Creative Time’s year-long program Democracy in America: The National Campaign culminates in the Convergence Center: a major exhibition, participatory project space, and meeting hall mounted in New York City’s Park Avenue Armory just in time for election season.
My video includes an interview with Chitra Ganesh talking about Index of the Disappeared. The show goes from playful to thoughful, to terrifying to silly with everything scattered throughout the huge Park Avenue Armory. I enjoyed exploring the building, you have access up to the fourth floor. I shot it early Sunday afternoon before the performers and speakers were scheduled. The unknown Karaoke guy at the end was the only person with guts enough to lay it all out on the line while I was there.
643 Park Avenue at 66th Street, Manhattan
Noon to 10PM - $free
Continues through September 27
creativetime.org/programs/archive/2008/democracy/convergence.php
Update, 6/5: Added Video, bottom of the post. Playing the Building, a 9,000-square-foot, interactive, site-specific installation by David Byrne in the Battery Maritime Building in Lower Manhattan. The project consists of a retrofitted antique organ, placed in the center of the building’s cavernous second-floor gallery, that controls a series of devices attached to its structural features—metal beams, plumbing, electrical conduits, and heating and water pipes.
I loved having access to the Battery Maritime Building, but the organ as an actual musical instrument left much to be desired. The keys, especially the ones that banged on things were often unresponsive (the solenoids tap on things that swing like a pendulum) often leaving you tapping away and not getting a sound. But I imagine if left to play with it for a longer than I felt comfortable doing with a long line waiting behind me and learning its quirks, I could get something going eventually. Don’t get me wrong this event brought to you by the great folks at Creative Time is awesome. Go check it out, weekends until August.
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 12 to 6pm May 31–August 10, 2008 - The Battery Maritime Building, 10 South Street, NYC
Sign the waiver and enter Mike Nelson’s Psychic Vacuum labyrinth. Southeast corner of Essex and Delancey Streets. Part of today and tomorrow’s Open House New York activities. www.ohny.org/
I used a monopod to steady my camera enough to use long exposures and no flash to get many of these shots.
Peeling paint illuminated by gelled fluorescent lights. View large
Demand the Best.
Jack and Jackie.
Psychic Discoveries Behind the Iron Curtain
Grisly discovery in one of the side rooms. Stars and bones.
The Soho Art Parade brought to you by the Deitch Projects and some damn reality show that pits artist against artist. As reported by my Flickr pal Moufle.
There are often interesting public art installations around city hall. This mega-megaphone is pointed directly at the NY County courthouse at 60 Centre Street. You are invited to speak your mind. That’s not saying anyone will listen. Earlier Art.
