A look at the  photos I took on a recent trip to New York City reveals an interesting mix of experiences. It is obvious to me that the Big Apple is a place with lots of opportunities to capture fleeting moments and sometimes startling stuff.  Let me share a few.

Open House in Central Park

First, who would have thought of creating furniture molded to represent traditional drawing rooms out of cement and then install the chairs and sofas on a busy corner at the very end of Central Park?  Liz Glynn with “Open House” did. The goal for this and many other  public art projects in New York is to “bring work to the city streets in an urban setting where it can be enjoyed by all.”

Liz Glynn  created a virtual living room in the park with sculpted sofas, chairs and footstools all cast in concrete.  They are complemented with oversized arched doorways that draw you into the scene.  The Louis XIV style decor echos interiors of the nearby Fifth Avenue Mansions during the Gilded Age.

Actually they might look like the interior of the  Trump tower condominium our current president owns just down the street.  If the photos I’ve seen of his apartment are accurate, these could be cement models.

Art Museums in NYC

I always go to Art Museums in NYC and this trip was no exception. My favorite tour was Visionaries at the Guggenheim where I had an opportunity to see the exhibit with the Curator, Megan Fontanella. I got so engrossed in all that she shared with me that I forgot to take photos. Sorry. You’ll have to go for yourself.  I highly recommend that you do.

It’s a great show in a fascinating museum and beautifully hung. Here’s the Link to read about it on the Guggenheim web site.

Rei Kawabuko-Comme des Garcons

I did take some photos at  the Rei Kawabuko show  at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Odd stuff really. The clothes.  Really bright light.   The clothes are hard to see because they are in many cases installed in closet like pods. I got a kick out of the pretty museum goer  with the gold hair.  Personally I think the exhibit at the Grand Rapids Art Museum  of the work of Iris Van Herpen  last winter has it all over the famous Japanaese designer highlighted at the Met.

To compare and contrast this one with Iris Van Herpen exhibit at the Grand Rapids Art Museum,  check out this link. I wonder if you agree with my reaction.

 The random street scenes capture my attention. I never tire of trying to preserve the world of the Big Apple in random moments.

I also can’t resist a leisurely meander in Central Park. The reflections in this pond made me think of Impressionist paintings.

We discovered a new restaurant this trip.  Not hard to do in NYC but I really liked this one and will go back. It’s called Chumley’s. Here’s a link to Chumley’s in NYC, a former speakeasy from the 1920s.   It was a difficult place  to take photos because  it is dark and small, but trust me, you’ll love a dinner there. Atmosphere is charming. Food was great. Service superb. I loved having James, the restaurant historian, visit our table and share stories about the famous people who frequented this unmarked but famous New York landmark.

If you go, be sure to ask about the significance of 86.