Being an Arts in New York City class, we have been primarily focused on how New York is home to such varying styles of art, and the art contained within. What I think is sometimes missed is how New York can be made into art itself. There is so much beauty in the city, which I feel is ignored for the more obvious beauties like paintings and shows. It is important to see the cities inherent loveliness as well.
What really put this into focus was a 1 minute long timelapse video I was recently directed to. It is made up of many different shots taken from a single point in the city, namely the 51st floor of the Bank of America Tower at 1 Bryant Park. The video captures the life of the city from its single vantage point in a way that I feel is missed when walking along on the streets. It is a reminder that the city has big picture, one that can only be seen from above. Even in this one minute long video, the city screams with life and passion. But don’t take my word for it; watch the video yourself:
I couldn’t agree more. Sometimes just changing your vantage point can give you a whole different view of things you thought you understood. I remember being ten years old and standing at the observation deck of the empire state building. I had lived in NY all my life, and I thought I knew exactly what it looked like. Yet up until that moment, I had never realized how big the world was. Manhattan, which was always so huge, suddenly looked so small, and for the first time, I could see it all at once. I understood the city on a completely different level. This applies symbolically as well. Sometimes, you have to change your perspective, and view the world just a little bit differently, and then you’ll suddenly understand something that you never knew was true before. The last scene of the movie Dead Poets Society specifically comes to mind.
A really cool artist (it might have been Jurgen Bey, but don’t quote me on that) once said “art is everywhere, but you have to see it.” I think about that a lot, partly because I think that perspective is what essentially turns a creative person who can draw well into an artist. I think it also applies to spectators. When you approach strange sights with that viewpoint, then you will undoubtedly find something to appreciate. That’s why I don’t think there is ANY objectivity in art. It’s all a matter of perspective, almost across the board (I hate to include a cliche but it just fits in so nicely. When we say “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” I think we can just as easily say “art is in the eye of the beholder.”) It might be a radical position to assume, but I think that if we’ve learned anything in this class, it’s this very point.
BTW the video is great. I love the song.
Although I think this may play into my opinion that “when everything is art, nothing is,” I think there’s more to it than that in this situation. I think you have a great point, and I’ll explain why. I consistently refer to art that makes you think, because this is a major factor of art analysis that I was clued into this semester. I believe that looking at the city like this can surely make someone stop and think about how the hoi polloi of New York can be art. For this reason, I think you’re right. At first, I though about putting this idea on the same level as the art of “pouring my milk into my cereal,” but that quickly went away when I realized how much thought was put into the art of the city itself. I think your example points out how art can easily be played with by points of view and perspectives! Take, for example, a simple process like the water cycle. I think that if someone were to make an exhibit displaying the water cycle backwards and upside down, it would make people think about a simple idea from a different perspective. This is just like the idea of the city that you pointed out. The idea of lookng at everyday life from an arial view or sideways can surely make in under the category of art in my opinion. And now I’ll be watching out for this daily! From one snob to another: thanks!
I’d also like to agree. I always say that walking in the city is never boring; there is always so much to see as I walk, whether it be the many tall buildings everywhere or the many different kinds of people I pass. Putting it into the context of art, it is readily apparent to me now why this is true. Art is not supposed to be boring; it is meant to invigorate viewers, to excite them, and to keep them interested and thinking. Taking that definition, it is easy to see why New York City is such a great work of art.
Yossi also alluded to the fact that New York City has two perspectives: a pedestrian’s view walking on the streets, and an aerial/skyline view. There are few artworks that can literally be looked at from two different perspectives. New York is one of those special cases. Looking at a hot dog vendor sell hot dogs to people or the many tall buildings from the ground is very different from seeing the whole New York City (Manhattan) from the air or the skyline. Ironically, art can also be found within the art as well, evidenced by the many museums, theaters, and other art venues within the city, many of which we have had the privilege to see this semester. Wow! What a way to think about it.
This video relates to my blog about Central Park having an official soundtrack that people have access to for free. The soundtrack is supposed to help enhance the beauty of Central Park, which I think is the purpose of this clip is also; to enhance Being that I lived most of my life in Manhattan, I would to make a general statement (sorry) and say that I believe most people, including myself, take the beauty of the city for granted. Because we’re not constantly surrounded by an abundance of “nature” which is universally accepted as “beautiful,” we forget how beautiful other things are.
It is always important to notice where you are, otherwise you will take it for granted. Especially in New York City, everything and anything can be subject to be called art. This might diminish “art” for some people, but it really doesn’t. The truth that everything CAN be art, doesn’t mean that it is to everyone and it doesn’t establish the value that it has to each individual person. However, I do think that this means we should keep an open mind towards everything.
New York by Gehry is a perfect example of art in New York City. It is a building and it is a home to many, but it is also a work of art in a city filled with it. It has been mentioned in a blog, and there is a link to find out more (www.newyorkbygehry.com), but the point is that nothing can be overlooked as art. This is the reason that in this class we have so many debates and there is never a straight forward answer if any at all. If there is one thing I have taken from this class, in fact, it is that I need to have an open mind, and appreciate the world around me which is itself a piece of art.