Archive for August, 2006
Art – rock on
August 14, 2006 4:10 am
Ok MoMa (see post below) got me all excited. I am impatient because I have two weeks until I am in my new apartment and can hang my artwork arriving from New Zealand.
Yes, it is true, I purchased a Dick Frizzell piece prior to my departure. This guy is to NZ pop-art, what Roy Liechtenstein is to US pop-art. And what better when the two are combined … so welcome to ‘Masterpiece’ with Mr 4 Square Man as a sexy NZ grocery icon matched against a Roy suit-clad icon … hmmm wonder where he will go in my apartment.
Strange Sights
3:55 amFurniture – Take 2
3:52 am
I started with reinvigorated intentions on a fine Sunday – furniture hunting. I was immediately side-tracked by the need to yet again find temporary accommodation before I move onto my new apartment on September 1. It consumed my morning, only resolved after taking a hit of maple syrup on a dutch bacon pancake, which then catapulted me into a frenzy of phone calls until I secured a bed.
I ventured into the office to drop off a spare suitcase I don’t need to be lugging around various places, even took a pic of the view from my desk.
So yes – refocus – furniture – Z Gallery (443 Broadway @ Grand) I know I may be guilty of standing at the top of a slippery ladder of gentrification here, but the furniture was not offensive (well basic bed, corner leather sofa) and the prices were better than most spots I’ve seen (haha yeah yeah, ok I’ve seen 3 places – my attention span ain’t good in the heat).
Ok – fully bored with the furniture hunt, mind moves to other things. Hmmm art … oh go on. After a time consuming transit I found my way to MoMa (Museum of Modern Art – its a New York thing, this shortening of place names – I will let you figure out what HoMo means). The size of this place is obscene … seriously, you need to get in your head exactly what you want to see and not be distracted by the serious art collection all around. I spent 30 minutes with the Hellenistic statues (not quite sure how 4th – 1st century BCE is modern but that is just being bitchy), then overwelmed by wandering around, headed for the “modern” art on the top floor.
Its funny, interacting with art hits me in the quietest yet most potent part of my being. 
Wearing sunglasses helps when the tears peep from the side of your eyes. I saw 4 pieces that evoked a lot of personal history for me. Monet’s ‘Waterlilys’ – I always felt safe and serene in this, a print of it hung on my wall for many years when i was a younger; 
Van Gough’s ‘Cypress Trees’ for me have always been about creative life in the middle of primal chaos; Rodin’s gorgeous love of the human body makes me feel warm and proud to be alive;
and finally a stone bust by Modigliani – the first guy who made me laugh about art. Honestly I feel very replete. I suspect I will be spending more time in these places hehe.
Furniture Fizzle
August 12, 2006 7:10 pm
Ok, so when you have finally secured an apartment (handed the 6 month security bond over with much bitterness on Friday afternoon – so pissed off with that, I imposed self-denial and went to bed early – well after a bubble bath, come on people – can’t let your standards drop completely) – the next issue is furniture.In a city this size it should be easy, but size has its downside … I spent more of today sitting in subway cars than in furniture stores (note to self: be very thankful you didnt rent in Upper West Side – the feefee-brigade in force would have done your mind in – eeeek – the dogs are even tinier than the rest of the city – its a strange thing).
The one store that was promising was Foremost Furniture (recommended by my boss – thankyou) – 5 floors of furniture in a warehouse style place (8 W30th @ 5th/Bdway). The deal seems to be they go out with a wholesale list of furniture to the manufacturers for you. Upside, prices are better; downside, 6-12 week lead time for delivery – not positive unless you wish to sleep on the floor for 6-12 weeks.
Hmmm … so after a few of these furniture events I needed a drink and food … stumbled into Pad Thai (114 8th Ave @ 16th, Chelsea).
Yum-ing-go’s very tasty duck spring rolls and steamed dumpings, washed down with a lime margarita (new Saturday shopping policy – margarita’s at 3pm in summer), and the sweetest smiling wait-boi from Sydney … sorry people, shallow moment (though he was very kind as well – one thing I do love about this city is that people will talk to you all the time, its kinda nice when you are new and feel a bit lost at times).
I will have you know I also read the following profound thing from Martin Buber’s I-Thou during this meal and drink:
So long as the heaven of Thou is spread out over me the winds of causality cower at my heels, and the whirlwind of fate stays its course.
Cute Australian wait-boi suggested catching the free pickup bus to Ikea for furniture … given the crazy price of furniture I have looked at so far, along with its generic gentrified air about it, I may well just do that. Ok, I tipped him for his trouble – well the margarita did.
