Should you be traveling to the States for the holidays, and want to splash out on shopping instead of seeing art... here are 5 things to do!
Elizabeth Street Garden
Elizabeth Street between Prince and Spring Streets
A 1-acre community sculpture garden in Little Italy, this garden is kept by local neighbours and is a haven after doing shopping in nearby Spring street. This little gem is a unique green space with sculptures and architectural elements, and lovely landscaping.
LOVE sculpture
W 55th St &, 6th Ave
The Love sculpture is a pop art sculpture made by American artist Robert Indiana. It was turned into a US postage stamp in 1973.
(NB this is not the only one... in fact, there are at least 28 others located throughout the US & Canada and at least another 25 located around the world)
MMuseumm
4 Cortlandt Alley
A tiny museum housed in a New York freight elevator specializing in the "overlooked, dismissed, or ignored." It even has a little cafe/shop two doors down!
Cabinet of Curiosities: Creel And Gow
131 E 70th St, near The Frick Collection
This is technically a shop.. but no need to buy or spend any money. They are super friendly and let you wonder around and admire things without bothering you!
Jamie Creel and Christopher Gow are serious collectors who spend much of their time traveling the world sourcing far-flung objects for their townhouse, and the result is a wonderful collection of curiosities old and new.
Venus de Milo
1301 Avenue of the Americas, 6th Avenue near MoMA
Three varying sized Venus de Milos stand in line along the plaza, but something about them is off – their heads. The recognizable figures are the work of artist Jim Dine, who is considered to be one of the first Pop Artists.
In the early 1960s Dine produced pop art with items from everyday life. These provided commercial as well as critical success, but left Dine unsatisfied. Since the late 1980s, the artist has sketched and studied Greek and Roman sculpture, and the form of the Venus de Milo has become one of his favourite themes, depicted in a variety of media. These three sculptures collectively areentitled "Looking Toward The Avenue" and were installed in 1989.
The Hispanic Society of America
Hispanic Society Museum & Library
613 W 155th St, New York
Admission is free to the Museum, Library Reading Room, and all special exhibitions at The Hispanic Society!
Dedicated to Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American culture and art. The Hispanic Society’s extensive collection is one of the finest outside Spain and features paintings, sculptures, textiles, archaeological finds and other historical relics. Expect masterworks by El Greco, Velázquez, Goya, and Sorolla. Located in a faded Beaux Arts architectural gem called Audubon Terrace.
