Out and About in the Boroughs ...

Since I'm obviously not in my kitchen today, I thought I'd share some recent photos. As mentioned last week, I recently paid a visit to the P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City, Queens. I'm ashamed to admit it was my first visit - but I will most certainly return. It was a cloudy, rainy Saturday, just perfect for a museum outing. No photography was allowed inside the Center, but I did take a few shots of the Public Farm installation - pictured above and below.

The paper tubes contain all manner of plants and the view from below was decidedly more interesting that day. At this point in the season, much of the green has gone brown, but I'm sure it was spectacular mid-summer. Still, I really enjoyed it and you can visit this part of the museum for free. Bonus!

The neighborhood in which P.S.1 is located is also home to some of the finest aerosol art in the city - as evidenced by the 5 Pointz Project. 5 Pointz is a free, public, out-door art exhibit which showcases some of the city's most talented aerosol artists. One needs to submit a design proposal and be accepted in order to obtain a permit to work here - so the quality is exceptional, and the exhibit is ever changing.


I don't know for certain, but my sense is that the buildings in the surrounding area support the 5 Pointz Project and the artists who work there ... as many of them had been beautifully painted as well. I can't help but think this work has been commisioned. See below ...

It pleases me that aerosol art, more commonly known as graffiti, has been legitimated of late. There was a graffiti exhibit at the Whitney last year - but it pales in comparison to whats going on at 5 Pointz. I don't advocate the kind of graffiti associated with tagging and destruction of private (or even public) property - but I do respect the medium and the talented artists who choose to work in it ... legally. Long story short, I love 5 Pointz.

I'll close with what I'm sure was a commissioned piece as it appears on the security gate of a local business ...

... the angry light bulbs. Like them, I do!

And thus concludes our urban art class for the day. Have a good one and make it creative!