Socrates Sculpture Park is closer than you think (click to enlarge)
Even on a cloudy day, it’s beautiful to get an opportunity to look across the East River at Manhattan from Astoria, especially when the view remains unobstructed by buildings, warehouses, elevated tracks, and all that other urban detritus.
Socrates Sculpture Park provides an extraordinary view that, in itself, is worth the trip, but also acts as a tremendous background to the art on display in the waterfront park.
While I walked through the park, taking pictures and studying the pieces, plenty of people used the space outside of looking at art. Some visitors used the park to play with their dogs, others to do aerobics, groups of kids came after school to avoid going home, and not one, but two people used the space to have long cell phone conversations redefining collapsing relationships.
The sculpture park’s art is very clearly in a public space, and it benefits from the environment around it. People add colors, stories, and opinions that wouldn’t be readily available were the space empty and isolated.
Having opened in September and continuing its run until next March, the 2010 Emerging Artist Fellowship Exhibition at Socrates showcases a collection of artists that present a variety of styles and ideas. Mediums range from concrete and steel to reclaimed wooden beams and scrap pieces from a Bell 206B helicopter. It’s a great showcase of talent, a delightful location with a tremendous view, and aside from the young males who just discovered testosterone, who may be found violently kicking against some of the pieces, it should be a pleasant viewing experience for all.
Jess Perlitz, “Everything Fought For” (2010).
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Jonggeon Lee, “Bridge of Paradise” (2010)
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Frank Haines, “Untitled” (2010)
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Marykate Maher, “ersetzen” (2010)
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Daniele Frazier, “Argyle” (2010)
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Jonathan Durham, “Crash and Burrow (failure of the Jesus Nut)” (2010)
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Jory Rabinovitz, “Sponge Piece for Socrates” (2010)
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Luna Puerta, “Hill” (2010)
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Rachel Beach, “Gold Rush” (2010)
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Scott Andresen, “Fort Defiance North” (2010)
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Trenton Duerksen, “Armchair Palimpsest” (2010)
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Jason Villegas, “Animal Logo Totem” (2010)
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Lior Shvil, “Once upon a time” (2010)
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Ruby Sky Stiler, “Partial Nude, in Light” (2010)
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Gavin Anderson, “Coastal Hermitage” (2010)
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Christopher Manzione, “Entropic Growth 100” (2010)
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David M. Scanavino, “16 ft. Rope in Three Positions: (catenary, taut, and coil)” (2010)
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The 2010 Emerging Artist Fellowship Exhibition at Socrates Park continues until March 6, 2011. It features the work of Gavin Anderson, Scott Andresen, Rachel Beach, Trenton Duerksen, Jonathan Durham, Daniele Frazier, Frank Haines, Jonggeon Lee, MaryKate Maher, Christopher Manzione, Clive Murphy, Jess Perlitz, Lina Puerta, Jory Rabinovitz, David M. Scanavino, Lior Shvil, Ruby Sky Stiller, and Jason Villegas. Socrates Sculpture Park is the only site in the New York Metropolitan area specifically dedicated to providing artists with opportunities to create and exhibit large-scale work in a unique environment that encourages strong interaction between artists, artworks, and the public.
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Great photo essay, I love “Argyle” in particular. Such a fun sculpture!