A truly exciting exhibition of Zaha Hadid's massive sculptures opened yesterday afternoon, and the two galleries were immediately mobbed with starchitecture fans. Curated by Kenny Schacter/Rove, the works on display through December 13 were orginally architectural commissions. Hadid's astounding vision of urbanism spans the globe, from Istanbul to Dubai to Cincinnati, and her sense of space and movement are utterly astounding.
While the recent opening of Hadid's Chanel-sponsored Central Park installation Mobile Art might smack of commercial appropriation of the art/architecture/park space, taken collectively these three New York installations present nothing less than a revolutionary view of how to conceptualize and execute visionary forms. For example at Sonnabend, Relief 1: Domestic takes up an entire gallery wall, a deceptively simple yet amorphous sitting space that expands in multiple directions. Created out of fiberglass and high-gloss lacquer paint finish, at 9'11" x 20'9" x 4'3", this confection is something one has hitherto never seen the likes of. You'll also find a splendid creation, the Kartal Pendik Masterplan, Istanbul, made of polystyrene with polyurethane shell and white matte paint finish. At a massive 10'5" x 37'10" x 14'9", it symbolizes not just the important link between the European and Asian parts of Istanbul. You might think of it as an exploded view of nanotechnology, or perhaps even a masterly synthetic version of the urban space, or even a synecdoche for the great divide between East and West. Hadid's website characterizes it thusly: The fabric is further articulated by an urban script that generates different typologies of buildings that respond to the different demands of each district. This calligraphic script creates open conditions that can transform from detached buildings to perimeter blocks, and ultimately into hybrid systems that can create a porous, interconnected network of open spaces that meanders throughout the city. Through subtle transformations and gradations from one part of the site to the other, the scripted fabric can create a smooth transition from the surrounding context to the new, higher density development on the site.
Even more breathtaking is Stalactices, made of fiberglass with high gloss laquer paint finish. At 9'11" x 20'5" x 14', I have never seen a small gallery space so superbly transformed into something so vastly other. Although the sculpture immediately transports the viewer into the underworld of cave spelunking, one does a double-take at the artifice of highly-polished green stalactices, something so incredibly inorganic. To describe it as mesmerizing would be an understatement. I arrived at the Sonnabend gallery while the crew was finalizing the installation and polishing the surfaces; the challenge of preparing and executing such a complex installation was everywhere evident. I felt like a voyeur, truly marveling at a ceiling-mounted sculpture that extends downward nearly to the floor, yet another virtuoso performance of Hadid that very consciously defies gravity as well as our concept of the traditional gallery space. Of course, one frequently sees ceiling-mounted sculpture, that much is not new; but the fluidity and free-flowing nature of this form of Hadid's underscores a sense of functionality and ergonometrics like no other sculptor—or architect, for that matter.
At 169 Tenth Avenue—until recently yet another Empire City Subway vehicle depot-cum-warehouse—the massive sculptures and videoscreens (photographed above) seem almost otherworldly. In fact, these highly-polished forms are so fluid and so gigantic they appear at times to float. Their airiness belies their weight and size, and the video projection behind them simply reinforces the brilliance of this Pritzker-prize winning, Baghdad-born genius, who has assuredly earned the title of most admired living architect.
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kenny schachter, rove, sculpture, sonnabend, zaha hadid
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Posted 32 days ago
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As a special invitation to New Yorkers to celebrate the magnificent restoration of this Frank Lloyd Wright landmark, the Guggenheim Museum will open its doors for a day of free admission this Thursday from noon to 8 pm and will illuminate its facade with a specially commissioned work of art by Jenny Holzer, For the Guggenheim, which illuminates the building's exterior with large-scale texts from poems and the artist’s own writings, from dusk until 11 p.m.
We visited the Guggenheim during the recent Open House New York weekend to get an insider's view of the meticulous renovations. NYC.com will subsequently post a detailed photo essay showing behind-the-scenes restoration work. For now, visitors can enjoy the Museum’s newly restored exterior and fall exhibitions: theanyspacewhatever; Catherine Opie: American Photographer; Catherine Opie Selects: Pictures and Words; The Thannhauser Collection; and A Photo Tribute to the Life of Robert Rauschenberg. Audio tours will be available free of charge.
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catherine opie, guggenheim museum, jenny holzer, robert rauschenberg
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Posted 38 days ago
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Following its recently-completed renovations, the new Museum of Arts and Design (MAD), will open to the public on September 27. With an impressive 54,000 square feet, this new building offers nearly three times the interior space of the museum’s former incarnation. More importantly, for the first time in its history, MAD now has a space dedicated solely to housing its permanent collection. During a ribbon-cutting ceremony held this morning, Mayor Bloomberg inaugurated the new building along with Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn as well as Jerome Chazen, Chairman of the Capital Campaign for 2 Columbus Circle.
While exploring the six exhibition floors at the new MAD during a press preview held last week, one was immediately struck by the way natural light bathes the interior artwork without ever competing against it. MAD's new Columbus Circle address affords it the rare New York independent stand-alone location, allowing sunlight to shine in from every direction. And that’s to say nothing of its exterior; the nine-story building, designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works Construction, is adorned with iridescent ceramic tiles and strips of glass that allow the exterior to shimmer all around the circle.
Within the mirrored, cubic tower you'll find a collection of contemporary art that emphasizes and celebrates the creative process as well as the finished product. While looking at so many stunning pieces, it can be easy to forget that they were once simple, raw materials—and moreover that it took the work and ideas of an actual artist to craft them into innovative works of art and design. To further the museum's mission, the sixth floor is entirely dedicated both housing three artist studios that are open to the public (so that anyone can observe masters in the midst of their craft) as well as to educational workshops. On the lower level, there is also a 155-seat auditorium that will serve as a valuable space for lectures and educational presentations, as well as film screenings.
During the museum’s press conference held last week, we previewed the striking new galleries and inaugural exhibitions. "Second Lives: Remixing the Ordinary" was among the most impressive. The exhibition features everyday household items transformed into imaginative works of art. Vinyl records are metamorphosed into swarms of butterflies; hundreds of chunky sunglasses compose a chandelier; plastic forks and cotton swabs make up a flower-shaped light installation. It is fascinating to see mundane objects contextualized in such a way that their functionality is all but forgotten in favor of art. "Second Lives" runs until February 15th.
MAD’s vast array of jewelry was also among our favorites. As part of their permanent collection, surprisingly enough, MAD houses the only collection of contemporary jewelry in the United States. So aside from Tiffany & Co., this is the best place in town to get your fill of sparkling chandelier earrings and necklaces that defy chunky. In addition to the cases that adorn the walls of the second floor, there are literally dozens of pull-out drawers underneath them, which contain even more pieces—an eclectic array of bracelets, rings and more—in a variety of mediums from wood to bronze and even paper. This strikes us as a really clever, space-effective way to display an incredibly varied collection.
As MAD officially opens to the public September 27, admission is free during the inaugural weekend. You can read more about the Museum of Arts and Design here.
All photographs copyright © NYC.com. Special thanks to Heidi Riegler.
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2 columbus circle, Brad Cloepfil, mad, museum arts design, Second Lives
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Posted 72 days ago
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The Museum of Arts and Design is set to re-open in its new home at 2 Columbus Circle on Saturday, September 27. Fortuitously, MAD will be open to the public for free during its inaugural weekend. Some of the exhibitions on display include Elegant Armor: The Art of Jewelry and Remixing the Ordinary, which showcases mundane, mass-produced objects transformed into contemporary works of art. Also be sure to look for the performers wearing large, balloon-like sculptures known as "Megamites" (designed by Jason Hackenworth) in the front of the museum during the inaugural celebration.
At 54,000 square feet, the new location is triple the size of the museum's old building. Designed by Brad Cloepfil of Allied Works, the museum can now hold its entire permanent collection, as well as variety of revolving, temporary ones. MAD also houses several unique installation pieces, including a ceramic, abstract wall relief by Ruth Duckworth and a stained-glass commission by Judith Schaechter. In keeping with its mission to inform, educate, and encourage artistic exploration, there are several classrooms and studios on the museum's sixth floor, as well as a 150-seat auditorium for lectures, performances and symposiums.
Architecturally speaking, the new exterior remains loyal to the boxy original. While it has a more geometric, tiled façade, it still resembles the museum’s old look in a way that’s sure to satisfy preservationists. However, some critics claim the design isn’t bold enough to justify its remodeling. Whatever your opinion on the design, New Yorkers are sure to acknowledge that the new MAD will serve as yet another great artistic space in the city.
Admission is $15 dollars for adults and $12 students and seniors; members get in free. For additional information and historic background, do visit the museum's recently-upgraded website.
Image © Allied Works Architecture
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mad, museum arts design
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Posted 86 days ago
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One of the many rooms you might enjoy during the holiday opening today at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is the panoramic portrait of Versailles, shown above in a photograph taken yesterday. Painted at Kingston, New York, and New York City between 1818 and 1819, this seminal work fills an impressive space found between the Temple of Dendur and American Wing. Take along your copy of Richard Brody's Everything Is Cinema, a seminal quasi-hagiography of Jean-Luc Godard, and stand out from the crowd by reading it perched on a shaded bench on the rooftop garden, where you can also enjoy Jeff Koons' whimsical sculptures.
Also read our review of the Greek and Roman galleries which undoubtedly will be packed with visitors.
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john vanderlyn, met museum, temple of dendur, versailles
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Posted 94 days ago
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