Maurizio Cattelan's Bold, Humorous and Irreverent Art Hanging in the Middle of the Guggenheim Museum Rotunda

"La Nona Ora" (1999) An eerily lifelike sculpture of Pope John Paul II hit by a large meteorite

"Now" (2004) an effigy of a serene and barefoot John F. Kennedy lying in state, a martyr to a shattered American idealism seen from the perspective of a disillusioned present. 

"Him" (2001) a rendering of Adolf Hitler in the scale of a young boy, kneeling preposterously in a pose of supplication.

"Novecento" (1997), taxidermied horse, and "Daddy, Daddy" (2008) the puppet Pinocchio

A retrospective of the works of Italian contemporary artist MAURIZIO CATTELAN opened last night at the Guggenheim Museum. The exhibition is considered one of the "strangest, most audacious exhibitions in the Guggenheim's half-century history." A hanging collage of Cattelan's artworks, the site-specific installation called "MAURIZIO CATTELAN: ALL" involves suspending several thousand pounds' and millions of dollars' worth of internationally collected art from cables attached to aluminum truss installed almost 90 feet in the air in a disorienting, haphazard mass under the museum's elegant glass dome. The unconventional presentation brings together Cattelan's works created since 1989, including sculptures, paintings, photographs and works on paper. Maurizio Cattelan has created some of the most unforgettable images in recent contemporary art, with themes obtained from popular culture, history, and organized religion to a meditation on the self. The exhibit runs through January 22, 2012. The Guggenheim Museum is located in Manhattan's Upper East Side at 1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street. More information from the Guggenheim Museum website.

Apple Fifth Avenue Flagship Store Unveils New "Simplified" Glass Cube

Today, Apple unveiled the redesigned glass cube of the Fifth Avenue flagship store, another legacy of the late visionary and creative genius, Steve Jobs. Back in June, Apple began renovating one of the most photographed places in New York City at an estimated cost of $6.6 million. The 5th Avenue store is a uniquely designed building with a giant glass cube on the ground level. The cube used to feature 90 panels of glass but now it has just 15 larger, seamless glass panels. 

NYC Taxi of Tomorrow on Exhibit at the Flatiron District

Nissan is offering New Yorkers a first look at the interior of New York City's 'taxi of tomorrow', the Nissan NV200 minivan in an exhibit at the Nissan Taxi of Tomorrow Design Expo. The Nissan NV200 was chosen by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission to be the exclusive taxi of the city beginning in late 2013. The taxi's key features include spacious cargo area to accommodate luggage for four passengers; a transparent roof panel to provide unique views of the city; sliding doors with grab handles and an entry step for easy entry and exit; USB charging access for passengers, as well as a 12V electrical plug; independent, passenger controlled rear-seat heat/air conditioning with a grape phenol-coated air filter to improve cabin air quality; flat floor - with no hump; enhanced interior materials intended to help the passenger cabin smell fresher and breathable, anti-microbial, easy-to-clean and environmentally friendly seat upholstery (from the taxi of tomorrow website). The exhibit features an interactive display showcasing the taxi's planned interior. It runs from November 1-5 at the pedestrian plaza across from the Flatiron building near Madison Square Park.

"Occupying" Sotheby's

Earlier this evening Sotheby's art handlers and Occupy Wall Street supporters joined forces once again in their fight for professional art handler's rights and against corporate greed. They made noise once again in front of the famed Sotheby's auction house on the Upper East Side. The organized protest coincides with tonight's Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale. The Sotheby's professional art handlers have been locked out of their jobs since early August. The protesters deem Sotheby's auctions as the epitome of the disconnect between the extremely wealthy and the "99%" in America. Sotheby's is located at 1334 York Avenue between 71st and 72nd Streets.

Video ffrom NYCCamp showing protesters expressing their views during a past Sotheby's art auction

Animus Arts Collective's "Flaming Cactus" Thrives Around Cooper Square

Flaming Cactus is a public art installation around Cooper Square presented by the Animus Arts Collective in collaboration with the Department of Transportation's Summer Streets and the Figment Project. The installation used 32,000 fluorescent-colored zip ties, which are usually used for bundling cables. The zip ties are fastened around lamp posts and sign poles around Cooper Square. Cooper Square is one of the most vital crossroads in lower Manhattan and one of the most confusing. It is formed by the Bowery, Astor Place, Fourth Avenue and East Eighth Street heading toward one another from different directions. The installation displays a cactuslike character to the lampposts from some close-up views, although they also look like giant colored test tube brushes. Utilizing mundane objects, the art installation creates a vibrant, engaging visual link that helps beautify and "unify" Cooper Square. 

“We as artists wanted to create something of beauty out of everyday items. We wanted to show that making art doesn’t require a lot of resources, formal education or even money. Art and creativity are things we’re all capable of.” - Animus Arts Collective

“Flaming Cactus” will remain in place at Cooper Square through June 2012.