Sidewalk Catwalk: Meet the Mannequins

The Fashion Center opened, "Sidewalk Catwalk," its long-in-the-making summer public art exhibition, today, and I was on hand to see the unveiling of 32 mannequins dressed by superstar designers--including Kenneth Cole, Betsey Johnson, Isaac Mizrahi, Nicole Miller, Rebecca Taylor, and Donna Karan--and local fashion students. The mannequins will posed in the plazas of the Fashion District, along Broadway from 35 Street to 42nd Street in Manhattan, through September 3.

The project, meant to highlight New York's fashion industry, is brilliant in several ways:

1) It presented a real and compelling challenge that many of the designers probably hadn't faced before: creating "outfits" out of durable materials that could remain outside and stand up to the city elements all summer long (some designers were successful at that, incorporating a variety of materials from a parachute to bricks, but I foresee a sad fate for others' garments). Essentially, the mannequins became sculptures and the designers, many of whom often use visual arts to inspire their clothing collections, had to turn the tables and use their vision for clothing as the impetus for an artwork.

2) It's the kind of public art project that, when stumbled upon by the unsuspecting pedestrian, is likely to provoke wonder, curiosity, and awe, in the much same way that this Sarah Sze sculpture did for me in 2006.

3) The custom Ralph Pucci mannequins were the perfect muses for the designers, given their streamlined shapes, faceless figures, and their already well-established connection to the art world.

4) The juxtaposition and close proximity of the mannequins to Antony Gormley's much less commercial public exhibition, "Event Horizon"-- 31 sculptures of the artist naked, standing in Madison Square Park and peering somberly down from nearby rooftops-- makes me chuckle.

5) It's for a good cause. All of the mannequins will be auctioned to benefit Materials for the Arts.

Pictured above is Prabal Gurung's mannequin design-- now go see the rest!

Save The City Reliquary!

Photo courtesy of E. Bartholomew, via Flickr.

The City Reliquary is one of those places that can make a Brooklynite feel smug about "discovering" one of the sweetest secret hangouts in the borough. Meandering down Metropolitan Avenue a couple years ago, I felt exactly that way when I ducked into this tiny museum and found, behind its yellow and red awning, the coolest, quirkiest, old-timiest collection of NYC ephemera I'd ever seen--everything from a crazy collection of kitschy Statue of Liberty replicas to chunks of long-gone buildings. But later, when I attended my first event at the Reliquary (a reception for the exhibition "76 Kisses " in February, 2008), I found out this hangout wasn't my little secret after all. The place was packed, bursting at the seams with revelers. Turns out that lots of New Yorkers were onto the spot waaay before I marched in, and all its parties, concerts and films draw a big crowd. In warmer weather, people even spill out into the backyard.

While its steady increase in popularity is a good thing, the Reliquary is also experiencing its share of growing pains, according to the museum's president, Dave Herman, who founded the Reliquary as a nonprofit museum--originally a single display window and recorded "tour"(which still exist) at his Williamsburg apartment--and civic organization in 2002. "Our needs are growing larger," Herman says. Among other things, the museum needs to hire an administrator to apply for larger grants and city funding, and if it doesn't raise $60,000 by December, it might have to consider moving out of its current storefront digs at 370 Metropolitan (where it has been since 2006). Although Herman says the Reliquary won't close, its collection might have to seek a home in a public library or other alternative space.

Besides the awesomeness of the Reliquary's permanent collection, rotating exhibitions (past shows have included giant pencils, an impressive display of copper Jell-O molds, and photos and interviews with former Miss Subways), and parties, its mission alone is enough to make anyone want to keep it alive: Connecting visitors to both the past and present of New York. "People have been here [in Williamsburg] for hundreds of years, and I think it's important to acknowledge that," Herman says. "We want to add to the culture and highlight its rich history."

So how can you help? Donate some money or head over to this benefit concert:

What: St. Patrick's Day Benefit Concert for The City Reliquary
When: Wednesday, March 17th 2010, Doors 6:00PM/Show 7:30 PM
Where: Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Ave., Brooklyn
Who: Bands will include: Cecilia Brauer, Drink Me, Brian Dewan, Frankenpine, Lucky Chops and more.
How Much: $20

If you're too broke to do either, just visit and voice your support-- you'll be glad you did!

Urban Love Daily Arts New York

Electric Heart (above) and Arty Heart (below, left), courtesy Christopher Frederick, via Urban Love Daily.

Nobody loves New York City like Christopher Frederick. Where most of us might just glimpse some gunk on the sidewalk or a smear on a window, this Brooklyn-based artist sees hearts--and he immortalizes them in photographs. His recently launched Web site, Urban Love Daily, is a collection of these images, and the clever combination of gritty and sweet is enough to make even the most surly city dweller crack a smile. Besides getting a daily dose of amore, you can also buy a copy of your favorite picture or upload your own heart image on the site. Here's what Chris had to say about the project:

1) Where did the idea for Urban Love Daily originate?

The heart photos began one day when I was walking around Chelsea and saw that someone drew a heart right on the crotch of a man in an underwear add on a bus stop shelter. It made me laugh so hard that I had to take a picture of it. I showed it to a friend who reminded me of a picture I took on the boardwalk of Coney Island years ago, of a Popsicle that was melting into the shape of a heart. Suddenly I started seeing hearts everywhere. Finally I broke out my good camera and began to hunt them down. To my surprise, the more I looked the more I saw. I knew the heart imagery would be too sentimental for the gallery scene, yet I wanted people to see these images because they really struck a chord with me. A blog was the natural solution. I think what compels me to keep taking them is that they are not typically saccharine. I search for hearts that feel smart or tough or raw.

2) What's your favorite find so far?

I tend to get most excited when I find hearts formed accidentally, like Electric Heart, where I literally almost stepped on a broken cord laying in the middle of the street before I realized it was strewn in the shape of a heart.

3) What is the coolest submission you've received?

My favorite so far is Beet, an accidental heart formed when a red beet touched a gold beet. I think they were in love. Poor root vegetables getting separated like that. I imagine the joy that filled the photographer when she suddenly saw a distinct blood red heart reveal itself in the midst of the daily task of cooking.

4) What makes NYC the ideal place to find these little expressions of "Urban Love?"

I'm in love with New York City. New York's motto is the famous Milton Glaser rebus I ♥ NY. It's a city of passionate people and tourists that catch the buzz. Because New York is so dense and encourages walking, there's pedestrian traffic everywhere, so there's a lot of opportunity to see the traces of the people who have passed by, from litter and graffiti to self-promotion, decoration, and lost treasures. Within all of that there are lots of hearts to be found. At the same time, the sheer volume of people and activity can be ironically isolating. It can be hard to make deep connections, to find romantic love. I think there's so much heart iconography in this city because we all long for love more than we feel it. It can take a daily reminder not to focus on the darker side and all the irritations that come along with being here, though I have a huge appreciation for the dark side of life. I guess that's why my imagery tends to be gritty and atypical of what one normally associates with a heart. I'm more interested in the complex realities of love than any romantic delusion.

5) So what is it that you love the most about this crazy, beautiful, lonely city?

Anything is possible in New York. If you name it, you can find it. Such abundance has really helped me define myself and choose how I want to see the world.

Want more? Connect with Urban Love Daily on Facebook.

Knit Me Again

Knitted street art in NYC. Photo courtesy of Divine Harvester, via Flickr.

I hadn’t heard much lately about Knitta Please, so I was super stoked to hear the crew of ‘guerilla’ knitters that has been tagging up city light poles, signs, benches, and whatever else they can get their stitches on since 2005, is still at it. The group ‘of ladies of all ages, nationalities, and… gender,’ headed up by Magda Sayeg, who lives in Texas, will be covering 69 parking meter poles on Brooklyn’s Montague Street with bright, hand-knit sleeves on May 13, as part of a public art project commissioned by the Montague Street Business Improvement District. Knitta Please did a similar installation in Paris in 2007.

Gothamist has a great interview with Sayeg, who talks about this project, plus some of her favorite past creations–including throwing a knitted pair of sneakers over a power line, tagging the pedestal of an organ grinder in Mexico City, and covering an entire New York phone booth in stitches. ‘I like to stay connected to street culture, and what it inspires,’ she says.

Rock on, Magda.

If you’re a knitter in New York and would like to get involved with the Montague project, Knitta Please wants you! Call the Montague Street Business Improvement District at 718-522-3649 or visit the Web site. You can also get more info about the installation or Knitta Please and see more images of their work on their Web site or Facebook group.

(Note: I originally wrote this post for bust.com, where it appeared first. Yep, still multitasking...)

Subway Art Tour

I’m a sucker for public art, for the most obvious reasons: For the way a strategically placed piece can rise up to startle and greet you out of nowhere, take your breath away, and change the course and mood of your entire day. The subway is one of the best places for this scenario, but in the crazy, annoying, smelly hurry of the day, I hardly ever stop to notice that almost every station houses some amazing artwork. A few of my favorites are listed below.

Taking a little tour just to see this work will change your whole view of the train system. Plus, it’s perfect timing for an underground expedition, given that it’s still too cold to really enjoy walking the streets above ground, and subway art is free--perfect for all of us who are broke and/or unemployed.

If you want more, there’s a pretty complete list at nycsubway.org (but look out for temporary exhibitions that are no longer up), or you can check out these books.

NOTE: If you want to see all of the following on one trip, start at 14th Street-Eighth Ave. Then take the L heading to Union Square. From here, take the Q heading downtown/Brooklyn to Atlantic-Pacific. From here, take Q again, this time heading uptown toward Manhattan (don't forget to look out the window starting at the next stop!). Get off at Union Square, transfer to the 6, and head waaaay up to Westchester Square.

1) 14th Street-Eighth Avenue (A, C, E, L)
I used to work in the building above this station, and Tom Otterness’s bronze sculpture series, “Life Underground,” was one of my first experiences with subway art. Otterness’s whimsical, moneybag-bearing creatures that comment on capitalism manage to be both whimsical and foreboding, and are especially symbolic today. I wrote about these for ARTINFO in 2007.
Photo Courtesy MacRonin47, via Flickr.

2) 14th Street-Union Square (4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W)
This station is full of more obvious art, but you have to look closer to find my favorite—Mary Miss’s “Framing Union Square” installation that incorporates pieces of the original 1904 station. Look for red frames and eagles wearing the number 14.

3) Atlantic Avenue-Pacific Street in Brooklyn (2, 3, 4, 5, B, D, M, N, Q, R)
The Museum of Modern Art recently installed its “MoMAAtlantic/Pacific” advertising campaign at this stop, but more than an promotion for the museum, it serves as a mini-installation previewing all the midtown museum has to offer. More than 50 reproductions of works in MoMA’s collection—including those by Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol—are interspersed throughout this station through March 15. The works look somewhat different than they did when they were installed, however, after the street artist Poster Boy got his hands on them.

4) DeKalb Avenue in Brooklyn (B, D, M, N, Q, R)
The MTA recently restored Bill Brand’s 1980s optical illusion piece, “Masstransiscope,” so head back toward Manhattan on the B or Q and look out the windows on the right side of the train. Budget Travel’s blog has good YouTube video.

5) Westchester Square-East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx (6)
Caught at just the right moment, in just the right light, legendary artist Romare Bearden’s stained glass “City of Light” stained glass cityscape will stop you in your tracks.

Other stations to check out:

• 14th Street-Sixth Avenue (F, L, V)
• 191st Street (1)
• South Ferry (1)