New Prospect Park Sculpture

Maybe this was posted already, but has anyone else seen the odd whilte metal sculpture that popped up a few days ago in Prospect Park at about 5th street and PPW?

It came out of nowhere. Looks like headless people dancing and holding hands to me.

I saw it yesterday. Didn't really get a good look at it yet, though.

Subject: sculpture...

roots of a tree? from below...

spooky

gah, i loathe outdoor art. (and i'm an artist, remember? art doesn't belong in nature)

fiddlesticks.

anyhow, a park is hardly nature.

brooklynpotter wrote: gah, i loathe outdoor art. (and i'm an artist, remember? art doesn't belong in nature)

Not to be a dick, but that's one of the silliest things I've heard on this board! Perhaps you could explain why you think that, instead of just the blanket statement? Should art be confined to a stuffy box on 5th ave?

I think outdoor art is great! In this case the juxtaposition is really interesting.

Maybe your statement was meant to be taken sarcastically?

Oh, and I do agree it looks like tree roots.

Agree Kosher Dave. I like it. Art does not have to hang on walls or be stuck in a glass case. Art - hold you hats people - can even be TOUCHED. Isn't that cool??!!
(I assume that it is meant to be touched and climbed on - of course if the artest does not want anyone touching it I would respect that too.)

kosherdave wrote: [quote=brooklynpotter]gah, i loathe outdoor art. (and i'm an artist, remember? art doesn't belong in nature)

Not to be a dick, but that's one of the silliest things I've heard on this board! Perhaps you could explain why you think that, instead of just the blanket statement? Should art be confined to a stuffy box on 5th ave?

I think outdoor art is great! In this case the juxtaposition is really interesting.

Maybe your statement was meant to be taken sarcastically?

Oh, and I do agree it looks like tree roots.

ok, you might think it's silly but it's my opinion. not sarcastic at all. i have seen very few outdoor art installations that are, in my opinion, attractive. more often than not they're awkwardly placed and ruin the landscape/urbanscape, if that's a word.

there are of course some very strong exceptions, but i have found them to be few and far between. among them: the pieces on philip johnson's estate in ct, robert indiana's square "love" sculpture, alexander calder's pieces in both chicago and grand rapids, robert therrien's table and six chairs, keith haring's grafitti mural in the schoolyard on the FDR, george segal's figural pieces.

but that piece in the park? wretched.

that is also a lovely piece, which i should have put on my list. it's situated extremely well with its surroundings, which is why it works

http://www.publicartfund.org/pafweb/images/projects_02/whitney_biennial/photo_paine_02_view2_325x385w.jpg

What about this one Brooklyn Potter?

(I originally thought Roxy Paine did the one along PPW, but its signed with different initials...)

Any points for drawing attention to the easily ignored but nonetheless wondrous architecture of nature?

huge points. another great example.

there are lots of exceptions to my opinion about this, i just happen to feel that the majority of public/outdoor art is bad

i think the majority of art is bad -- really, i've seen a lot of the stuff, and yowzers! -- but that doesn't mean i disapprove of "art".

I seen it, it reminds me of the one in Trinity Church's yard:

There is a similarity. Same artist, perhaps?

I'm all for art outdoors. In our busy world, it's often hard to remember or find time to seek out beautiful/interesting things. It's cool to see something unexpected and think either "Wow" or "WTF is that?!"

theoryofpractice wrote:

spooky

is that from the movie Spaghetti Gone Wild?

Subject: acceptable outdoor art

Is this OK?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Firenza-davidcopia.jpg

So I realize this probably won't be Brooklynpotter's cup o' tea (salright - to each her own), but have any of you ever been to Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City? This thread reminds me that I haven't been out there in ages. If you've never been there, you should think about checking it out while the weather's still nice. It's a great spot for a picnic -- beyond the sculptures, there's a nice river view of the city.

Here's the website:
http://www.socratessculpturepark.org/

And here are some pics from Flickr to give you an idea of what it's like, since the website's kinda short on photos:
http://flickr.com/search/?q=socrates sculpture park&w=all

sweet tea wrote: i think the majority of art is bad -- really, i've seen a lot of the stuff, and yowzers! -- but that doesn't mean i disapprove of "art".

i will agree that the majority of art is very bad. however, if it's in a gallery or other space like that you're not forced to interact with it daily. you choose to go see it.

public art is a whole other matter, because it's forced upon you.

^^ fair point. i guess i just feel like so much stuff i hate is visually forced on me outside that public art is the least of my worries -- at least it's usually not trying to get me to buy something.

ooo, except for those very realistic bronzes of cutesy children and men sitting on benches writing robert frost poetry and whatnot. that stuff disgusts me.

I loooooove public art! I too hate those realistic bronzes of people that tourists like to take photos of themselves with. yeck!

I saw that piece in the park through the trees, and thought it looked like a pile of giant antlers.
In a good way!

brooklynpotter wrote: [quote=sweet tea]i think the majority of art is bad -- really, i've seen a lot of the stuff, and yowzers! -- but that doesn't mean i disapprove of "art".

i will agree that the majority of art is very bad. however, if it's in a gallery or other space like that you're not forced to interact with it daily. you choose to go see it.

public art is a whole other matter, because it's forced upon you.

So it's not art in nature that you oppose but art in public? How do you feel about Storm King Art Center? http://www.stormking.org/

Subject: Re: acceptable outdoor art

triebensee wrote: Is this OK?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/99/Firenza-davidcopia.jpg

All the outdoor art in Italy is appealing to me!
Just came back from a trip that included Milan and Florence.
Are we perhaps having issue with "art" in America's outdoor spaces.
Just flashed on that monstrocity at 26 Federal Plaza (the arc or something that looked like a rusty flank of steel) that was eventually removed.

Subject: Re: acceptable outdoor art

veets wrote:
Are we perhaps having issue with "art" in America's outdoor spaces.
Just flashed on that monstrocity at 26 Federal Plaza (the arc or something that looked like a rusty flank of steel) that was eventually removed.

I love Richard Serra!


Listening to the artist audio tour of the MOMA show really made all the hulking metal make more sense . . .

Pitu.. I am not gonna argue art with you or anyone. Up there on my do not list along with politics or religion but no matter what the "explanation" of materials or whatever might be.. If a work of art doesn't resonate with a person.. it just doesn't. I worked at 26 federal Plaza just when that thing was installed.. It did not make me smile when I had to negotiate it on my way in to the building every day.

Art in the Park

Steve Tobin

Steve Tobin, Steelroots
October 15, 2007 to January 5, 2008
Prospect Park, Brooklyn

Description:
Monumental sculptures of sinuous root forms are part of Tobin’s practice of exploring and recreating nature. Nature’s transient forms, like plant roots, are translated by the artist into the vernacular of bronze—making reference to classical sculpture and comparing nature’s forms with human-made beauty.

Tobin has worked in various media throughout his career, including glass, clay, bronze, and steel. His work often explores natural forms, and the artist cites nature as his earliest influence, one that continues to inform his work to date. The artist previously exhibited another of his works, Termite Mounds, at the Museum of Natural History in 2001.

Thanks grafixguy!

theoryofpractice wrote:

spooky

can you hang a child's lost hat on it?

depends.

really hitches on how big the hat is. who have bigger heads, little girls or little boys?

brooklynpotter wrote: depends.

really hitches on how big the hat is. who have bigger heads, little girls or little boys?

Sexist yuppie park slope bastards.