Gates Today, Gone Tomorrow

I finally was able to make time today to experience "The Gates" in Central Park, and it was quite lovely. I think public art is one of a handful of things that makes city feel more liveable and culturally alive, and that was certainly true this afternoon.

The park was fairly crowded, but some spots were less so than others, and then it was nice to experience the whole thing as kind of a Zen Buddhist walking meditation, which is how it seemed most meaningful to me personally. Knowing that the temporary exhibition will be dismantled tomorrow made it seem especially beautiful, and I was gratified to learn that many of the materials used for the project will be recycled or repurposed. I even took a picture for you!

Afterward, I stopped by the Cooper-Hewitt design shop, which is one of my absolute favorite places to browse and enjoy looking at beautiful things. I was especially enthused by both the clear glass "Wagenfeld" tea set, sort of Bauhaus-esque in its functional austerity, and its cosmic twin at the other end of the universe, a French porcelain full tea service designed by Cindy Sherman, featuring her face superimposed over that of Madame de Pompadour.

I also spent some time flipping through The Biba Experience, and admiring a blanket made from antique kimonos. And - oh yes! - the whole thing reminded me that I wanted to mention Orange Alert, a yearlong program showcasing the latest in Dutch design, in New York, including an exhibition curated by Viktor & Rolf.