by Kelly Pajek
New York City (NYC) is home to both temporary and permanent public art. The hardest decision you may have is deciding what to see during your visit!
Within walking distance of the conference you can see both Jim Dine’s Looking Toward the Avenue on 6th Avenue and 53rd Street as well as Robert Indiana's famous and iconic Love sculpture on 6th Avenue and 55th Street.
The Museum of Modern Art has a sampling of exhibits ranging from Abstract Expressionist New York to Contemporary Art from the Collection and Counter Space: Design and the Modern Kitchen. Check MoMA’s website for a full range of programming.
Nearby at 390 Park Avenue you can experience architect Gordon Bunshaft’s seminal International Style skyscraper Lever House as well as the artwork of Rachel Feinstein, which will be on exhibit until April 2nd.
The Fund for Park Avenue and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation are featuring Will Ryman's The Roses on Park Avenue from 57th to 67th Streets through May 2011.
Public Art Fund is exhibiting Ryan Gander’s The Happy Prince at Doris C. Freedman Plaza in Central Park through February 13th.
In 2008 the Museum of Art and Design moved to its new home at 2 Columbus Circle. Visit and view The Global Africa Project up through May 15th.
If you are traveling by subway you will undoubtedly encounter public artwork commissioned by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Arts for Transit program. At the 59th Street-Columbus Circle subway station you will find Whirls and Twirls by Sol LeWitt. Located on the mezzanine wall between the 1, A, B and D subway lines this sizable permanent ceramic mural allows subway users to experience LeWitt’s work for generations to come. In addition, located in the Prince Street N/R NYC station, you can see Carrying On, a frieze “celebrating the significance and individuality” of the citizens of New York by Janet Zweig in collaboration with Edward del Rosario.
At the Whitney Museum of American Art catch Charles Ledray: WorkWorkWorkWorkWork before it closes on February 14th. Also see Modern Life: Edward Hopper and His Time.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a plethora of photography on view from Stieglitz, Steichen, Strand to Between Here and There: Passages in Contemporary Photography up through February 13th. Also see an intriguing installation by artist Katrin Sigurdardottir. Check the Met’s schedule for a full list of exhibits.
The Madison Square Park Conservancy’s Mad. Sq. Art program currently features three impressive time based works by artist Jim Campbell: Broken Window, Scattered Light, and Subway Station are situated at three locations within the park through February 28th.
In 2008 the renovation of the Guggenheim was completed making it well worth a visit. Inside see the recently opened exhibit The Great Upheaval: Modern Art from the Guggenheim Collection, 1910-1918.
Since June of 2009 The High Line has become NYC’s premier elevated park offering impressive views and a landscaped stroll above the streets of Chelsea from Gansevoort to West 20th Streets. High Line Art currently features temporary artworks by Richard Galpin produced in collaboration with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and two works in collaboration with Creative Time by Spencer Finch and Stephen Vitiello.
Visit and see Isa Genzken’s Rose II at The New Museum. Recently opened shows include works by George Condo, Linda Benglis as well as Museum as Hub: The Accords an international, multipart exhibit.
Take a look at Culture Now. This site features several walking tours of New York City, podcasts of artwork as well as an iPhone application that you can download and find public art as you travel through Manhattan.
For a range of current gallery listings throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn see One Art World.
