Tag: february 2017

Now on for some real Subway Art

The Humble Fabulist22 Comments

Honouring the past. Living in the present. Connecting with the future.

”During her research, Shin found old photographs in the Transit Museum and the New York Historical Society Archives that documented the dismantling of the El trains on 2nd Ave in the 1940s and of the 3rd Ave El in the 1950s, which became the primary sources of inspiration for the work. The artist decided to transform the 63rd Street Station into a time machine of sorts, surrounding today’s commuters with images of New Yorkers who once commuted on the El that stood in the same spot nearly 7 decades ago. “I wanted the new permanent work to connect to this landmark moment in New York City’s history and bring this story to public life, what was lost and gained in the making of the 2nd Ave Subway,” she said.”

From an interview on Art Zealous, by Katita Miller

Lexington Avenue – 63rd Street
JEAN SHIN
Elevated, 2017

Laminated glass, glass mosaic, and ceramic tile

February 11th, 2017

Last Work

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What we didn’t want to miss that night was the latest work by Batsheva Dance Company, choreographed by Ohad Naharin, making its NY premiere in BAM. I was prepared to be impressed and I was – by the dancer at the back of the stage running on a treadmill for the entire duration of the show! According to reviews, and as you can see below, it was supposed to be a woman (dressed in blue) but on the evening we watched she had been replaced by a man. Still standing, drenched in sweat at the end of the performance, he deserved – and received – a warm round of applause. The work itself was a barrage of beautiful, intense moves and ideas, so much so that the audience was left with no breathing space; no chance to absorb and truly appreciate the scenes. On the way out, we agreed that Last Work was aesthetically stimulating, but bringing so many elements and people on the stage together, all at the same time, resulted in cancelling out emotions it was supposed to evoke. Indeed sometimes, there can be too much of a good thing.

Images courtesy of Batsheva Dance Company

February 4th, 2017

New York City Subway ”art”

The Humble Fabulist3 Comments

I could totally relate to the frustration of this fellow subway rider, that evening. Arrived over half an hour late to the theatre and only made it to the performance because we had planned dinner before the show (still managed to have a fast track version of it, though). For, besides the already confusing ”planned service changes” on weeknights, there seemed to be a few ”unplanned” ones too, reserved especially for the weekend commuters.

February 4th, 2017

Subway ventures to the unknown
Manhattan to Brooklyn