My favorite mosaic of Aida on the 1 platform at 66th Street.

I took a lunchtime jaunt up to Lincoln Center to check out the new venue for Fashion Week. I had mixed feelings when I heard about this some years ago, but I think the set-up is so much better than at Bryant Park. Plus we who work in the Garment District get to keep our Lawn and our longer ice skating season. It's a win-win. I got some good shots which I'll post a little later. Stay tuned!

Bryant Park on this beautiful day today, with plenty of Lawn
and happy people on the Lawn.

Details from Passing Through, the 115-foot mosaic mural by Al Held (2004) inside the Lexington Avenue-53rd Street station. Each section is an incredibly strong composition on its own; seen altogether it is spectacular. Take the E, V or 6 and come up for a viewing. Enjoy your Friday.

What is it about tile mosaics that make me so happy? This work is one of a pair on the West Side on 50th Street near 11th Avenue, marking two side entryways to a public high school. Pretty great. One panel was so large, I had to take it in two parts.

I must investigate the artist, Fogel, and Crovatto Mosaics further.


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Here is what I found out about Crovatto:

"Crovatto is located in a little town in Italy, and its chief industry is making venetian glass mosaics (too expensive to have done in the States). To make the venetian glass, workers pound out very small pieces of colored glass and put them on individual pieces of mesh. They would then ship the pieces of mesh to us. Installation was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle." [source: thepeoplemover.com]

This Website, about the Travisanutto Giovanni SRL Studio in Italy, while not the source of our Fogel '77, is an interesting one to investigate. Click on Photo Gallery. It seems that Giovanni Travisanutto worked with "Crovatto Mosaics Inc., an affirmed Studio in New York, led by a man of common Friulan roots, Mr. Costante Crovatto."

***
I just found the artist: Seymour Fogel (1911-1984), born in New York City, graduated from the National Academy, apprenticed with Diego Rivera, awarded several mural commissions by the WPA in the 30s and 40s, his work included in exhibitions at the Whitney Museum and the Corcoran. Here is a Website about another of his murals in Texas. According to this site, Fogel created 22 major murals in his life "using such media as ethyl silicate, a process he helped pioneer in the 1950's, glass and tile mosaics, oil paint on canvas, and other experimental multi-media compositions."

Dove of Peace, detail, gift from Pope John Paul II
on display at the UN

I fell in love with a certain bird necklace at the Chanel store today. It was a textured chunky silver with a variety of blue stones inset. And now I am sad that I did not sneak a photo, because I can't seem to locate it on the Website. The bird reminds me of the Dove of Peace mosaic displayed at the UN, in feeling anyway. I have a strong bird thing happening right now, to be sure. I just saw a great bird ring at Dalaga yesterday, which also reminded me of the UN dove. I will have to get a picture of it for you in the next day or so.

I was just combing Chanel.com for the picture of the bird, and found this instead. No wonder why the Dove of Peace reminded me of the Chanel bird.

Dove of Peace, detail, gift from Pope John Paul II

Speaking of mid-century treasures and mosaics in Midtown, the U.N. is brimming with wonderful art and architectural details. And a trip to 1st Avenue seemed a bit easier than a trip to Brasilia to visit a creation by Oscar Niemeyer. For now.

A tour of the U.N. lasts about an hour and is well worth the $13. It is quite a place to see. Or see again. When I was in the second grade, we took a class trip to the U.N. (one of the benefits of growing up in New Jersey). Tours are available every half-hour, Monday through Friday, 9:30am to 4:45pm and Saturday, Sunday 10am to 4:30pm.

The United Nations
1st Avenue (btwn 42nd and 48th Streets)

212. 963. TOUR

Security Council Chamber


General Assembly Hall

I would love to have these mosaic door handles on my front door. It is sometimes hard to tell in New York if certain details are original or expertly recreated. I am going to guess that these works of art are original. But then again, I am not sure.

The Website notes that the Double Tree Metropolitan Hotel has been "restored to reflect its retro, 1960's glory." I also read that it was recently designated an historic landmark. The hotel was designed in 1961 by architect Morris Lapidus, who also designed Miami's legendary Fontainebleau and Eden Roc hotels. I remember visiting both hotels on my childhood trips to Miami Beach. Even to 8 year old eyes, they were pretty spectacular. So what is the answer, original or recreated?

Photographed at the 51st Street entrance of the hotel (located at 569 Lexington Avenue). There are many mid-century treasures to be found in Midtown.

I have been wanting to get a shot of this mosaic on my transfer from the G to the L, but taking this shot means missing the train. And so I did yesterday. Miss my train. But I caught the next.

It has an eco message and an existential message all rolled into one, don't you think? You know where I mean.

On a recent trip home from the Guggenheim, transferring from the E to the G, I snapped some detail photos of Frank Olt's work. I love looking into the sparkling gold center every time I pass it. Do you know where I mean?

I had my camera with me while transferring from the G to the L, usually running to catch the train, and 9 times out of 10, missing it. The trains are timed to miss it. So why not just slow down and take in some art? I love this mosaic. You know where I mean.