If you’re like us, you saw a Con Ed sphere on West 79th street and thought “Hmm, did I miss the news of a Con Ed spaceship coming down to earth and landing in the middle of Broadway?”
The answer is no. That sphere is part of an art project put on by the Broadway Mall Association, with pieces placed on Broadway from Columbus Circle to 166th street. It “opens” on Wednesday and runs until February.
Says the Broadway Mall Association: “This exhibition aims to populate the backbone of Manhattan — surfing down Broadway from 166th Street to Columbus Circle — with a group exhibition of outdoor sculpture by American contemporary artists.” The map of the exhibit is posted at the bottom of this article.
The Times wrote about it a few days ago. Con Ed had no part in making the ball, they told us, and the artist’s quote about the piece doesn’t really make sense. He told the Times: “I prefer that it not necessarily be seen as an art object and invite a lot of confusion, and the best way to do that is in the public, where you’re not sure what you’re going to see.”
He seems to like making spheres, including this one of a Volkswagen.
One reader told us on twitter that “when I walk by, someone either spits on it or cusses.” C’mon people, please stop doing that!
At Verdi Square there’s a sculpture of a dog, at Columbus Circle there’s a tourist bear and at 96th there’s an “aperture.” The dog has been attracting more positive attention than the Con ed sculpture:
it looks like R2D2’s fat uncle.
but i love these Broadway art projects! Hurrah for Lars Fisk and the other sculptors.
Glad to see the art pieces back — been too long. The dog at Verdi Square is great — it’s just a dog in this random spot, which for some reason is really interesting. The pooch had an umbrella and jacket when I saw him during the recent rains. Lots of sidelong glances and smiles among passersby.
I love the work except for the “Con Ed” one. It’s Existentialism at it’s worst. I hate to say this because I am an artist but it’s just how I feel.
I thought it was a time machine allowing you to go back and experience the ’77 blackout.
Just Wait!
On some dark and stormy night, probably around 11:00 p.m., the door to the “Con Ed Sphere” will open…and out will come 4 or 5 little space aliens all wearing Con Ed helmets.
Then the Con Ed Spacemen will drag out huge pneumatic drills, and begin digging up the sidewalks from 11:30 until maybe 3:00 OR 4:00 a.m.. Then they will put up saw-horses and little “Dig We Must” signs.
Unbelievable? Not at all. It’s what Con Ed does so very very often, isn’t it? And anyone who can ruin our sleep with impunity MUST be from Outer Space, no?
Not a ‘stray’ dog. In this presentation, at least, this appealing dog is a lost or seeking guide dog, leading the viewer to imagine what has happened to the blind owner.