Buddha Shakyamuni at the Rubin Museum of Art

Part of the collection of the Rubin Museum of Art is the Buddha Shakyamuni from northwestern Nepal (Khasa Malla rule) from the 14th century. It is made of gilt copper alloy with inlay. Cast in the Khasa Malla kingdom of the western Himalayas, this sculpture is a superb example of Newar artistry without elaborate embellishments. Here we see a clear adaptation of the Kathmandu Valley style in the modeling and proportions of the figure and the treatment of the face, with a beak-like nose, downcast eyes, and pinched chin. The historical Buddha is exhibited here seated in meditation posture (vajrasana); one hand rests in the lap and the other in a gesture that calls the earth to witness his great resolve. He wears earrings inlaid with turquoise—an adornment not usually seen in depictions of the Buddha yet commonly found in Khasa Malla sculptures representing him (information from asianart.com.) 

Dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and surrounding regions, the Rubin Museum of Art is located at 150 17th Street in Chelsea. The photographs above were made on March 25, 2011.

"The Monologue of Ice" - Melting Ice Buddha And Cycle Of Renewal By Atta Kim At The Rubin Museum Of Art

Visitors are encouraged to touch the ice

Atta Kim touching his sculpture

As the ice sculpture melts, a pool of non-potable water accumulates at the bottom. Visitors are welcome to take away some of the water placed in small glass vials to be used for watering a plant to continue the cycle of renewal.

Korean artist ATTA KIM has a new dramatic art installation at the Rubin Museum of Art that was unveiled earlier this evening—a 5 1/2 feet tall, 1,300 pound ice sculpture of a seated buddha. The ice sculpture will remain on view until completely melted, a process that will take several days. The museum will open overnight through the early hours of Saturday morning and into regular museum hours, closing at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. The sculpture will then remain on view during normal museum hours until Monday at 5:00 p.m. or it has completely melted. As the work melts, museum visitors are encouraged to touch the ice and take home non-potable water from the pool of water at the bottom of the sculpture, using small glass containers that will be provided. It is the artist's intention that the collected water be used to continue the cycle of renewal by watering a plant. This presentation is an extension of Grain of Emptiness: Buddhism-Inspired Contemporary Art, on view through April 11. Atta Kim is known for his long exposure photographs and for the concept of interconnectedness, change and transience in his body of work. The display is open to the public for free. The Rubin Museum of Art is located at 150 West 17th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Chelsea.

The RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART: Showcasing Art from the Himalayas

Facade of the RMA Building

Andree Putman's Steel and Marble Staircase of the RMA Building, a metaphor for traversing the levels of meaning in Himalayan culture

Earlier this afternoon, I visited the Rubin Museum of Art (RMA), home to a comprehensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions. The museum is located in the heart of Chelsea, at 150 West 17th Street (Tel 2126205000). Their art collection consists of paintings, sculptures, and textiles. Although works of art range in date over two millennia, most reflect major periods and schools of Himalayan art from the 12th century onward. Current exhibitions include Color and Light (South Asian embroidery) and Patron and Painter (Tibetan paintings). I enjoyed viewing The Last Nomads, a collection of gelatin photographic prints by A Yin of Mongolian nomads.

About the RMA Building (from the RMA website):

The 70,000-square-foot museum occupies what was formerly a portion of the Barneys department store in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. It was acquired in 1998 and renovated extensively from 2000-2004. The renovation and new design elements were the results of a collaboration headed by the architectural firm of Beyer Blinder Belle and including Atelier Imrey Culbert (associate museum designers) and Milton Glaser Incorporated.

Many of the most important details within the building have been retained from its previous life, most notably Andree Putman's steel-and-marble staircase that spirals dramatically through the seven-story gallery tower. In addition to spacious yet intimate galleries for featured exhibitions, the museum includes space for contemporary and historical photography, an art-making studio, a state-of-the-art theater for multimedia events and performances, a cafe, and a gift shop.