Angels and Infidels: Studio Practices: Hanging out with St. Patrick

Vik Muniz installation, PS1, Long Island City, NY

Saturday was full of adventure with St. Patrick revelers filling the subway and delaying the trains. We spent a good part of the day in Chelsea after a very satisfying breakfast at the Empire Diner on Tenth. Those people know what they are doing in the egg department. We headed over to PS 1 for the Vik Muniz and other exhibitions. He's a photographer whose work I didn't embrace the first time I witnessed it but really, he is a zen artist with a photographic vice. He reminds of an urban, pop Andy Goldsworthy because ee draws things, makes things, imagines things and then photographs them before destroying them. His stuff is great as much as I love Andy's and I didn't think that was possible.

The NOT FOR SALE was also interesting in that it exhibited unlikely images from artists personal collections. It was one of the few shows I see these days where the title panels make a real difference in understanding what one is looking at and why.
My favorite piece in the PS1 collection is the Wiliam Kentridge piece installed on the stairs. Its just great. Between shows I kept trying to connect with my friend Carole. We had reservations for a restaurant in Inwood for 7pm. We had planned to meet up for breakfast but that didn't happen.

We may be old fashioned or stubborn or just cheap because we don't have cell phones. If I could find a service like the one I have in France I'd have a cell phone - but no, corporate greed prevents me from buying in and getting another phone. (I've had a few but they just don't suit my life - unless I'm traveling.) Anyway - a lovely staff member at PS1 helped me find the address and subway stop for the restaurant where I understood we were to rendevous... problem is, it was the wrong restaurant!!! We made our way there in a very timely fashion but our party wasn't there. It turns out they were at the New Leaf near the Cloisters. It was close enough to walk, even with the snow. The lamb was the best ever. It was a lovely evening topped off by Alan dropping us off at Park Terrace East. Ahhhhh. St. Patrick, thank yee for blessing us with a wonderful Saturday in the city! (sorry... it was a red wine night and we didn't consume our share of guiness with shamrocks
... we'll make up for it in 2008!)