Lower East Side Galleries

During My visit to The lower east side galleries, I definitely saw a difference between this gallery and the Chelsea galleries. I enjoyed the lower east side gallery as much as I enjoyed the Chelsea galleries because they both were different but still captivating. 

The lower east side was a very different neighborhood versus the neighborhood of the Chelsea galleries and they definitely gave me an idea of how i thought the galleries were going to be different from each other because both neighborhoods gave me different vibes.The Chelsea galleries environment felt like it was more upperclass and the galleries had much more fine art like sculptures and paintings and they were more historical . I also thought that the art was going to be expensive because of the type of environment.The lower east side seemed more casual and some of the art galleries seemed more grungier and rock n roll and I kind of knew what to expect.


 One gallery that I visited was Tatyana Murray "In The Woods". This gallery was different from the Chelsea galleries because they had images with a black and white ghostly look to it and I thought,that was very cool. You won't see this kind of art in the Chelsea galleries. The artwork in the Chelsea gallery were very simple compared to a lot in the LES. Another gallery that I went to was the "Strange Loop Gallery". This particular gallery was interesting because they had photographs of people doing drugs and the gallery was also a bookstore. It had a punk vibe to it and it was much more powerful than any Chelsea galleries because the photographs were real opposed to a painting or sculpture.So I thought that was quite different than what you might see at the Chelsea Galleries.  Lastly I visited "Stephan Stoyanov Gallery" and there was some canvases with abstract painting that i thought the Chelsea gallery might have in common with the LES. But what gave me a different outlook on the gallery was the basement that was playing videos of art from a projector.This is a very creative way of portraying art that I did not see at any of the Chelsea galleries. I also think that the LES and Chelsea galleries would not cater to the same collectors because a lot of the art in the LES galleries seems like people with a much more edgier taste will buy them and the collectors from the Chelsea galleries would not be interested.

Public Art Reaction

Their is many public art anywhere you may walk. A piece of art can be found in a park, in the street or even graffiti on the wall. But most importantly public art is for everyone to see. Some may catch peoples attention and some may walk right by it.

Walking down union square last year I came across a 26- foot tall bronze elephant sculpture named "Gran Elefandret" and it caught my eye. Immediately I just stared at it and was amazed by how realistic it looked and I was also amazed at how the elephant was positioned. It was standing upside down, on its trunk. This elephant sculpture was designed by Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo which was part of his Marlborough Gallery. According to the artist, the elephant is supposed "to show his gravity-defying position". By its '"saggy skin, it's off-killer positioning, and the overturned floppy ears". In my opinion the elephant is supposed to be comical, because in reality a elephant can't stand on its trunk and therefore it is funny to see a sculpture of a elephant standing perfectly balanced, on its trunk.

The artwork interacts with its surroundings because Barcelo, also explained that the bronze elephant is supposed to "resemble a metallic tree". According to Barcelo a tree "looks like a upside elephant, and when you touch a tree it feels like a elephant". The elephant is standing in front of trees, which is supposed to give its surroundings a nature feeling because that is the way that Barcelo explained the elephant is supposed to be representing a tree by its way of positioning. Its also supposed to be an urban work, so it is supposed to have like a city feeling as well, and it definitely gives that vibe due to the sculptures color and its exotic look and meaning. You are most likely to find sculptures like that in the city. This sculpture definitely benefits its surroundings because it shows how a tree and this sculpture can look so different but yet have similar qualities and its so fascinating how both of the trees and elephant are outside in the open so people can see them. If this elephant sculpture was placed in a different place with no trees then people wouldn't be able to see how they are both similar in a way. Also if this sculpture was placed in a private space then not a lot of people would have the chance to see this beautiful, meaning piece of art.

This sculpture has left me completely amazed by the way it looks and its meaning behind. Even though this sculpture was only up for a few months it was by far the best public art i have ever seen here in New York City and it left a great memory on a lot of people who saw it.

Miquel Barcelo
"Gran Elefandret"
Bronze
2008