Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir BORDERS Installation: an Interview with the Artist (Video)
Posted on 28. Oct, 2011 by Birdsong in Arts, Community
BORDERS by Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir was installed in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza from March 24 through September 30, 2011. The installation featured twenty-six androgynous, life-size sculptures, thirteen aluminum and thirteen cast iron, which extended throughout the park from First to Second Avenue on East 47th Street. BORDERS was the park’s largest exhibition to date and the first exhibition to incorporate the entire park.
“Dag Hammarskjold Plaza is the gateway to the United Nations and a hub of international activity that serves thousands of people and hosts hundreds of political events each year,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “The new public art installation, BORDERS, will connect many diverse constituencies to new artistic experiences. It will foster conversation and provide a significant backdrop for daily events at this public space.”
video by: John Birdsong
BORDERS was created specifically for Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza and directly responds to the park’s design and infrastructure, as well as the United Nations headquarters located at the eastern end of the park. Thórarinsdóttir’s figures, standing along the main park corridor and seated on park benches, mirror each other in silent conversation and form unseen borders that visitors are welcome to cross—serving as ambassadors between sculptures. The exhibition addresses humanity and cultural diversity, an exceptionally appropriate theme for one of the most culturally and politically active sites in all of New York City.
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BORDERS by Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir
Posted on 10. Apr, 2011 by JohnKnowles in Arts
It was raining hard. My camera was getting soaked. The end of March in NYC was not proving to be a fair weathered affair. It mattered not, since Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir, was installing her new sculptures at Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza. There was something both attractive an repelling about these ambiguous figures standing, sitting, and kneeling, through out the square that leads to the United Nations building. Whatever it was, their presence was real, and as the installation continued for the next several days, their presence was acknowledge by everyone who entered that square.
What I can tell you for certain is that, Steinunn, is a great woman, a great person, always present, something that is reflected very much in her art… and if you had been wondering what art is, these last few years, then this installation titled, “Borders” is for you.
“The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation is pleased to announce the exhibition BORDERS by Steinunn Thórarinsdóttir in Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza from March 24 through September 30, 2011. The installation features twenty-six androgynous, life-size sculptures, thirteen aluminum and thirteen cast iron, which extend throughout the park from First to Second Avenue on East 47th Street. BORDERS will be the park’s largest exhibition to date and the first exhibition to incorporate the entire park.
“Dag Hammarskjold Plaza is the gateway to the United Nations and a hub of international activity that serves thousands of people and hosts hundreds of political events each year,” said Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe. “The new public art installation, BORDERS, will connect many diverse constituencies to new artistic experiences. It will foster conversation and provide a significant backdrop for daily events at this public space.”
Chutes and Tears, an Installation by Rachel Hayes and Jiha Moon
Posted on 08. Apr, 2011 by danikadruttman in Art at Roger Smith, Arts, Events, Hotel, LAB Gallery, the LAB
15 APRIL-6 MAY 2011, The LAB (for installation + performance art) is thrilled to present Chutes and Tears, a sculpture and painting installation by Rachel Hayes and Jiha Moon. The artists have been collaborating since 2007 when they met at Art Omi International Artists Residency, and are taking this opportunity at The LAB to collaborate for the first time in New York City.
Jiha’s bold and delicate brushstrokes will be painted and embedded within Rachel’s sculptural fabric and hanji paper panels. The two artists collaboration will be seeking a balance within the graphic structures, sewn grids and gestural mark-makings. This fluid form will create an abstract sculptural landscape; a flowing waterfall of color and fabric pouring down from the gallery ceiling and meandering across the space towards the street.
Rachel Hayes earned a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute and an MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has had solo exhibitions and projects with BravinLee Programs/NYC Downtown Alliance – New York, Dolphin Gallery – Kansas City, MO, Shaw Center for the Arts – Baton Rouge, LA, Solvent Space – Richmond, VA, LAB Gallery – New York, and Roswell Museum and Art Center – Roswell, NM. Group exhibitions include the Sculpture Center, Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Indianapois Museum of Contemporary Art, Atlanta Contemporary Art Center, Grand Arts, and Fakespace LA. Awards and Residencies include Sculpture Space Residency, Art Omi International Residency, Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship in Sculpture. Most recently she was awarded the Augustus Saint-Gaudens Memorial Fellowship in Sculpture, which concluded with a solo show in Cornish, NH. Rachel Hayes currently lives and works in Kansas City, MO. Most recently Hayes was awarded a Marie Walsh Sharpe Studio Residency in NYC, which begins in September. www.rachelbhayes.com
Jiha Moon received her Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa in 2002. Her work has been showcased at premier New York venues including Asia Society and Museum, The Drawing Center, and White Columns. Her work has featured in Vantage Point VII: Turbulent Utopia, Jiha Moon at Mint Museum (Charlotte, NC 2008), and has been showcased in recent exhibitions at Mary Ryan Gallery , Moti Hasson Gallery and Miki Wik Kim Contemporary. She has been selected for international residencies at Art Omi, Acadia Summer Art Program, MacDowell colony and Singapore Tyler Print Institute through the Asia Society. Moon finished her one year residency project with the Fabric Workshop and Museum in Philladelphia recently. Her works are on view at the museum’s show New American Voice II. Moon’s work is in the collections at Smithsonian Institute, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington DC; Asia Society and Museum, New York; Mint Museum, North Carolina; and the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Virginia. Jiha Moon currently lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia. www.jihamoon.com
The LAB (for installation + performance art) is a New York based, converted storefront turned fishbowl producing 20+ fast paced performance art and installation exhibitions annually. Aimed at the furious midtown foot traffic, The LAB’s programming is designed to confront modern relationships between art and audience and seeks to force an interaction between the high energy, “outrospective” exhibitions it produces and the nearly 25,000 daily passersby. The LAB is located on the North East corner of 47th and Lex and is a Roger Smith Collaboration. www.thelabgallery.com
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QUICK INFO
Chutes and Tears
An Installation and Painting by Rachel Hayes and Jiha Moon
The LAB (for installation + performance art)
501 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017, 47th and Lexington (map)
Subway: E, 6, V to 53rd and Lexington or 4, 5, 6, 7 to Grand Central
April 15-May 6th 2011
All works of art and performances in The LAB are shown within the confines of the space, and are intended to be viewed by the audience from the sidewalk.
This event is free and viewable 24/7
Soundstorm: A Kinetic Installaion
Posted on 24. Jun, 2010 by danikadruttman in Arts, Events, Hotel, LAB Gallery, the LAB
By Daniel Rothbart and Maia Anthea Marinelli
July 9-30th, 2010
June 15th, 2010 The LAB (for installation + performance art) is pleased to announce ‘Soundstorm’, a kinetic installation by Daniel Rothbart and Maia Anthea Marinelli. This work intends to create a dialogue between art and nature, using sculptural elements that move according to the barometric pressure in New York City, at any given time. Isobars are represented by a shifting motorized web of pulleys and ropes that envelope the gallery and produce metallic noise. These sounds will be piped outside the gallery to complete the tableau vivant.
Daniel Rothbart’s work looks at the relationship between nature, urban postmodern identity and metaphysics. Rothbart holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University and won a Fulbright grant to Naples, Italy in 1990. His work can be found in public and private collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Recent projects include exhibitions at the Andrea Meislin Gallery, Exit Art and the Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art in Peekskill. His latest European exhibition took place at Galerie Depardieu in Nice in June 2010.
Maia Anthea Marinelli’s work explores themes of women in relation to their cultural environment through conceptual strategies with sculpture, land art, photography, performance and interactive installations.Marinelli holds a B.F.A. from the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence Italy, and an M.F.A. from New York University’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. Her work has been exhibited at the Biennale of Mediterranean Artists, the International Studio & Curatorial Program in New York and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Genoa, Italy.
For more information please contact Danika Druttman on 212.339.2092 or email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com
The LAB (for installation + performance art) is a New York based, converted storefront turned fishbowl producing 30+ fast paced performance art and installation exhibitions annually. Aimed at furious midtown foot traffic, The LAB’s programming is designed to confront modern relationships between art and audience and seeks to force interaction between high energy, “outrospective” exhibitions and nearly 25,000 daily passersby. THE LAB is located on the North East corner of 47th and Lex and is a Roger Smith Collaboration in Art. www.thelabgallery.com
Soundstorm: Video Interview with Daniel Rothbart
Soundstorm: Video Interview with Maia Anthea Marinelli
Molly Barnes Brown Bag Lunch with Charles Mingus III (USTREAM VIDEO)
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by Birdsong in Arts, Events, Hotel
La Incubadora
Posted on 12. Jan, 2010 by AdamWallace in Arts, Hotel, LAB Gallery, the LAB
January 14 – February 10, 2010
Wednesday, December 16, 2009 The LAB (for installation + performance art) in association with SLAG Gallery, has been converted by Grimanesa Amorós into ”LA INCUBADORA”, which will be featuring “You Cannot Feel It…I Wish You Could” a sculpture installation arising out of her personal experiences during and immediately following her pregnancy with her daughter Shammiel. The installation explores the interplay between biology and society and particularly the concept of male pregnancy.
“During my pregnancy with my daughter, and afterwards when I was nursing her, I noticed how curious her father was about my experiences,” recalls Amorós. “I wanted to create a piece around motherhood, and the unbridgeable gulf between the male and female bodies, specifically in the area of reproduction. Then I began to imagine ways in which that gulf might be bridged. I am re-envisioning The Lab Gallery as a warm human incubator, in contrast to the cold exterior of Manhattan, yet concurrently reflecting its sterility. This is a new way to present “You Cannot Feel It…I Wish You Could” that works with my current sensibilities while still staying true to the original sculptures.”
The installation is comprised of eleven “clones” of a new kind of human body: a pregnant female torso with the same male head attached to each of them. The casts were taken from a mold made from the artist’s body one week before she gave birth to her daughter. The floor beneath and around the body-casts is covered with soft, pale sand referencing the earth as a foundation for biological manipulation.
The lighting in the space and the music, a collaboration with composer Meshell Ndegeocello, who created a piece of music made specifically for the installation, reinforces the magical quality that many of us feel when confronting the wonders (or monsters?) of modern science.
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Photos: Amorós Studio
Grimanesa Amorós is an interdisciplinary artist with diverse interests in the fields of social history, scientific research and critical theory, which have greatly influenced her work. She often makes use of sculpture, video, and lighting to create works that illuminate our notions of personal identity and community. Amorós utilizes her art as an agent for empowerment to involve viewers from all different backgrounds and communities. She was born in Lima. Lives and works in New York City and Peru.
For more information or to schedule an interview with the artist or for an invitation to the opening night dinner please contact Danika Druttman at ddruttman@rogersmith.com or call (212) 339-2092.
THE LAB (for installation + performance art) is a New York based, converted storefront turned fishbowl producing 20+ fast paced performance art and installation exhibitions annually. Aimed at the furious midtown foot traffic, THE LAB’s programming is designed to confront modern relationships between art and audience and seeks to force interaction between high energy, “outrospective” exhibitions and nearly 25,000 daily passersby. For more information, call 212-339-2092, or email rogersmitharts@rogersmith.com. www.thelabgallery.com
PRESS:
http://www.style1media.com/100115_lab.html
http://www.elementalled.com/blog/diy/leds-light-up-a-midtown-gallery/
http://elcomercio.pe/impresa/notas/hombre-estado-gestacion/20100117/399079
http://www.sawdustsoup.com/profiles/blogs/leds-light-up-a-midtown
http://chelseanow.com/articles/2010/02/12/perspectives/opinion/doc4b7596c606acc950717039.txt
http://blogs.eluniversal.com/2010/01/31/latie_blog_el-vaquero-menos-aut_31A3372453.shtml
http://www.aguasdigital.com/tendencias/leer.php?idnota=2814862&efenew=1
http://bookishnyc.typepad.com/bookish_nyc/2010/01/near-my-office-.html
http://www.ntn24.com/content/exposicion-aborda-la-maternidad-e-idea-hombre-pueda-dar-a-luz
http://www.univision.com/contentroot/wirefeeds/91entrenimiento/8084313.shtml
http://orlando.elsentinel.com/vida/oes-14627531jan14,0,4238753.story
http://www.elperiodicodemexico.com/nota.php?id=334809
http://www.ntn24.com/content/exposicion-aborda-la-maternidad-e-idea-hombre-pueda-dar-a-luz
http://www.donrelyea.com/cgi-bin/blosxom.cgi/2010/02/01#la_incubadora_amoros
http://www.emol.com/noticias/magazine/detalle/detallenoticias.asp?idnoticia=394016#
http://www.diariodenavarra.es/actualidad/fotosdeldia.asp?st=&dia=20100115&nF=6&fot=2010011508353591
Inspirational, Stylish, Dramatic, Progressive, Sophisticated, Artistic, Detailed.
Posted on 10. Nov, 2009 by AdamWallace in Arts, Community
Interview with Dave Prutting
173 Park Street, New Canaan, CT.
“Prutting & Company’s Attention to detail and budget has created excellent relations with our clients. David’s strength of character permeates through his staff; As a result, the construction process is organized, personal and clear. We can recommend Prutting & Company to our clients and fellow architects without reservation.”
- Malcolm Robertson
Robertson + Landers, New Canaan, CT
Joeb Moore + Partners Interview
“This is more than Sculpture, were interested in really thinking about architecture as a social medium, as a social art and a performative art.” -Joeb Moore
Joeb + Partners Architects, L.L.C. is a firm specializing in architecture, interiors and design. The focus of the office is to provide owners with highly personal and powerful design solutions that merge practical everyday needs with beautiful spaces and construction details.
James Knowles Sculpture Installed
It has been several months since James Knowles started working on this bronze sculpture, and today he releases it and sends it on the next leg of its life. The piece is now installed at 173 Park Street, New Canaan, CT. and is settling into its new watery home.
Living modern — Green design brings intrigue to downtown
http://www.prutting.com/
http://www.rogersmithlife.com/
FIRE: James Knowles Pouring Bronze
Posted on 26. Sep, 2009 by AdamWallace in Arts, Hotel
Exploring the Elements. James Knowles is hard at work with Fire in the foundry. The ability to transform molten bronze in a solid sculpture. The heat from the sand-molds is released as the artist begins to break the mounds. The ground smokes. This is one piece of 19 that will become the final sculpture.
The sculpture will be installed in a fountain at 137 Park Street in New Canaan CT.
James Knowles Pouring Bronze
A note from James Knowles’ project journal:
I have had one pour. The problems I encountered, some have been addressed. There was a break in the wall of the steel container. I had to work through welding issues similar to the ones you faced the other day. I went back to the books, the Lincoln bible on welding and studied what rods are used for what. Then I stopped in to the welding supply shop on Bruckner blvd where I bought the welder for Feng. We discussed it briefly and he assured me that what he gave Feng was precisely what I should use. It was not what I had figured out in my research. Feed wires long enough. Welding rod ok. New chain fall. Let’s try a melt. I’ve not figured out the lighting of the furnace very well so when I light the thing with air blower going and Propane torch on top to ignite. A volume of gas and air accumulates in the furnace and whaaaaboooom it explodes as it lights. Not good. But it gets the thing going. So I slowly add air and then gas to bring it up to a roaring intensity pchhhhhwhhhhhhhhhhhhh kind of thing. But hot gases are flowing out through the furnace lid joint in many directions. Furry green blue flames. Losing heat and making it difficult to approach the furnace as the flames are waist high. I shut it down to consider how to resolve that. I attempted to remove the lid. Hooked up the steel jig i welded up. Took too long over the hot furnace. Removed the lid. Found the refrractory joint loose and friable. Stop consider. I need a means to apply a soft refractory mud between the Lid and the fire box. Consider: what do I have? Clay to bind and silica sand a refractory. I made up a slurry of the two and put a drooly layer on the joint and replaced to top. Seemed to sit well. Cranked up the heat. Flames look ok. Some fuzz but ok. Metal slumping as the temperature rises. Start up the second blower, add more gas. Feisty robust full bodied flame and gutteral roar. Look up. Uhoh. Looks like I wired the whole. Barn just over the furnace area. Fire and heat impinging on the cord and then zap. Blew a fuse somewhere. Consider: Shut down all breakers. Cut the wires. Re direct them around the pouring system. Devise heavy wire connectors. Isolate the joints with electricians tape. Reset all breakers. Test. OK. Now redesign the lid removal system which takes too long to remove. Consider: Pipe rigid top and bottom. Pipe sliding over the rigid pipe. Weld moving pipe to the lid (with new welding sticks) Rig up a lever and counterweight to lift the lid easily and rotate it to the side. Test it. Fix it. Test it. Fix it…….. Works. Heeehaaaa. Order metal 250 Lbs. Order castable and ramming refractories. From a good group in Lancaster pa. That is where I am. Molds ready to pour. System now redesigned. Getting closer. I have one casting In hand. 19 to go.
Giving 3D Life to the Urban Crystals
Posted on 11. Aug, 2009 by admin in Arts, Hotel
This series of videos show three dimensional rendering of the Urban Crystal sculptures by Artist James Knowles, president and CEO of the Roger Smith Hotel.
1. The creation of these animations involve a two step process. The first step is to model the parts of the sculpture in a computer environment. The second step is its animation, showing how they are formed and placing them in their environment.
2. The building of these piece involve bending and twisting the piece, like Mr. Knowles does in stainless steel.
3. One of the most fascinating things about the Urban Crystals is their ability to interact with built environments. This animation show the formations of the pieces and their interaction with an urban environment. It is a rendered image built in a 3D modeling program.
4. This is a 3D modeling of some of Mr. Knowles scultpures. The idea is to show how it is built. It shows the movement of the peices, how they are bended and twisted, giving life to the sculpures.
Artist Interview: James Knowles
Posted on 11. Aug, 2009 by admin in Arts, Hotel
A look at James Knowles’ most recent work, a series of 110 stainless steel sculptures which were installed on the Roger Smith Hotel.
He calls it “a very playful symphonic series”.
The concept for these started from creating sculptures with dog food cans years ago and evolved over the years to this stainless steel series.
