New York City Photos, Part 4: Sculpted Humanity

“Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.”

- Twyla Tharp, New York City dance genius

Manhattan is alive with humanity, both breathing versions and inanimate versions crafted by artists. Today’s blog post is dedicated to ten visions of sculpted humanity. Only three of the artists – Alberto Giacometti, Guido Deleu, and Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux – are named. The rest of the collection of sculpted humanity is anonymous – artists/artisans whose names are lost in the Manhattan mists. Which means, dear reader, that if you can identify any of these shadowy creative souls, please let me know.

These images of humanity are wildly diverse. Some whisper profundity; some are clichés; some are cheeky; and some are just bizarre. Much like any random group of humans.

This collection is the fourth and last flowing from the recent dog-sitting visit that Bill and I paid to New York City. My camera and I are looking forward to the next visit!

Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy these photos.

Head on a Rod,

Alberto Giacometti, 1947

Guggenheim Museum

Kewpie Doll, Central Park

Building Detail, West 40th Street

(across from Bryant Park)

Night Light, West 38th Street, near 8th Avenue

Ethel Merman Statue,

Drama Book Store, West 40th Street

Building Detail,

Metropolitan Museum of Art

"Ugolino and His Sons" 
by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, Paris, 1860s.
Situated in the Charles Engelhard Court,

Metropolitan Museum of Art

(Thanks to Prince Edward County artist 
Gilles Miramontes for identifying the sculpture for me.)

Man Pointing,

Alberto Giacometti, 1947

Guggenheim Museum

Window Display,

Drama Book Store, West 40th Street

Variations of The Visitor, by Guido Deleu

Guggenheim Museum Gift Shop

New York City Photos, Part 3: Manhattan Textures

“From where we stand, the rain seems random.

If we could stand somewhere else, we could see the order in it.”

- Tony Hillerman, American Author, 1925-2008

Confession: I love the textures of a city: the feel, the quirkiness, the patterns, the aromas, the sounds, the unexpected delights.

New York has those textures in spades. Everything is in your face, 24/7. I have to find interior spaces in my own mind to cope with the enormity of the external stimulation. And that’s where my camera comes in, because it nurtures that precious interior space. In fact, my photographs help me make sense of the world.

Which, of course, makes wandering around a large city such a pleasure.

The eleven photos that I’ve posted below all help me appreciate New York City even more. To pick up on Tony Hillerman’s thoughts, these photos oblige me to stand somewhere else so that I can see the order. Some people say that they don’t know what they think until they hear themselves saying it. The corollary for me is this: there are things I don’t understand until I see my photos of them.

Enjoy.

Next week, I’m planning a fourth blog post featuring photos from New York City.

 

Wicker basket reflection in the early morning sun

 

Atrium, Metropolitan Museum of Art

 

Detail from Thornton Dial’s powerful History Refused to Die (2004),

 Metropolitan Museum of Art

 

Mannequin fingers, Metropolitan Museum of Art gift shop

 

Chelsea architecture #1

 

Chelsea architecture #2

Chelsea architecture #3

High Line #1

 

High Line #2

Detail, Hudson Yard development project

Rope sculpture near Times Square