Saturday, April 30, 2011

Steinunn Thorarinsdottir’s BORDERS - Human Sculpture Exhibit Addressing Humanity And Cultural Diversity At Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza



Borders is a new public art installation in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza in midtown Manhattan near the United Nations Headquarters. These are some of the images of the wonderful sculptures at the park by Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir.The installation features twenty-six androgynous, life-size sculptures, thirteen aluminum and thirteen cast iron, which extend throughout the park from First to Second Avenue on East 47th Street. BORDERS is the park’s largest exhibition to date and the first exhibition to incorporate the entire park.
“Dag Hammarskjold Plaza is the gateway to the United Nations and a hub of international activity that serves thousands of people and hosts hundreds of political events each year,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “The new public art installation, BORDERS, will connect many diverse constituencies to new artistic experiences. It will foster conversation and provide a significant backdrop for daily events at this public space.”
BORDERS was created specifically for Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza and directly responds to the park’s design and infrastructure, as well as the United Nations headquarters located at the eastern end of the park. Thórarinsdóttir’s figures, standing along the main park corridor and seated on park benches, mirror each other in silent conversation and form unseen borders that visitors are welcome to cross—serving as ambassadors between sculptures. The exhibition addresses humanity and cultural diversity, an exceptionally appropriate theme for one of the most culturally and politically active sites in all of New York City. The exhibition will run through September 30, 2011.

New York "Gleeks"

Filming on location outside the Cherry Lane Theatre in Greenwich Village
New York "Glee" fans descended on Hudson Street to see their favorite television stars including Lea Michele seen here walking from the trailer to the set.

Video posted by Ajhp23
New York fans of the Fox television series "Glee" descended on the West Village yesterday to watch the filming the season finale of the show. All week long, scenes for the season's final episode were shot in various locations in Manhattan including Times Square, Lincoln Center, Central Park, and Washington Square Park.

Friday, April 29, 2011

Royal Wedding Viewing Party in Times Square Hosted by TLC

New York Anglophiles and royal wedding fans gathered early this morning in Times Square for the royal wedding viewing party hosted by the cable network TLC. The viewing party of the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton featured pre-show analysis and live wedding broadcast on the Times Square jumbotrons, and "Say Yes to the Dress" fashion show. Singer Colbie Caillat also performed. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Chest of Drawers

"You Can't Lay Down Your Memory Chest of Drawers" 1991 by  Tejo Remy (Dutch, born 1960)
"Side 2" 1970 by Shiro Kuramata (Japanese, 1934-1991)
"49 Drawers" 1970 by Shiro Kuramata (Japanese, 1934-1991)
On view on the third floor of the Museum of Modern Art are three designs of chest of drawers. They are part of the collection of the Department of Architecture and Design. The pieces are works of furniture designers, Shiro Kuramata and Tejo Remy, two of a group of artists that turned to a "value system based on economy, simplicity and resposnibility."

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Purchasing Counterfeit Designer Bags To Become Illegal?


City Councilwoman Margaret Chin, whose district includes Chinatown, will introduce legislation this week that would make it illegal to buy counterfeit designer bags. These counterfeit designer goods are being sold not only in Chinatown, but also in different parts of the city including Times Square and Fifth Avenue. The pictures above were taken on Fifth Avenue between 54th and 55th Streets last fall. Guilty buyers could face a year in jail or a $1,000 fine if caught. This legislation if passed will probably be difficult to enforce. The city's seemingly unsuccessful crackdown on counterfeit designer goods could get some reinforcement from this legislation.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Minerva And Bell Ringers At Herald Square

The centerpiece of Herald Square is a monument to James Gordon Bennett who founded the New York Herald, and to his son. The monument houses the bronze figures of Minerva, goddess of wisdom and invention, and two bell-ringing blacksmiths. These bronze figures, as well as the clock on top were installed on the monument in 1940. The bronze figures were created by Antonin Jean Carles. The New York Herald, one of the world's great newspapers, was best known for its sensational coverage of scandal and crime.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

2011 Annual Easter Parade And Easter Bonnet Festival

Lego ferris wheel
Emmy Award winning actor Leslie Jordan ("Will and Grace") promoting his new Off-Broadway Musical, "Lucky Guy"

Easter bonnets, ranging from elegant to outrageous took center stage in today's spectacle that is the Annual Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue from 49th to 57th Streets. An event in which there is no such thing as proper or improper chapeaux, the Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival began at 10 AM and ended at about 4 PM. According to Midmanhattan.com, the tradition dates back to the middle of the 19th century, "when the social elite would attend services at one of the 5th Avenue churches and parade their new fashions down the Avenue afterwards."