Bringing you quick thoughts on everyday art that makes the day a bit more special.
Last weekend, Andrew bravely joined me on a gallery tour.
I can get carried away with planning, so he was a bit scared he would be on an overwhelming 5 hour trek.
I told him not to worry, I’d pare down our agenda. He was very confused when I said I removed 7 (it turns out I had 17 planned, oops 😂)
Over the week, I’ll share my favorites. Here’s the one I had been looking forward to the most!
Maybe this quote will help you understand why,
“I am for an art… that does something other than sit on its ass in a museum.”
— Claes Oldenburg
Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen’s work requires no art theory to understand and is pure fun.
They were also a brilliant couple of which I could write many newsletters. Their partnership was one for the ages. They worked together on the art, and the politics of placing giant sculptures in cities around the world.
More on that, with an amazing story of their love, at the end!
Claes & Coosje - A Duet (Pace Gallery)
I’ve unintentionally seen tons of their work, so I was eager to visit a familiar friend (the artwork) at this exhibit.
I actually did a walkthrough of one of their works I was lucky enough to live near, Cupid’s Span, on OG Gogh Look.
I think their work is best seen outside, because it’s outlandishly large, and it surprises you when you run into it.
But because these objects were smaller, this exhibit allowed you to get closer and see the texture of the materials, which I really enjoyed. It also covered more intricate pieces that wouldn’t survive the elements.
Take a look at how the words spill out of the book pages, how the spiral of the notebook comes undone.
This work I had seen before in its natural habitat, so it was really cool to see it here.
My mom was excited to tell me it’s a typewriter eraser, something I knew nothing about!
I enjoy a lot that much of their work needs no explanation and is just pure joy.
This exhibit also shows the highs and the lows. It’s amazing to hear that artists this successful have had so many failures.
“Dropped Bouquet” is a particularly special work. van Bruggen came up with this work before she died in 2009, and it never ended up in the Indianapolis Museum of Art as was planned.
Oldenburg has worked on this work for a decade since her death, and this show was the first time this work was displayed in monumental scale.
Oldenburg still wants to place a teddy bear in Central Park. We can all dream!
Please send me any feedback. I’d love to continue making this newsletter more enjoyable and meaningful!
Love these installations and Love the photos of you and Andrew in them.