Buckets of Lack
I was really not looking forward to going all the way out to Chelsea to look at some artwork. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate all forms of expression, but Wednesday was not a good day for me. I had only slept two hours, felt sick and had a meeting in the Bronx at 6 pm. From the start, my mind wasn’t on what the artist was feeling, but on the long ride to Castle Hill and if I could possibly get away with leaving early. However, I found myself being mesmerized by this neighborhood. Growing up right next to Hunts Point Ave., my idea of artistic expression was the latest gang tags and the RIP mural for Big Pun. These streets screamed originality and demanded attention.
My group’s first choice was not really a gallery but a clothing store. We were attracted to the store because its glass arch door and runway-like floor. We were surprised to find out that this place was not selling art but clothes. Even still, everything was laid out in an artistic fashion. Clothes were not just hung up but stories were being told. Even those that were folded weren’t done so in the conventional way.
“The Large Field Array” at the Pace Wildenstein Gallery is what continues to haunt my thoughts. What caught my eye was the difference in layout from other galleries. Most of the ones I visited felt very bare and impersonal with their tall, white walls and empty rooms. To first walk in and have to walk through a black curtain with a sign giving a 30 person limit made this gallery very intimate. I felt I was being allowed a peek into this secret world. The room was open, no narrow corners or isolated works. This gave a feeling of freedom, the first gallery where I didn’t feel the need to whisper or put on a somber face.
The specific piece I remember the most is “Buckets of Lack” . The first thing that drew me to the piece is the absence of color or any compelling details. The muscular man’s eyes are empty, giving him a universal appeal, he could represent anybody. He is struggling to hold up a bunch of empty buckets. My primary reaction once I saw the engraved title on either side was that it was very clever. As I processed this more, its meaning began to hit home. Lack can be one of the most overwhelming feelings in the world. People can learn to deal with whatever stress or problem comes their way because it is something very tangible. What is hard is to have to live without, its very absence oppressing. Something weightless and invisible keeps people down and this sculpture personifies that very theme.
To anyone who might care, I got to my meeting an hour late and very sleepy. Not to be cheesy or anything, but I am glad that I had the opportunity to visit the galleries in Chelsea and plan to come back.
September 22nd, 2007 at 8:35 pm
Hey Jackie, I just wanted to say that I absolutely LOVED your post. I loved the way you summarized the concept of the “Buckets of Lack” and you did it very eloquently so. I almost got chills reading it because it was so true. I saw the same sculpture myself but, at the time, I couldn’t really grasp the nature of the message. You summed it up for me perfectly. Good job!
On another note, I certainly hope you’re feeling better! I can empathize with you — I didn’t eat all day that day =/. The Chelsea art galleries weren’t exactly top priority as far as my tummy was concerned.
September 22nd, 2007 at 11:08 pm
i walked into that clothing store too!!
September 23rd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Hey there! I wrote about the Buckets of Lack too! Interestingly enough though, I did not get the same message you did. If you’re curious, just read my post (it’s somewhere towards the end that i talk about it), but I enjoyed your thoughts on it, possibly a bit more than I enjoyed my own thoughts about it. Interesting though, how different people perceive things