Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Figurative Public Sculpture: Looking Towards The Avenue - NY, NY


Interesting Places I've Photographed
Looking Towards The Avenue
New York, NY
Topic: Figurative Public Sculpture
53rd Street and 6th Avenue
52nd Street and 6th Avenue
GPS: N40° 45.702; W073° 58.757

Quick Description: 

"Looking Towards The Avenue" is the name given to three bronze sculptures located on 6th Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) at 53nd and 52rd Streets in midtown Manhattan.

Long Description:

Figurative sculptures and prints that are suggestive of, but not copies of, the figure of Venus de Milo are one of American pop artist Jim Dine's favorite subjects. His works on this theme are widely displayed around the world. Three of these sculptures were commissioned by Tishman Speyer Trammell Crow Limited Partnership and installed in front of 1301 Sixth Avenue. The group is entitled "Looking Towards The Avenue".

These three bronze sculptures are installed on the corners of 53rd Street and 52nd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan. The three are very similar in execution but vary in size. The largest is 23' high and stands on the corner of 53rd Street in the center of a square polished black granite base. Two smaller versions are displayed together on the corner of 52nd Street. They are smaller, 14' and 18' tall, and are also stand on black polished granite squares.

Each abstract figurative statue is disrobed above the waist and headless. The figures are composed of angular surfaces. The upper part is recognizable as a female torso while the parts below the waist are more impressionistic since they embedded in the bronze matrix of the work. The headless figures makes the title of the work - "Looking Towards The Avenue" - quite ironic.

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