“The Space Between Us” by Risha Gorig

Floating fifteen feet above New York’s Union Square Park are two bright pink chairs, facing each other. “The Space Between Us,” (“TSBU”) is by Brooklyn based artist Risha Gorig, who is known for taking a whimsical approach to bleak themes. Gorig says the floating chairs, which represent public discourse, serve “as a poignant reminder of our essential need for communication.” As one of New York’s oldest town squares, Union Square has historically served as a “space for expression, protest, and exchange,” making it the perfect backdrop for the thought provoking and conversation starting installation.  This eye-catching piece will be on display for visitors until May 1, 2025.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

We are getting into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit early with a celebration at our New York office. Ahead of Monday’s holiday, Fiona baked a loaf of Irish Soda Bread for us, a family recipe from her great-grandmother who hailed from Clifden, Ireland that her family has been making for decades. The recipe was even shared by Family Circle Magazine many years ago. Of course, we enjoyed it with a generous spread of Kerrygold butter. No Guinness yet, but we have a feeling this weekend’s festivities might bring a pint or two.

Pratt Institute Sculpture Park

Nestled away in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn is the sprawling campus of the Pratt Institute (“Pratt”). For over a century, Pratt has educated bachelor’s and master’s students in the arts, serving as an incubator for creativity in New York City. As temperatures began to rise here in New York, we took a lovely stroll through Pratt’s sculpture park. The park includes a collection of over seventy sculptures by artists, faculty, and graduates on display throughout campus, which is open to the public.

Pratt’s sculpture collection is constantly evolving, with works on loan to the university for a few years at a time. On this visit, were able to appreciate the works of artists like James Tyler, Nova Mihai Popa, Wendy Klemperer, Santiago Calatrava, and Martha Walker. The grounds have pieces to enjoy and explore every few meters – the sculptural lions, spheres, and “brickheads” we enjoyed barely scratch the surface of what the park has to offer.  We look forward to return visits to continue exploring Pratt’s extraordinary displays!

Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy

Photos by Andrew Markey

In 1987, extraordinary artists like André Heller, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Keith Haring, Salvador Dalí, Roy Lichtenstein, Arik Brauer, Sonia Delaunay, Kenny Scharf, Monika Gil’sing, and David Hockney designed an amusement park which premiered in Hamburg, Germany. It was the world’s first art amusement park, a stunning interactive exhibition, which shortly after its premier, was packed into shipping containers and forgotten in Texas. Now, thirty-seven years later, Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy has been revitalized and is currently on display at The Shed at Hudson Yards.

We were lucky to explore the enchanting exhibition recently, which features a carousel, a Ferris wheel, and even a chapel in which couples married during the run of the original exhibition in Hamburg. The park is a fascinating exploration into the iconic artists’ ideas of what an amusement park represents, even if you cannot go on the rides. As Keith Haring said during the exhibition’s original run, “Art is nothing if you don’t reach every segment of the people.” Luna Luna embraces us all and invites memories of childhood. With a limited run through March 16th, this is a wonderful opportunity to see the work of the modern greats.