Sunday, October 4, 2009

On the Road Again


I am hitting the road and want to take you along for the ride. Over the course of the next week or so, I will be sharing some of my stops along the way. And what better place to begin than NYC, my home base.

I just visited an amazing exhibit at Pace Wildenstein highlighting the work of Maya Lin and entitled "Three Ways of Looking at the Earth." Maya, well known for her design of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC, is an American artist that works in the space between art and architecture. The exhibit presents three large scale installations that allow the viewer to almost become part of each, as you walk through, around, and under the work.

"2 x 4 Landscape" consists of more than 50,000 two-by-four pieces of sustainable wood, set vertically to portray the swell of a hill. At its peak it is 10 feet high and covers a space of 1,900 total square feet. It changes from every angle and I found it to be mesmerizing, sensual, serene, and powerful...all at the same time. Click each image to enlarge to get a better view.






"Blue Lake Pass" consists of 20 separate blocks of particle board and represents the narrow passageways through the mountain passes of the Rocky Mountains. I found this piece to be the perfect combination of ordered grid and undulating curves.





Here is a short video of all three installations that was filmed earlier in the year when the exhibit was at the Cocoran.

24 comments:

Bridgette Guerzon Mills said...

saw her exhibit when it was in Seattle a few years ago. It's really something that needs to be experienced in person. She amazes me.

have a fun and safe trip!

Kim Palmer said...

Now I like both of these exhibits here. They are quite mesmerising to look at, all those curves and undulations. Love the pic of the old Ford too!

lynne h said...

wow, these 2 x 4's...

happy, safe travels, seth... i'm looking forward to tagging along. ; )

layers said...

I have been to this very large gallery and am familiar with Maya Lin and her work. She had altered actual fields outside with her undulating hills-- the scope of her work is large scale.
have a good trip...

MrCachet said...

After I visited The Wall four years ago to honor those of my brothers that I lost, I came away from her work with a truly profound admiration for her. Luckily, we happened to be walking down The Wall to find 'my' panel when it began to rain. Did you know that The Wall cries when it rains? Huge tears from name to name. I do not know what she had in mind when she created it, but I was IN Vietnam when I did my walk.

If this exhibit ends up anywhere close to the Rockies, I'll be there.

MrCachet said...

I like the truck, Seth. What is the make? Fargo? I can't make out the last two characters, but the truck makes up for that with its own character.

MrCachet said...

I just did a little Googling, and its either a 1937 or 1938 Fargo pickup, manufactured in Canada by Chrysler.

nancy neva gagliano said...

so nice to be able to see what maya lin's doing....i've ALWAYS been in awe of that young woman. this is extraordinary to see her manifestations of our geography. catching my breath at the moment.

femminismo said...

The wooden landscape is terrific. It mimics the mountains so well. What an idea to take the wood and use it this way. I wish I had known she was in Seattle. shame on me for missing this.

Debrina said...

Holy Moly Blinken Heck - that's a lot of work! Jeesh, she must have the patience of a saint!
Can't wait to hit the road with you!
Happy travelling!

Caterina Giglio said...

wonderful got your journal? : )

viv said...

enjoy the journey seth ;)

Whisperings 13 said...

"mesmerizing, sensual, serene, and powerful"- what a perfect description!
::Sigh:: NYC- I love the city- I am only 1.5 hours away - and I just don't seem to get there enough!
Thank you for inviting us along on your journey!
can't wait for the next stop!
Trace

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

I love your truck...my grandfather was a carpenter and had truck with all the rusty enticements and marks. Maya Lin's father teaches at Ohio University and she has had several installations here in driving distance. One was at the Wexner Gallery on Ohio State's main campus and she created these undilating (sp) waves in glass fragments. She is truly an inspiration woman with a vision to share with the world. I think but I could be wrong...didn't she design the Vietnam Veterans Wall in Washington, DC??? I do get my memories confused at times. Happy trails dear man!!! Imagine and Live in Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

i can't spell worth a darn anymore...forgive me but God is not finished with me yet. Happy Trails cowboy! Mary Helen

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

I love your picture of the red truck - have a great time!

Carolyn

Lawendula said...

Amazing! Unbelievable! I would like to see that in reality.

ArtPropelled said...

I was checking her work out last week and love her rolling green hillscapes out in the open. This must have been an amazing exhibition to see in person, Seth.

Clare Wassermann said...

wow I have really enjoyed discovering your blog this morning. Beautiful photography - what kinf of camera do you use?

Marit said...

OH WOW, wish I could see this for real... it's amazingly gorgeous! You know that surprised feeling and joy you feel while watching art... it was taken away from me a long time ago and you are giving it (slowly) back to me with the things you post. Thank you Seth!

RosieK said...

This work is both amazing and beautiful - thank you for sharing it Seth

Chris said...

Oh, thank you so much for featuring Maya Lin! I like her work, even when it's not my cup of tea it always shows that she's doing something honest and real, not being a gimmick or a phony. I love that. And most of it IS my cup of tea. And I've called her to have tea, and she hasn't returned my calls. How real is THAT?!

Thanks for taking us on this trip, Seth!

Kathy McCreedy said...

This has been absolutely fascinating... thank you for sharing some of your adventures with all of us! My hubby and I were supposed to be in your fair city this very week, doing the same sort of thing, until recent events changed our lives :( I'm going to make notes so that next year we can visit some of the same places :)
xoxo, K.

ART*ticulation said...

WOW this is an amazing body of work thanks for turning us onto it Seth.