gallery District. Jeff Koons!

Gazing Ball Billboard
Gazing Ball Billboard at the Highline

Arts and Culture

Paula Hayes Gazing Globes in Madison Square Park

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Gazing Globes
All Photos By Gail

Discovering cool public art in NYC is part of what makes being an art lover in this city so rewarding. Even though they have been up since February 19th, I just read about Paula Hayes’ Gazing Globes installation in Madison Square Park last week, and with less than a month left to check it out, I felt encouraged by the promise of less frigid weather to head over there this past weekend.

Gazing Globe
Gazing Globe
Gazing Globe Interior Close Up

The work features eighteen transparent polycarbonate spheres that hold the remnants of contemporary culture, including up-cycled radio parts, industrial materials, acrylic wands, and other pieces of vintage technology sprinkled with fairy dust made of pulverized CDs. In this way, Hayes is using new materials and adding fresh content to her objects while retaining some of the form of her well-known plant terrariums.

Mad Square Park View

The heights of the pedestals varies, which adds a keen visual dynamic as well. It is like walking into a magical fairy land!

Gazing Globe Gazing Globe Interior Close Up

Each see-through globe lit from within features a mixture of analog radio parts, castoff electronic transistor parts, glass vacuum tubes, micro glass beads, shredded rubber tires, and recycled plastic flotsam. To these mixed remnants of technology and culture the artist added crystals and minerals.

CD Dust

A shimmering fairy dust was made from pulverized CDs and is layered within each sculpture’s interior. Hayes, who typically works with varieties of plant materials, determined that everyday castoffs are indicative of a society’s behavior and value system and symptomatic of the current landscape.

Gazing Globe Pink

The artist states, “I used vintage parts because technology moves at such a fast pace. These play a role in the current landscape and how information is transmitted from one part of the globe to the next. I made an illuminated landscape evocative of the designed landscape of Madison Square Park. Both are born of human imagination and technology.”

Since the Globes are illuminated, the optimal viewing time is at dusk or, ideally, in the dark. We arrived maybe 20 minutes before full sunset, but due to being underdressed for a sudden temperature drop, we were just too cold to remain outside any longer.

Globes

Gazing Globes by Paula Hayes’s will be on view through April 19th, 2015 at the West Gravel area of Madison Square Park, Located on the North East Lot at Intersection of 23rd Street and Broadway, New York City.

Arts and Culture

Must See Art: Jeff Koons Retrospective at The Whitney Museum

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Jeff Koons Retrospective Signage
Jeff Koons Retrospective Signage Depicting Michael Jackson and Bubbles Sculpture from the Banality Series (All Photos By Gail)

It is no secret that Jeff Koons is one of my most-loved artists. A lot of haters take issue with the fact that Koons is so rich and successful, like that is a bad, thing. I say, if a billionaire wants to pay $58 million dollars for one of his Balloon Dog sculptures, good for him. Good for everybody! If I had $58 Million to blow on some rad artwork, I would do the same thing. Jeff Koons!

Jeff Koons is currently the subject of a retrospective at The Whitney Museum, surveying the full scope of his career, and it is a must see show. Comprised of almost 150 objects dating from 1978 to the present, this exhibition is the most comprehensive ever devoted to Koons’ Artwork, his first major museum presentation in New York, and the first to fill nearly the entire Marcel Breuer-designed Whitney building with a single artist’s work. The Koons Retrospective will also be the final exhibition to take place there before the Whitney opens its new building in the Meatpacking District in 2015 — but what a way to go!

Continue reading Must See Art: Jeff Koons Retrospective at The Whitney Museum →

Music, Pop Culture

Photos From Lady Gaga’s ArtPop Pop Up Boutique & Gallery NYC!

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ArtPop Pop Up Storefront
All Photos By Gail

Today, November 11th, 2013 marks the release of Lady Gaga’s latest CD, ArtPop. The disc is most notable not so much for its musical ear-worm dancefloor-friendly shenanigans as it is for the artwork that graces the cover: a sculpture of a nude Gaga with a Gazing Ball between her legs, which was designed by Jeff Koons, one of the wealthiest and most successful contemporary artists in America. Confession: the fact that Lady Gaga managed to collaborate with Jeff Koons is the only reason I am paying any attention to this album.

Lady Gaga Media Release

To celebrate the CD’s please, Gaga’s well-oiled Hype Machine have opened a Pop Up Store in New York’s Meat Packing District (and another one in LA) which is open today, tomorrow and Wednesday from Noon to 9 PM each day. Since today is a holiday, I was free to check out the scene on West 14th Street and take some photos so you can see what you’re missing out on. Or not.

Gaga Applause Make Up
Everyone Working in the Store Had Their Make Up Done Like This

The place was totally mobbed within 30 minutes of opening its doors and one of the guys there selling T-Shirts said it had already been “a long day.” HA! In addition to merchandise for sale, which includes a variety of Gaga T Shirts, Canvas Tote Bags, Magazines with her face on them and, of course, the ArtPop CD, the space features a few props from the ArtPop photo shoot and a selection of Gaga’s outfits, which are always fun to see.

Gaga Outfits P1010572 Red and Blue Outfits

For Fans looking for a more personalized experience, there are “interactive” kiosks, where you can virtually insert yourself yourself into one of Gaga’s videos, get your photo taken in front of some Gaga Props and a tiny room where people are leaving written homages to Gaga on its paper walls.

Gaga Graffiti

Lady Gaga Binary Chair

This is the Binary Chair from the ArtPop photo shoot. Pretty cool!

Art Pop Koons

Here you can see Jeff Koons styling and photographing Gaga for the cover sculpture.

Gazing Ball Booklet Art

This is probably from the CD booklet, but will give you an idea of what Koons’ Gazing Ball exhibit at the David Zwirner gallery looked like.

Here are some masks Gaga wears on stage.

Lady Gaga Swine Mask
Swine Mask

Gaga Plastic Mask Display
Plastic Mask

Gaga Swag

They had lots of T-Shirts for sale!

Prop Gazing Balls

Sadly, these Gazing Balls, which are props left over from the MTV Music Awards are not for sale.

Goddess of Love

I enjoyed my visit!

The Lady Gaga ARTPOP Pop Up Store is Open Monday November 11 – Wednesday November 13, from Noon to 9:00 PM Daily! Find it at 417 West 14th Street just West of Ninth Avenue (Near the Apple Store).
Tickle Me Pink

Music, Pop Culture

Lady Gaga’s ArtPop Pop Up Gallery Comes to NYC and LA!

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Lady Gaga Art Pop Evite

ARTPOP POP UP: A LADY GAGA GALLERY is a special three day event that will take place only in New York and Los Angeles from November 11 to 13th, 2013.

The Gallery will be open from 12:00 Noon – 9:00 PM at the following locations:

In NYC: 417 West 14th Street

In LA: 1538 N. Cahuenga Blvd

Come celebrate and experience the release of Gaga’s latest CD, ARTPOP with Music, Interactive Experiences, actual Gaga props and outfits, and much more! ARTPOP is available everywhere 11/11/13.

I’ll be “popping” by the gallery space on West 14th Street on Monday November 11th and will post pics of all the hot action right here upon my return.