Art Around NYC: Various

If you walk the streets of NYC with your eyes open, you will be rewarded with some really amazing artwork.  Don't make the mistake of just keeping your head down shuffling from home or subway to work and back.  Look up and take a look around.

If you live or work in midtown east, you may be familiar with the Lever House.  This commercial building often has art exhibits on display in the lobby for public enjoyment.  Richard Marshall, the curator the for the building's art collection, does an amazing job bringing fabulous art to New Yorkers and NYC visitors.  Located at 54th Street and Park Avenue, the current exhibit called "Land Mind" by Paula Hayes is a man-sized tulip-shaped aquarium housing exotic fish (Bangaii cardinal fish, purple-faced fire fish, shrimp, snails, clown fish, a starfish and various coral) (see above).  It is spectacular and definitely worth a look if you are in the neighborhood. In the past, they have had a great building-sized collection of Hello Kitty sculptures.  I love walking by this place.

Currently, there is also a fun exhibit in the Anthropologie store at Rockefeller Center.  "War Against Gravity" (see left) by Gordon Harrison Hull, is a fantastical motorbike/tricycle that looks like a vehicle that Mork from Ork would drive (yes, that's old school).  They also have a rotating exhibit so if you can spare a little time from your shopping adventures, poke your head into this side room on the main floor and be dazzled.

Not that long ago, there was also one of the magnificent giant balloon dogs by Jeff Koons in an office lobby in midtown east.  I was afraid to take a picture, as Mr. Koons is so litigation happy (did you read about how he tried to sue a S.F. gallery for making balloon dog bookends?--as if he can now claim that he owns all balloon dogs).  

Anyway, I just wanted to tell people about the real art available for the public to see for free around NYC.  Enjoy!