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I am disturbed by the creepy new firing line/execution statues they have in the lobby (under the glowing blue neon "Welcome" sign), to say nothing for the silhouettes of fleeing children they have plastered on the walls and windows. Does anybody know what the story is with these things?
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Subject: Re: Meier building lobby decorations
Meanwhile, the condominium owners have been instituting changes of their own. To beautify the building’s ground-floor spaces, including a pool room and a children’s play room, they formed an art committee headed by Alan Selig Fleischer, a retired neurosurgeon. The committee created the Gallery@1 GAP, named for the building’s address, 1 Grand Army Plaza, which will mount three shows a year of works by Brooklyn artists. The second show, featuring the conceptual artist Raphael Zollinger, who trained at the Pratt Institute, will run from June 4 through Oct. 3. more at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/30/realestate/30posting.html -
Yeah, ditto on the creepy silhouettes.
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Well, that explains it all right. Doesn't excuse it though - it's a far cry from what I'd want to see everytime I came home. The pictures on the artist's website make it look even creepier than it is from the street (http://rzollinger.com/sculpture.html).
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It's a little bizarre. I was baffled by the bodies facing the wall awaiting the firing squad.And that's the way it is.
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I like the figures. Very cinematic.
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Amighty, All I can say is: Cope It's their building, they can put what they want in their common areas (within reason).
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Had same reaction as first post while walking by last week...what first came to mind was a sort of Holocaust-type of image, not sure why. My reaction was pretty much being not quite sure I would want to come home to this image every day but, lol, I don't live there and so on. If it were somewhere else, not sure what my first reaction would be...this is art.If I don't quite understand you...well, that's all right...if you don't want to understand me...it really doesn't matter.... If we all try to understand each other, well now, just think of what might happen!
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My impression was that the residents were lonely and wanted some more people in the building. ...it's still pretty vacantFor better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.
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quig » Amighty, All I can say is: Cope It's their building, they can put what they want in their common areas (within reason).
Strange, inappropriate and unsolicited advice, but still I can appreciate your concern for my well-being. I really just thought they were weird and wondered what the deal was. I'm actually comforted to know that no one actually chose that as a permanent lobby decoration, but only in the interest of good taste. With all the Meier-bashing that goes on here I'm not surprised if residents don't read the boards, but I kind of hoped to hear a resident chime in about the sculptures. That's not even to bash the art itself (in another setting it might be AWESOME). I really like the idea of having a gallery in that space, but walk by the lobby at night and tell me if you aren't a little creeped out by the whole thing. And, now that someone mentioned it, you would think that kind of display would be a questionable choice for a greeting for prospective buyers. "You are WELCOME - to DIE!!! Now KNEEL! Oh, and buy an apartment here!" -
I'm not "creeped out" at all. Sure as hell beats a Thomas Kinkade My takeaway: The contrast of the US detaining foreign nationals without due process under neon “welcome” sign. In my opinion, the most important thing is that it inspires dialogue, be it internal or external. You see one thing → I see another → We discuss. That’s what art does. Here’s the artist’s website: http://rzollinger.com
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I think it's cool that they're using the space for art. Funny, I didn't see the shadow-people as creepy. The kneeling guys are definitely creepy and I don't enjoy looking at them. But good for them for not putting up IKEA prints.
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Good for them to use art to remind us of the real world outside our little bubble here but I can't imagine it will sell too many overpriced apartments.
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the last I looked, they were still asking $700 a sq ft for raw space. (aka space without kitchens installed). Granted, this is down from their original asking price of $1000 a sq ft. ....but the surrounding neighborhood doorman buildings run around $650 a sq ft., and have -um- kitchens and bathrooms already installed ....mostly newly renovated!For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.
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After having had the opportunity of admiring the "kneeling guys", I am just glad I do not live there... Heck, I am even glad I do not walk around the building that much. I can't imagine getting home every night and having to actually walk into that eerie lobby. Are you sure they are not renting the space to some horror B movie, or at least to some version of (horror) candid camera? And yes, I love a lot of art that can be surely qualified as eerie. However, I would not want to actually taking it home and living with it *every* day, be it for one or for six months. Of course, if such a thing gives a developer the chance of getting a bit of much needed attention for a project - say, being spoken of at the NYT - then it makes some sort of sense. And it is a plus for them be able to claim fervor for contemporary art - so cool, aren't they? As for the other beautification measures, it is kind of weird to think of them in context. Particularly for the residents with small children: "Come here, little one. After watching the lovely execution squad victims, let us go into the nice playroom..." PS: The developers at 910 Union Street are also attempting something related to art, but permanent.
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i don't know if i like it -- but it's art
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puply » The developers at 910 Union Street are also attempting something related to art, but permanent.
As I'm one of said Developers at 910 Union, I thought i'd respond and introduce our forthcoming project to this board. I'm a Sloper myself, and hope to have a dialogue with this board and others on an ongoing basis about our project. As to our 'art' focus, in direct opposition to everything Meier has done we are looking to reach out to the local community in every aspect of our project planning and creation. The 'art' we are engage in is an RFP from LOCAL artists, presenting their ideas for a mural to be hung in our lobby. The goal of the art is to find something which speaks to us about the history, beauty, or special personality of Park Slope, Prospect Park, Grand Army Plaza, or Brooklyn generally. The overall language for the RFP is posted on the building, and has been mailed out to various interested groups in the community already. We hope to share the final work with the community in the coming months, and have received well over 100 statements of interest at this point. -
I love the exhibit - even if it's grim. I think the art is a million times more cheerful that the room was back when it was empty. I always used to get a chill walking past the empty "community space," which I took to be a commentary on the loneliness of extreme wealth. You know, reading through the posts here I'm becoming depressed again. The Meier building is sounding edgy, as if those young, crazy kids were pushing the envelope with their shocking art exhibit. Meanwhile the neighborhood is sounding a little staid, a little easily shocked. We sound kind of the way I'd expect a wealthy, retired, neurosurgeon to sound. But wait! The wealthy, retired, neurosurgeon is the guy who organized the exhibit!
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prospectus » You know, reading through the posts here I'm becoming depressed again. The Meier building is sounding edgy, as if those young, crazy kids were pushing the envelope with their shocking art exhibit. Meanwhile the neighborhood is sounding a little staid, a little easily shocked. We sound kind of the way I'd expect a wealthy, retired, neurosurgeon to sound. But wait! The wealthy, retired, neurosurgeon is the guy who organized the exhibit!
Are you really judging the whole neighborhood on a dozen or so posts on an internet message board? -
I am having a flashback to art apprecation class. "really? They got all of that meaning from this?" p.s. I think I got a B-For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.
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once i made an abe lincoln entirely from beans no one saw the genius in making his eyes from chick peasdestination: roam
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Architecture Biscuit » [quote="prospectus"]You know, reading through the posts here I'm becoming depressed again. The Meier building is sounding edgy, as if those young, crazy kids were pushing the envelope with their shocking art exhibit. Meanwhile the neighborhood is sounding a little staid, a little easily shocked. We sound kind of the way I'd expect a wealthy, retired, neurosurgeon to sound. But wait! The wealthy, retired, neurosurgeon is the guy who organized the exhibit!
Are you really judging the whole neighborhood on a dozen or so posts on an internet message board?[/quote] Yes! It's the kind of thing I do when I get home, tired and tipsy, and start looking at message boards... But I take your point. -
Karl the Druid » once i made an abe lincoln entirely from beans no one saw the genius in making his eyes from chick peas
Karl, did you get an A?For better or worse, the change on Nostrand is going to make the change on Franklin look minor.
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