Outdoor Art – Summer 2012
LEONIA SCULPTURE GARDEN, Leonia, NJ. From the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, the small town of Leonia in Bergen County was a noted art colony. One present day showcase of talent and display of dedication to the arts is the Erika and David Boyd Sculpture Garden. This rotating display allows sculptors to exhibit their works and Leonians to enjoy the visual enrichment of the community. At present, 20 artists are represented, the latest addition being a magnificent metal horse in full gallop created by Adrian Landon.
GROUNDS FOR SCULPTURE, Hamilton, NJ. Even if you’re ambivalent about contemporary art, the 35-acre arboretum, Zagat-rated restaurant, and variety of workshops and events at Grounds For Sculpture are grounds enough for a springtime visit. There are more than 250 sculptures in the evolving outdoor permanent collection as well as rotating indoor seasonal exhibitions, workshops on topics such as ceramics, stone-carving, photography, and yoga for adults and children, plus lectures, concerts, and tours—even touch tours for the blind. Other activities in the past have included a Bubble Wrap Magic Family Workshop. While outside food isn’t allowed, you can pre-order a picnic at Peacock Café and eat it on the grounds, or make a reservation for a more elaborate dining experience at Rat’s Restaurant, which overlooks the sculpture park and a Monet-inspired lily pond.
CLOUD CITY, Metopolitan Museum of Art, NYC. On the rooftop of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Cloud City” welcomes visitors. Argentinian artist Tomas Saraceno created the 16 stainless steel-framed bubbles, accessible via transparent staircases that take visitors on a journey up, with spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline and Central Park. Saraceno’s first major U.S. commission “blends and reflects the environment,” says the 38-year-old artist. “It’s multi-reality, it’s like a walk in the sky.” So when the sky is blue, it will get really blue, he says. And when it’s cloudy, you are walking in a kind of cloud scape. Through Nov. 14.
WATERTOWER, Brooklyn, NY. Using locally sourced steel and plexiglass from places like Build It Green and old sign shops, Fruin has created an incredible monument to the city of Brooklyn. The tower is lit by the sun during the day. You can also admire the tower at night when the programmed light sequences glow from within. The tower is located on the rooftop of 20 Jay Street; according to the press release, the prime viewing locations are the Brooklyn Bridge Park at Washington Street and the Manhattan Bridge bike path.
FIGMENT INTERACTIVE SCULPTURE GARDEN, Governors Island, NYC. Who says you can’t touch the artwork? The 10 pieces chosen for Figment’s Interactive Sculpture Garden encourage you not only to touch, but climb on, crawl into, sit inside and even groom. Yes, groom — as in brushing and braiding the “hair” on benches resembling animals in the work “Pulling It Too Tight.” Try connecting with someone across a field, via visual Morse code, using one of two naval signal lamps. There’s even an oversized wood TV screen (“Live!”) that lets you alternate between being the viewer and the entertainer. There is also FIGMENT Minigolf, nine new holes, each designed by a different artist playing off the theme of the old-school arcade. On view weekends and holiday Mondays from June 9 to Sept. 23.
PET SOUNDS, Madison Square Park, NYC. Oozing from railings, poking up along pathways, plopped atop benches and picnic tables, these colorful, odd-looking blobs inspire visitors to reach out and touch. And that’s what you’ll spot both kids and grown-ups doing — stroking the smooth surfaces of the amorphous figures which, in turn, emit various electronic sounds and (good) vibrations. No wonder Los Angeles-based artist Charles Long named it after that classic Beach Boys album, “Pet Sounds.” On view through Sept. 9.
