Famous Ankles

I was recently in Grand Central and noticed something that I hadn’t seen before.

If you look to the right side of the above, you’ll see an American flag in a frame.  When I saw it, I wondered what it was about.  Having framed pictures on the wall isn’t really one of those things you see.

I took a closeup of it and saw that it really isn’t a “real” flag, but rather an artistic representation called “Flag of Heroes”.  The “flag contains the names of the emergency services personnel who gate their lives to save others in the terrorist attacks of 9/11.”

You can see their names in small print on the red stripes.

It turns out that this is a commercially available flag.  That just strikes me as unusual for the City to have in a public space.  However, the proceeds seem to be strickly earmarked to charitable projects.

-H

Just off 36th Street, between 3rd Avenue and Lexington, is Sniffen Court.  There’s not much to it.  Sort of a really, really nice alley.

There’s a nice plaque noting the history (as you probably know, I love to look and read plaques).

I always like to spell out the plaques, too.  It reads:  “Sniffen Court – Designated an historic district on June 21, 1966 by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, these buildings were constructed in Early Romanesque Revival style about the time of the Civil War and were used as stables by residents of Murray Hill.  Although many have undergone changes during the past hundred years, the general effect of the district is that originally created providing an unusually pictureesque and charming area.  The real of the court is the exterior wall of the former studio of Sculptress Malvina Hoffman (1887-1966). – Plaque donated by the Sniffen Court Association 1970.”

But the real story of Sniffen Court?  It’s a very private and you need a key to get into it.  A nice and secure place.

I am sooooo envious.

-H

Lever House is one of NYC’s historic skyscraper buildings.  It was built in 1952 by the Lever brothers, of soap-making fame.  It’s called the first of the “International Style” of buildings.

It’s green color makes it distinctive, along with the uniformity of its window shades.

There’s an art space in an open area within the grounds.  At present, there’s a weird statue called “The Virgin Mother” by Damien Hirst.  I guess he has all sorts of “art” reasons why it is great, but I must confess that I found it..unmoving.

Yep, it’s a nude woman; but more than just nude.  The artist want’s to show us what’s underneath, so he has it with cut-away flesh to show the baby within and the muscle below.

And strips away the face, at least in part.

My guess is that the artist is trying to be provocative by citing the virgin Mary and having her nude and beyond.  And it is…well, the only thing I’ll say is to quote from a song from the movie “Popeye” where Olive Oyl is trying to say something good about Brutus and simply comes up with “and he’s large”.  Yes, it’s a large sculpture.  Mr. Hirst can be proud of that.  Yep, it’s large.

 Although I’m not fond of a lot of art, my distaste towards this arises from the abomination around town called the Bodies Exhibit that I can’t stand.  Oh, and if you thought you were to think the sculpture is “educational” in any way, note that the flap of skin on the thigh.  That shows that this is supposed to be more an evisceration than an X-ray view beneath the skin.

-H