Photo By Gail
This rose bush grows in a planter bed out front of my apartment building, and it somehow manages to stay alive nearly all year long. This photo was taken in early December of 2017, and I can’t believe I got such a great shot of these tiny Pink Blossoms, and one still-tight bud, covered in a light snowfall. The roses are actually taking a break right now as there’s at least two feet of accumulated snow in the bed, but this photo is a reminder that they’ll be back in the spring.
All Photos By Gail
When Winter Storm Gail hit the tri-state area in mid-December, people joked with me that the storm would surely bring with it some Pink Snow — because it shared my name, and everyone knows how much I love anything pink. Well, surprise (or not) — while exploring the neighborhood on the morning after the storm, I actually encountered Pink Snow!
The mysterious pink slush (which is what it had become by this point in the day) was found at the intersection of Avenue B and 9th Street, adjacent to a highly-trafficked bodega. I have no idea where the pink color came from, but I am glad I was lucky enough to document it before it melted and swirled down into the sewer and out to sea!
Pink Snow, Bitches!
Installation View (All Photos By Gail)
If you enjoy humorous, absurdist art in the conceptual style of David Shirley, and you also love Midcentury Modern Furnishings, and you have an Instagram account, then you will surely go wild over Austrian sculptor Erwin Wurm’s latest exhibit, Ethics Demonstrated in Geometrical Order, which is in its final two weeks at the Lehmann Maupin Gallery. Grab your camera and your sense of childish playfulness and head on over!
Ethics Demonstrated in Geometrical Order (which is also the title of the piece seen front and center in the above photo) is an exhibit that a encourages — even demands — viewer participation in that you are asked to physically interact with the art in a series of One Minutes Sculptures, as follows:
The basic premise of a One Minute Sculpture remains uniform. For each work, using a drawing or specific text, Wurm directs participants to pose with an object, which have ranged from cleaning products and sneakers to furniture and fruit. The viewer enacts the proposed sculpture on a low plinth, manipulating their body and the predetermined prop in a pose held for a short time.
While instructions are printed on each object, a descriptive sheet with photo illustrations is available at the gallery’s front desk.
Let’s take a closer look!
A Sofa and a Blue Dustpan invite you to perform the One Minute Sculpture known as The Parallel Universe.
Hold the Dustpan against the sofa with your body.
Instructions for Ethics Demonstrated in a Geometrical Way: kneel in front of the chair and place your head through the hole.
Head TV: Lower your head through the hole in the cabinet.
Fun!
Wurm reiterates that the success of these ephemeral pieces is determined by the exactness with which the directions are executed, stating, “The One Minute Sculptures only come into existence if the public follows precisely the instructions of the artist and free will has a low priority.”
Deep Snow: Step into the holes and lift the bench, holding it aloft with your legs.
Organization of Love: With a partner, hold the foam sheet between your foreheads with your arms resting on the cushion.
Roast Yourself Under the Sun of Epicure: Rest your head under the lamp.
Spaceship to Venus: Lie down inverted on the seat of the chair and lift your legs in the air.
Equitable
In addition to the One Minute Sculptures, the exhibition includes five new sculptural works in cast bronze and mixed media, including Equitable (2016) and Flat Iron (2016), recreations of two iconic New York buildings that appear to be melting, and Bad Thoughts (2016), created by casting deformed bags of clay.
Flat Iron
Bad Thoughts
Bad Thoughts reminded me of Big Kastenmann, the sculpture that Wurm made for display in front of the Standard Hotel back in 2012. As you can see, the exhibit is lots of fun and be sure to go with a friends so that you can get your snaps in!
Erwin Wurm’s Ethics Demonstrated in Geometrical Order will be on Exhibit Through May 26th, 2017 at Lehmann Maupin, Located at 536 West 22nd Street, in the Chelsea Gallery District.
All Photos By Gail
The Snow Penis: it is a Thing. When snow falls on a parked car in NYC, it is time for the juvenile male mind to draw a penis on said car. I was not exactly on the hunt for the elusive Snow Penis when I spotted these two prime examples — on East 6th Street and East 5th Street, respectively — but I did have my camera with me, so, I bagged them both!
Added February 9th, 2017
Spotted on 14th Street East of First Avenue
Photo By Gail
As the Velvet Rope indicates, this Park Bench is exclusive and not for losers!
Photographed at the NYBG on Saturday January 7th, 2017.
At least we don’t have to shovel it! Filmed in the Papyrus Card Store on Broadway and Park Place. Enjoy!
Photo By Gail
Winter Storm Jonas dumped Two Feet of white, fluffy snow on NYC on Saturday, January 23rd, and the aftermath is fairly Instagram worthy. This public phone booth, which appears to be “occupied,” stands near the corner of West 53rd Street and 6th Avenue.