Art on the wild side: sculpture park pleasures

Art does not have to exist only on the white walls of a gallery or museum. Art can also be a part of one’s environment, defining and adorning the spaces people inhabit. Sculpture gardens around New York are the perfect place to experience this interaction between everyday life and the masterpieces that are usually confined to the rooms of an artistic institution.

Columbia’s campus is its own sculpture garden of sorts, displaying works such as Henry Moore’s modern “Three Way Piece” and Auguste Rodin’s “The Thinker,” to name a few. These sculptures are an integral part of Columbia’s classical academic atmosphere, even if students barely notice them during their day-to-day activities.

The uniform bronze sculptures on campus are certainly not extraordinary. Columbia sculpture gardens are slightly lackluster, but beyond the gates, there is plenty more to discover in these hybrids between art and life.

At the Museum of Modern Art, visitors can take a break from the crowded rooms of obscure modern paintings and unwind in the sculpture garden at the back of the museum. The fresh air, small ponds, and scenic city views provide a haven from the MoMA’s hectic and sometimes intimidating atmosphere. The garden features sculptures by Pablo Picasso and Alberto Giacometti as well as the new installation “Sculpture in Color,” which invites visitors to interact with vibrant doodle-like pieces like Franz West’s “Lotus.” Here, there is no pressure to stand in front of the work, attempting to grasp the meeting—you can just sit on it.

While the MoMA courtyard claims to be a garden, there is no escaping its lack of true foliage. For a natural experience, visitors should venture to Queens where the grass is slightly greener. The Socrates Sculpture Park in Long Island City serves as both a public space and an artist residency. Each year, the Emerging Artists Fellowship Exhibition allows selected artists to set up shop in the park’s outdoor studio and showcase their sculptures. The exhibit (up until March), along with recreational programs such as bike rides, yoga, and outdoor cinema, make this park the quintessential mix of community living and artistic creation.

For the most profound example of the discourse between art and urban life, look no further than an abandoned lot on Canal Street. LentSpace, commissioned by the Lower Manhattan Culture Council, serves as an impromptu park and exhibition space while Trinity Real Estate makes plans for the lot’s use.

The crude sculptures, made of industrial materials including ladders, concrete, and steel, comment on themes pertaining to city planning and neighborhood change. LentSpace has good intentions, but the area reeks of impending gentrification disguised as edgy art, especially since the park provides clear views of the construction of luxury condominiums across the street. New Yorkers are not afraid to show their disdain. Several of the works are marked with graffiti stating, “This is not art.” These sculptures are no Michelangelos, but they may just be the right kind of art to inspire social reaction and awareness.