While the appreciation of art may entail extensive touring of museums and in-depth intellectual consideration of the work in questions, we find that very often those experiences of art that most capture our imaginations and fire our enthusiasm present themselves when we simply allow ourselves to be
In The Moment
If it seems like there is never enough time to enjoy the art your life, may we suggest you share our New Year’s resolution to “pay attention” - look left, look right, give yourself just for the moment to your visual experience, and see where that can take you.
Looking back on our favorite flashes of inspiration from 2006, here are a few:
“Eye See You Too”
Kiki Smith
Lilith, 1994
silicon bronze and glass
33 x 27-1/2 x 19" (83.8 x 69.9 x 48.3 cm)
Approaching Kiki Smith’s bronze wall sculpture “Lilith,” at the Whitney, and catching our breath when she looked back up at us with brilliant blue eyes. Even more of a surprise since we always pass another “Lilith” on a staircase at the Met, but can’t view her face from that angle, and always assumed she was solid bronze.
“Awesome”
The wonderment of entering Cy Twombly’s exhibition “Bacchus” at Gagosian, eight enormous canvases nearly covering the tall walls of the large gallery, shouting out with all that brilliant red energy. Before years end we encountered one of the canvases, now installed at the Met, and took a moment to appreciate it on its own and allow it to evoke for us the power of the group.
“Immortality”
William deKoonig
courtesy of private collector
Taking in an exhibition of large canvases by Willem De Kooning (1904-1997) at L&M Galleries, and learning that one of them is still not dry. The liviing presence of the brilliant 20th Century painter was momentarily palpable in the room.
“Eavesdropping”
Viewing the Ad Reinhart canvases at the Whitney Biennial, and listening to painter Will Barnet describe the work and his encounters with Reinhart to some friends, when another woman looked at the work and said to her husband, "But they're ALL BLACK!"
“Off the Scale”
Totally focusing on works on paper by Mark DiSuvero in the front gallery at Paula Cooper, then experiencing a momentary shock at the sight of the 27-foot tall steel structure looming in the next room.
“Gravitas”
Abu Ghraib 67, 2005
by Fernando Botero
Oil on canvas, 16 7/8 x 13 3/4 in., 43 x 35 cm
Marlborough Gallery
The quiet intensity of the opening reception for “Abu Ghraib” by Fernando Botero, (whose work we admire daily in the form of the Cat sculpture at 79th & Park) being deeply moved ourselves by this impressive and emotional departure from his usual subject matter, feeling as well the strong response from hundreds of others present at Marlborough Gallery.
“Look Down…”
…the next time you attend a Chelsea opening, and you are likely to see a little person of the furry persuasion taking it all in. While Corgi’s don’t critique, and we’ve never met a Pekinese who professed to being partial to Picasso, we love watching dogs enjoy the scene at least as much as their bipedal escorts. Pups dig the vibe of the art, and, as every pet person knows, it pays to pay attention to the preferences of your four-legged family.
Enjoy 2007 one artful moment at a time.
Mark Wiener & Linda DiGusta
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