Gothamist: The Tree Huts Have Arrived

Jacob ben Ari

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:44:59 -0500

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.

santijose

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 21:17:13 -0500

soon this will be known as the first Bushville. shades of things to come.what insight this artist had.

NannyState

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:43:07 -0500

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

Rfive

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:22:45 -0500

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.

JGNY

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:17:55 -0500

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.

Jen S

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:54:51 -0500

*I'm!

Jen S

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:47:19 -0500

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

dr zippy

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:16:43 -0500

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

jaems

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:09:36 -0500

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.

aveB4life

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:52:31 -0500

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?

WorksInDUMBO

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:51:24 -0500

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

S.D.

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:49:27 -0500

Can't wait for someone to climb it.

junecarter

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:49:04 -0500

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.

Spiritof76

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:48:17 -0500

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

Outter Burrougher

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:20:15 -0500

Kawamata is ugly naked guy?

Felix Hoenikker

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:18:32 -0500

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