Spring Street Art Comes to New York City

Gazing Globes by artist Paula Hayes

When spring weather arrives to cities hit hard  by the winter's cold and snow, outdoor art installations sprout over night. New York City is blooming with spring flowers and public art exhibits, rewarding locals and tourists after an unusually brutal winter.

Madison Square Park in downtown NYC is home to an exhibit by artist Paula Hayes, Gazing Globes. This is Hayes' first outdoor art sculpture, and consists of 18 illuminated orbs filled with recycled objects from modern urban life.

Reminiscent of Christmas ornaments or snowglobes,  the clear globes merge memories of the city's winter streets filled with snow, sleet and ice dotted with street trash. Artist Hayes used:

vintage parts because technology moves at such a fast pace.  These play a role in the current landscape and how information is transmitted from one part of the globe to the next. I am making an illuminated landscape evocative of the designed landscape of Madison Square Park. Both are born of human imagination and technology.

~ Paula Hayes, artist

Gazing Globes in Madison Square Park

Gazing Globes in Madison Square Park

I'm invigorated by the burst of beautiful spring weather and public art sprouting up in cities and towns everywhere. What street art has popped up in your neighborhood?

à la prochaine,

Shirley

Fabergé Big Easter Egg Hunt in New York City

by Jeff Koons

275 giant Easter eggs are scattered around New York City for Fabergé's Big Egg Hunt! From April 1 - 26 giant eggs by famous artists are part of an interactive egg hunt. Participants download the free app on their smart-phone, then take a photo and share as many eggs as they can find.

Each day there is a roaming "Where's Waldo" egg to find and photograph, or one can simply enjoy the spEGGtacular display all around the city. Participants can share their photos on Twitter and Instagram with #thebiggegghuntny. There are dozens of family activities around the city as part of the Big Egg Hunt.

Artists participating in the Big Egg Hunt include:

• Jeff Koons
• Tracey Emin
• Bruce Weber
• Julian Schnabel
• Carolina Herrera
• Peter Beard
• Zaha Hadid
• Ralph Lauren

Each week 1 winner will win a gem-encrusted Fabergé egg pendant, and contest details are available at Fabergé's Big Egg Hunt. The artist's eggs will be available for sale at auction after the contest ends. Big Egg Hunt mini-egg souvenirs and a Big Egg Hunt children's book are available for sale at Saks. The Big Egg Hunt raises money for Asia’s endangered elephants and children in New York City through Studio in a School. 

London hosted a Big Egg Hunt in 2012, while Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester and Dublin hosted them in 2013.

What an exciting way to introduce art to children, and make art free and available to everyone!

Fabergé eggs are ornate jeweled egg-shaped artworks made for the families of Russian czars in the 19th and 20th centuries. Many of the Fabergé eggs, about the size of a real egg, opened up to reveal elaborate tiny treasures inside, such as photo frames. Many are on display at museums around the world.

by Faig Ahmed

by Liane Ricci

Humpty Dumpty by Joanna Moore

unsigned

by Molly Hatch

by Elyn Zimmerman

I love programs that introduce art to children in new and exciting ways, and I especially love that kids will get excited about combining art and technology. What a fun, creative idea!

à la prochaine,

Shirley