Where We all can breath: Storm King Art Center, Hudson Valley.
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Above and Below photos: Alexander Calder The Arch, 1975, Storm King Art Center
Emi has been talking about us visiting Storm King Art Center for a while now and We finally did during this gorgeous 3 day Labor day weekend. ( Thank you for the most amazing weather!) About little over one hour car ride from NYC , Storm King Art center is located on beautiful Hudson Valley of New York State. Impressive 500 acre of this artsy land is masterfully landscaped with the most natural nature in mind and proudly showcases more than 100 prominent larger than life scale sculptures of Serra, Carder, Noguchi, Goldsworthy and other numerous artists from 1960s to now including a few sight specific master pieces as Noguchi’s MomoTaro and Goldsworthy’s Storm King Wall. The park is sectioned ( if you ever notice it) by main 4 areas : North Woods, Museum Hill, Meadows and South Fields, and I just can see how this park will turn into a each seasonal beauty and can’t wait to come back for the peak of Autumn and for the park that’s beautifully covered by snow in winter. There are little lakes, amazingly open and free beautiful meadows and hill top of Museum site is just breathtaking and also serene. We felt in love with Storm King Art Center and are supporting this amazing park by having become members of the Art Center: We got a family membership for all 3 of us at only $50.00 for an entire year. Unlimited visits throughout the year, invitations to special events and specially guided 1 winter tour and other benefits… ( I highly recommend it!)
Here Enjoy a few pics out of over 100 post-Word War II sculptures. Here’s my favorite quote from the center’s walking guide: ”At Storm King, exhibition space is defined by earth and sky”. And it is exactly what it is.
From the top: Beautiful old Cattle farm time then passage roads, Nevelson, Mark di Suvero, Richard Serra, Alexander Liberman.
Here’s the Museum/visitor center of the Art center. The house was built back in 1955. The first floor has a small book shop and the ground floor main room with a beautiful view to the outside park rotates and runs various exhibitions throughout the year.
Totally true…!
The model of the Art center at Museum in the main room on the ground floor.
Calder’s Five Swords. 1976. The model, a pic from the one of passed winter and this weekend. By the way check out my past blog about Calder.
A view outside of the museum. These columns are Not sculptures actually. These were found and saved by the founder of the Art Center.
And then, there is Andy Goldsworthy. One of our favorite artist who explores and works with Nature in most clever and respectful way. We have been following him over 10 years now (thanks to Miriam then my big boss). I remember going to see ” Rivers and Tides”, a documentary film of Andy Goldsworthy’s work and life came out then. I think it was at IFC film center… AMAZING…. Anyway the letter above is the letter from Goldsworthy writing about his possibility of work, “Storm King Wall” the famous site specific project and love for the Art center ( 1995).
Check out some Youtube clips of Storm King Wall and his other works. There are millions of Clips of his work on youtube. And you must Check out Goldsworthy’s film, ” Rivers and Tides”
Ursula Von Rydingsvard’s wood sculpture right outside the museum. Quite intriguing.
The Viewing Scope by Alison Shotz. Right by the Museum. I find this scope extremely beautiful. Cold to touch, sleek, feels much high tech yet somehow this scope carries futuristic serenity. Love it!
Grace Knowlton, Spheres. Awesome.
3 of us on a tram: you can get an initial overview of the center by choosing to get on this free tram. I thought this was a relaxing way to start the park and get to see some of main pieces with short yet efficient guide. Then you can walk around and get lost, take pics, hike, take a nap or do whatever you wish to do. You can also rent bicycles here. Don’t forget you have 500 acres to cover!
I only shared a fraction of what you can see and feel here. It’s a truly amazing place. Go and go back again and again and again…!
lOve Art.!!
Grapes and Snake meets Junka Nabay at P.S.1 MOMA!
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A talented Rising Designer, Alexander Campaz meets a talented film maker Carlo= “Grapes and Snake” is participating Janka Navay concert event in Moma P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center 22-25 Jackson Avenue. They are selling their freshly designed Nabay and Snake’s cool tees at Moma Store of P.S.1!
Today, July 2nd, Saturday. 2-9pm. Moma P.S.1 Queens. Junka will be performing along with Delorean, Glasser, John Talabot and Korallreven
Go check out the concert and grab a tee!!
www.alexandercampaz.com
www.grapesandsnakes.com
www.lacasapark.com/la/2010/05/a-hidden-gem-alexander-campaz/
Lacasapark Spins?
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What a great day we had today! A good day spent in Manhattan from vintage Vinyl shopping at Academy Record ( www.Academy-records.com 212-242-3000) right near my office to ending up buying Stanton Turn tables ( yeah I know it’s not Technics. Not yet), a mixer and 2 kick ass Mackie speakers at the Guitar Center! We got totally kick out of looking through old vinyls. I mean all the awesome flare they had then!
They start from $0.50 to $ 5.00 maybe the $8.00. Then Academy also carries vinyls that are rare and important would cost you up to couple hundred bucks. A great store! We got about 20 + vinyls today and what’s after? Headed out to the Guitar Center. We were buying the turn tables and speakers. Woo- Hoo!!
A couple pics of boys on a way to the Guitar store. Today there was a soccer game, 2010 Champions League Final - Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich. We only peeked through a window of a random Irish bar. haha. Dunno yet who won.
Now at the Guitar shop!!! You know what? We rocked our soul out at the Guitar Center. Who knew the Guitar shop was all that fun? I mean forget about Chukee Cheese. Life is way Way better at the Guitar Center!
Hahahahahaha, Are you jealous that I’m rocking the triple deck key boards here? You know I do play piano quite awesomely, so this is not just all act. But, the Miu Miu sunglasses? Yes. I thought it would help! Whatever, I had fun with it!
I didn’t realize Gael’s Tee shirt had record graphic on till now! What a cool kid…! Honestly we couldn’t get enough out of all the key boards and instrumental toys from the Guitar shop. We were cruising, playing and jamming(? haha) with even other professionals at the shop. It was a hell out of time there we had!
What’s next… Hmmm We are ITCH to plan a dance party now under” Lacasapark” with one of the hottest DJs in Italy, GiGi. A dear friend of ours and brother of Beppe, who is coming to NY in June for Beppe’s concert. Will see. Brewing an idea!!!!!!!! Find me jamming on the triple deck keyboards with GiGi if that happens!
2 minutes out of our 20+ good old new Vinyls.
A day at the Moma NYC: Marina Abramovic’, William Kentridge, Picasso and Henri Cartier-Bresson
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Wow who new the Monday afternoon Moma is jam packed…! It felt like there were many little groups. Senior citizens, high school kids and ton of foreigners… Anyway despite the big crowd, Moma has some good exhibitions going on right now so I really enjoyed it. www.moma.org/
Marina Abramovic‘. Honestly I didn’t know of her work so much except this so called ” performing art” at Moma right now: “The artist is present” is getting so much attention at the moment. And I kind of already judged that this was not so great idea. So She sits on the middle of the second floor surrounded by security guards and curious audience in her red snuggy like outfit. She looks extra pale and huge. She may have put on some white make up to shock people. Anyway she’s very much into shocking people. ( wait till see her exhibition going on the 6th floor at the museum…!).
People were lined up to sit down with Marina starring in peace(?) and silence each others. It’s up to the guest( the audience) to decide how long he or she wants to stare at Marina. Marina sits there in no motion and no emotion. No water. No bathroom break. What if she faints? All day long for a month. The whole thing rather disturbs me but yet intrigues me and I want to shout to her in her ear to get up and stop this. I don’t know how to accept this or explain. But 6th floor experience of everything she has done was far beyond. There are many video installations since she is a performing artist. She cuts herself. She whips her ice blocks in naked then eats her honey out of the jar. She had put live naked men and women all over into this exhibition. One woman is for God sake up on the wall sitting and hanging on something like bicycle seat and completely naked showing everything including her pelvic hair. This naked woman’s looking quite sad ( at least to me) under her bright spot light is arching her arms time to time. Anyway, Marina loves naked bodies of herself and others and everyone’s. Is it instant way to shock people and get attention? Is it sort of freedom to her? All of these motions and the actions provoke me to think what really “ART” means. She stands on the border line of ART or Not in my common sense. I do not believe in Art being goody goody pretty Art, but she really challenges me in very uncomfortable way. So at the end, am I glad I did see it? Yes. I believe it was better I saw it all than I didn’t see it all. So now I know it all.
Marina Abramovic’
Then there is William Kentridge‘ s awesomely interesting exhibition:”Five Themes“
William is Best known for animated films based on charcoal drawings, he also works in prints, books, collage, sculpture, and the performing arts. This exhibition explores five primary themes in Kentridge’s art from the 1980s to the present, and underscores the inter relatedness of his mediums and disciplines, particularly through a selection of works from the Museum’s collection. Included are works related to the artist’s staging and design of Dmitri Shostakovich’s The Nose,which premieres at New York’s Metropolitan Opera in March 2010. I especially loved his Stop-Emotion Animations. So intriguing!!
The Magic Flute by William Kentridge.
William Kentridge. Drawing from Stereoscope 1998–99. Charcoal, pastel, and colored pencil on paper, 47 1/4 x 63″ (120 x 160 cm). The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Gift of The Junior Associates of The Museum of Modern Art, with special contributions from Anonymous, Scott J. Lorinsky, Yasufumi Nakamura, and The Wider Foundation. William Kentridge’s still drawings and portraits greatly reminds me of ones of Francis Bacon. Not in all aspects a of it but especially the line quality. /www.lacasapark.com/la/2009/07/francis-bacon-1909-1992/
Then there is this installation by Yin Xiuzhen.
I liked it. It is sort of cute And i like the idea. This reminded me of a exhibition that was held at Deitch Project in Soh a while ago : Black Acid Co-Op. www.lacasapark.com/la/2009/07/black-acid-co-op-deitch-project/
The outer shell is made by mixed clothing such as sweaters, shirts and pants… then there are frames built to support this from the interior of the car. And the light filters through the clothing creates a beautiful soft colors to see from the inside of the car. This makes fab party room for the Adult or the kids! Especially with mega size speakers installed!
The interior. Quite nice, Ha?!
And Picasso: Theams and Variations.
I mean you never get bored looking at Picassos Art. What a blessed Artist he was?!! He had 80 year full of most prolific production in every different medium and techniques! He never stopped creating. This exhibition explores Picasso’s creative process through the medium of printmaking, tracing his development from the early years of the twentieth century, with depictions of itinerant circus performers in the Blue and Rose periods, to his discovery of Cubism. It follows his evolving artistic vision through decades of experimentation in etching, lithography, and linoleum cut, demonstrating how each technique inspired new directions in his work. The exhibition focuses on specific themes, showing how Picasso’s imagery went through a constant process of metamorphosis. Printmaking, in particular, allows this fundamental aspect of his art to become vividly clear, since various stages in building a composition can be documented. One series of lithographs shows Picasso progressing, step-by-step, from a realistic depiction of a bull to one that is completely abstracted into schematic lines. Other series reveal changing interpretations of the women in Picasso’s life, as they become the subject of his art and a catalytic force behind his creativity.
And here I have a couple of his work from this exhibition…
Then Henri Cartier-Bresson’s photo Exhibition!
I spent quite a time in front of gigantic maps to show his trails of world travels to take photos. Honestly I amd more impressed by his world travels than the photos itself. Beautiful photos but I mean this man traveled entire Japan in 1964! The maps look like ones for one of many Airline’s these days.
All the city names you see are where Henri traveled and took photos. www.lacasapark.com/la/2010/04/henri-cartier-bresson-moma-april-11-june-28-2010/
Great Exhibitions . Go see them!!
Back to Lafayette: The Fort Greene Booklyn Flea!!
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Don’t get me wrong. I loovvvee the space of 1 Hanson Clock tower, but it’s never the same as when they are on the Lafayette!! The outdoor. The trees, sunshine, good old simple outdoor but it is way easier to look around and somehow the Red Hook family’s Pupusa’s way more delicious on the stoop of the playground than the bank’s basement safe.
It was so beautiful and lively at the market! I completely enjoyed warmth of sun on my back.. Ahhh… A few new great vendors with awesome pieces and the character watching is always the big part of hainging out at the fleas…!
I Luuuvvved this vendor! These poly/plastic letters are quite cool over the sand box!
And we loved this 8 foot long old farm table from PA. Not so bad I thought priced at $350.
This is not a camera trick. This KWICK Marine tin can is like 5 times bigger than me.
His mustache and red blazer and his purple shirt and 50’s neck tie
Loved her with her old camera.
and her for her swanky sexy argyle sweater.
and these 3 fantastically 80’s kids
and my Favorite of the day, “Singing in the rain girl !”
her for her french-ish great spring coat and well fitting matching boots,
and this kinda expected but always good looking couple
for her spirit filled with all the picnics she will have this spring!
and the seller and the buyer
and I digged these hipsters digging and digging
the porchetta station, yum!
to top it off, a live nordic brass band!
And now we leave all the fun of the flea market behind and off to Fort Greene Farmer’s market!
We got basils, mints, lemon verbenas and more…!
Oh we chatted for a while with this lovely farmer. He has 30 grand kids! Gael guessed his age at 100 years old but he was wrong… haha. He’s 71 years old! God bless you!
Into the park, I mean look at this tree, How amazing is it!!!
And my 2 handsome boys. Love you guys!!!
Armory Arts Week, March 4-7, NYC
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LA VENUE (The Terminal Stores Ground Floor)
608 West 28th Street, between 11th and 12th Avenues
http://koreanartshow.com
March 3: 11 am – 7 pm
March 4: 11 am – 10 pm
March 5 – March 7: 11 am – 7 pm
The Hottest New Home for Brooklyn Flea: 1 Hanson, the Clock tower
Filed Under For the Weekend, Vintage | 1 Comment
Honestly, I got all distracted by surrounding beauty of formal Williamsburgh Savings Bank, I did not get to see any of stuff at the market. Wow, the space blew my mind. It was packed. The space made everything looked much better than what it was.
Stepping in. It hits me with this grand gorgeous view and Miles Davis’ Panthalassa: the remix by king Britt, Dj Cam, Doc Scott echos under the 20-30 foot ceiling. It’s awesome.
The vendors take every inch of the space. It’s great to see everything is still there. Look at this beautiful teller’s window!
Looking out to main hall through the formal service office.
The view from the Mezzanine.
Then there would be many of these raw industrial looking rooms as well filled with visitors and vendors. The vibe is great!
Aren’t they all great? I find the Brooklyn flea is getting better and better.
A great look! love her soft hair and worn in denim jacket and a hat.
Then here comes a real eccentric flea marketer. I always love them. They add so much spice to fun of flea market. I have to go back one day without my boys just to browse and browse and take pics of people.
Windows and more windows. They are so beautiful!
The shadow of metal work follows right after the metal work itself creating this beautiful image.
God I love all of these old signs you can see everywhere.
Cute combo of fur and floral but not granny.
Now at the basement level. Yes we are going into the safe through this enormous and amazing vault door. Everyone was moving so it was hard for me to get the still shot.
Food vendors are in and out side of the safe. Good portion of inside is used for seating. It literally had ” underground party” vibe. Very cool.
Gael showing off his find of the day, $2.00 sparky robot. While he runs, he sparks!!!
By the end of March, The Brooklyn Flea will be moving out from the formal bank and go back to good old Fort Greene and Dumbo. So Don’t miss this opportunity to see flea at this amazing space. I think this is the hottest home so far.
REPOP, Brooklyn
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Oh What a beautiful day it was today! Sunny and warm! We took a nice walk around in our neighbor, Clintonhill.
Time to time, we love to stop by at REPOP, 68 Washington Avenue. Honestly we are bit bored with all that mid century stuffs for a while now, but Repop has a good balance of things that are also from farms, eccentric artist’s studios or Dr’s office that add bit more of different style to a whole mix. /www.repopny.com/
Trying on a hat. I was loving this mirror image of the reflection of the back ground wall and all the interesting objects surrounding. We were laughing at coincident of my sweater vest and the hat…! Haha
Love the feather and the cross embroidery with metal thread and velvet applique. It’s quite beautiful.
Sorry to cat lovers… But I must admit that I am very fascinated by everything and anything that is to do with Laboratories. This is preserved Cat’s nerve system in a glass case.
Awesome painting. It’s a gorgeous painting. Faces. Colors. Love the little boy’s blazer becomes the wall paper or the wall becomes his blazer. Either way, I love this one.
I really like Repop’s sudden twists on their styling. There would be enough pieces of real taxidermies, then they would throw a couple of sculpted faux taxidermies in the mix. It just gets better that way.
It’s better with Good Food: Love you Jess!
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Why not with good food. The better the better. Catching up with Jessica at “Gen” today. It’s raining outside. It’s cozy inside. So we stay and chat and eat and chat and drink.
Great weekend brunch special starts at $12.00 with organic green tea, soup and bowl of rice. Gen, 659 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn.
Salted grilled Salmon, Miso soup, salmon roll, potato salad sandwiched in grilled yam.
Home made sesame tofu ( had this soft yet stickier texture), seaweed salad, seafood gratin.
I call it “Furry dragon lying down over the rice island blessed by deep brown home made veggie curry ocean”. Spicy and excellent hearty flavor ( Not so usual thick and dense texture. It was rather light and peppery)
Organic matcha green tea.
Jess’ choice. Salmon, sashimi, egg maki, grilled yam potato salad sandwich and miso.
Easy breeze decor and friendly vibe. ( Love the Japanese musician staffs with dreadlocks!!) The whole menu reminds me of those small local food bars in Tokyo: like 6 hour braised pork belly with ginger and soy, beef shank, oyster fritters and much more. Sushi and sashimi are really fresh!
Our favorite sushi roll here is ” Melting in the mouth”: White tuna roll. It melts in your mouth. last time with tania, we maybe had like 7 rolls of them.
This one’s from the last time. Braised daikon and fresh cod, veggie frittata, a roll and crispy sweet rice. Below with braised beef shank.
Spiderman looking out the window.
A Day of Manhattan: Soho, Nolita and Lower East side
Filed Under For the Weekend, Shops, Street | 1 Comment
It has been a while for us to walk around the Manhattan like we did today. I work way too much during the week, so I don’t mind just ” being” at cozy home with Emi and Gael on the weekends.
But the weather was pretty nice today( 48 F) and we have a long weekend a head of us, so we wanted to give a shot at Manhattan to run a couple of errand and also just enjoy the city. Wow, Soho over the weekend is way too crowded now. I don’t see any more beautiful people and feel that special energy I used to see and feel. It’s all shops and more shops and way too many people.
Nolita is maybe bit better. Still there are many small boutiques believe in doing what they are doing carrying on making dress shirts, selling vintages, one of kind bridal gowns or selling crapes. From Nolita we had walked to lower east side. Katz was still standing ( I thought they were closing?) and Las Venus was still there ( this used to be our weekly stop in back in the days) and what else, oh the Sombrero Mexican place where you can get frozen margarita to go in a paper cup so no one knows what you are sipping on the street is still there too.
Starting with stopping by at Grand Daisy Bakery , 73 Sullivan Street , Soho ( for some reason, I thought all these years this bakery was called Sullivan street bakery, but it’s not!)
Yum yum yum, love how everything is handled here in this shop. Famous for their bread and Pizza. The thoughtful thin and crispy crust, bold and simple flavor of core ingredient and even the paper they serve the pizza in. Just divine and just perfect! This is zucchini pizza.
Potato and rosemary= The perfection!
The one and only Hardware store in the heart of Soho. Spring Street. I’m always amazed by this store for the fabulous look but also the stubborn spirit of keep it going. I’m always surprised this has not taken by Disney store or something yet.
Some shopping at “Inven.Tory” , 237 Lafayette street, Nolita. Good menswear. They had good sale going on.
A charming dress shirt maker on Elizabeth street, Nolita. Elizabeth street is one of my favorite in Nolita. Famous high end vintage shop Resurrection is on this and also other many small businesses that make this street more special! I realized the shop ” Zero” was closed down on Elizabeth street.
Always great double RL window. Mr. Lauren, thank you for not making every store of yours so big and enornous. This one in Nolita is just perfect!
Emiliano’s favorite shop in Nolita. “In God we trust”, 265 Lafayette street; a great all American/speak easy/army navy vintage store. They have great selection of vintage boots and jackets. Very authentic and Menswear focused. Emi got a nice pair of old motorcycle boots. Very sexy!
The friendly shop helper offered Gael to try this vintage ski helmet. haha, Gael thought he looked like a mushroom. I love the double layered strap details. It does look bit too tall on him. Baby bello?
Going back tomorrow to see “Urs Fischer” exhibition. Can’t wait!
New Favorite store found in Lower east side. ” Assembly NY”, 174 Ludlow street. //assemblynewyork.com/ What a great store! Mix of re-worked vintage such as over dyed with added or reworked detail. Vintage uniform inspired great pants and more pants. Some imported designer’s. All mixed and work great together. Love it!
To end a long fun city day? Good coktails ( all cocktails are done with Korean Soju and they are delicious) and good Korean food at Bonjoo, 107 1st Avenue, East Vilage.
