I had a very exciting 9-11 running around Central Park and museum hopping. -Shouldn't there be fireworks or something for today? #Neverforget!
The first museum I flew through was the American Museum of Natural History. It's intimidatingly large, but the staff is friendly and helpful. I still couldn't see anyone in HR because you can only be seen by appointment (as I'm starting to find out, that's how these museums work). Next on the list was the Whitney Museum of American Art which I have been wanting to check out for months. Fortunately the "Jeff Koons: A Retrospective" exhibit was still on display. Anyone, artist, non-artist, art-enthusiast, and art-hater, would love it.
Metallic Venus
Celebration
I took a few photos for each room I really enjoyed. The first being "Gazing Ball" where Koons took familiar famous works of art, recreated the work out of plaster, then added a gazing ball. The gazing ball symbolizes a "sharing" element. Koons applies this from his childhood growing up in suburban Pittsburgh where most neighborhood lawns had a gazing ball "inviting" others to their yard. I think I'm remembering that correctly..
The other room that was like the name EasyFun was just that. It was right after Koons' divorce (fun fact!!! His ex-wife was Ilona Staller who by the way was a porn-star whom Koons hired for his series of paintings titled "Made in Heaven," not my favorite room but interesting/amazing nonetheless. So Koons hires her to make a movie,-porno!- but falls in love with her and decides to just makes paintings of his idea and scrap the film). Staller ended up taking their kid to Italy and it caused a huge international custody battle. Koons real life became very heavy so his art became really light. The room is mostly animal-head shaped mirrors with fun colors.
I feel I should mention more about "Made in Heaven." It was early on in Koons career as an artist so you have to forgive him for the narcissism and tackiness that goes on in the room. He tries to BS his way through the use of pornography by posting a dog sculpture and flowers in the room saying they symbolize fidelity, but it's just about what every amateur artist does. Not to mention there are ZERO symbols of fidelity in the actual paintings. And these are ginormous paintings so it's not like there wasn't room.
The room with "Metallic Venus" is actually called Antiquity and is basically dedicated to the Greek Goddess Aphrodite. There are multiple paintings and sculptures of the goddess in different interpretations (for example there is a Balloon Venus). One interpretation of the Venus I enjoyed was a painting of a model dressed to look like Betty Page riding a blow-up dolphin. The painting is humorous, but also has a large variety of textures painted throughout the painting which I appreciate as a painter. I also enjoy the message that celebrities are like the Gods and Goddesses of our time. Very Pop Art.
The best was saved for last and that's the room "Celebration." It's almost breathtaking. In the middle of the room is a HUGE sculpture of children's Play-Doh, and then to the left is "Yellow Balloon Dog" which is also quite large and startlingly impressive. I truly believe everyone would love this room and be in complete awe of it all.
I finished the afternoon adventure with a stop at the Guggenheim WHICH WAS CLOSED!!!!! The gift shop was open, and the staff was mostly present. You know who wasn't present? HUMAN RESOURCES. Not that it would have mattered because come to find out they too will not see anyone without an appointment. Persistence is KEY! I need to make some friends. FAST.
We'll see what happens!
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