The Tree Huts Have Arrived

The hut is not the art. The art is the fundraising, getting permissions, aligning with the local art institutions, organizing the logistics, setting up the side projects, doing the PR, all in an intentionally artistic way. Then the public reacts and the artist responds, hopefully that is art. Then the huts will age and be dismantled and disposed of. If the artist is sincere, then this will also be a part of the art project. The hut is just the focal point, the art is what surrounds it.

This art is disposable, ephemeral. We tend to dismiss it. That’s OK, it is not intended to last. Some kids will smile, some adults will rage, then they will go on with their lives and the artist will go on to the next project. That too is part of the art project.

soon this will be known as the first Bushville.

shades of things to come.what insight this artist had.

These actually look better than the one Donald Trump had Costas Kondylis design for him over by Strawberry Fields.

Kawamata is a talented artist who has done installations around the world. I'm not surprised that "sophisticated" gothamist readers don't know, like or understand his work.

Jen, I don't know where you lived but you had that many huts in your yard? Nice for you.

Yes perhaps you can build this and perhaps you can paint a canvas black (Rothko) or sign a urinal (Duchamp). The question is "would you"? That what makes these pieces art, it is more about the intention then the execution which is why people who paint pictures of mountains or sculpt lifelike people are not making Art.

*I'm!

I all for good public art, but this was in my backyard 20 years ago. Not creative; recycled.

Oh, but it is much easier to be a meathead than to say something intelligent.

I'd like for the cultured Gothamist reader to give a couple example of pieces they deem as "art," since everyone here bashes everything imaginable.

what is that 30 sq ft? yeah so rent for that, with 'beautiful city skyline views', 'front door access to park and shake shack', and central subway location, these should fetch, what, $1500/mo?

It's like those Swoon boat thingys--apparently any bunch of scrap plywood you nail together is "art". BAH!

Can't wait for someone to climb it.

I have been consistently unimpressed by the art installments in Madison Square. These "treehouses" are ugly! A bunch of crappy plywood up in a tree. And last year, those ugly metal blobs and the year before that, the concrete blocks. None of these installments lent to the beauty of the park.

Rent it out? This is Manhattan. Those would go for $800/month. $250k if you want to buy it outright.

Kawamata is ugly naked guy?

Make sure they are bran muffins, and bring coffee. 30 minutes later you'll have something to drop on folks below.