Living in Astoria and working in Bay Ridge means I spend 3 hours on the N Train on average. The Metro (the free newspaper) is a wonderful treat at 6 am every morning. I usually read the gossip column, the horoscope and sometimes to actual “news” the have available. Once in a while they have articles about art and I LOVE them. They are usually straight to the point and interesting.
When I read the article about Olek, I immediately added that clipping to my other “free art news” clippings I have up in my classroom. The show was only going to be up for a week and I felt this sudden guilt at the idea of being too lazy to go… I am a crazy needlework freak and this show just seemed like a visit I had to see as opposed to wanted to see. I was so excited at the idea of enormous crocheted anything, let alone out of recyclable.
I made it a whole day trip, it was an excuse to catch up with one of my favorites Brooklynites, go to Juniors (across the street from the show) eat tasty and calorific treats and then make it to the show.
As we arrived at Long Island University, the guard told us it was closed on week-ends and there was no way of seeing it from outside the building. I was so bummed but we went on with our visit to double-check. Well, the security guard was wrong on all counts and we got to see the show from outside and from within. Horray, again, the excitement just overwhelmed me at the idea of seeing work I would never be able to accomplish, at work that seemed monumental on all the articles I managed to find.
We walked into a modern building with large plated glass, and saw what looked like a depleted donkey framed by glass walls. The show was so disappointing. I was so happy not to be alone and yet so embarrassed to have dragged my friend there. Within seconds I was laughing. This was one of those works that just didn’t withstand the test of time. And yet the concept and the effort was so awesome!
We hung out there for a few minutes, not a soul was present. It looked like wet laundry hanging in strange animal like shapes. It totally reminded me of Don Quixote for some reason. It felt like I was an under-grad again, you know, in an empty classroom building on the week-end, trying to broaden my horizons and actually learn something on a Sunday. It was kind of cool to be disguised as a student for a few minutes before we left with such a random experience.
It was fun. It didn’t feel like a gallery or museum show, it felt like college.
Tags: art, bags, exhibit, kiss me I crochet, long island university, olek, teaching
Sounds like it was a trip well worth taking. Olek’s work is amazing but I haven’t had the chance to see it in person.