Friday, April 7, 2017

Wednesdays with Carol, April 5

Whitney Biennial Washes Ashore
& Table for Two with Jeanne
The 78th iteration of the eclectic flotsam and jetsam known as the Whitney Biennial was the setting for my third Wednesday with Carol. Joining me for a jaunt through the Whitney Museum was my sister, Jeanne Markel.

The Meatpacking district around the Whitney is becoming a neighborhood of luxury condominiums and shops. There is the noise and dust of construction everywhere. Where once the whiff of the animal carcasses, lamb chops and T bones wafted through the streets of Belgian block, there is now only an olfactory memory.

There are 63 artists in the show which covers the 5th and 6th floors. Themes are painting, installation, activism and video-game design.
Carol on Wednesday at
The Whitney.
Photo by Jeanne Markel
Coat by Alpana Bawa
Herman's Dress by Jessi Reaves.
This is an actual Herman Miller sofa which
the artist has covered in pink silk.
Materials are silk and thread (so glad they
included the thread in the label).
We met this guy, David Dranoff
while looking at the Reaves works.
David is a graduate of Tyler School of Art
where Richard taught for 37 years.
We liked his necklace which
spells Dranoff in plastic letters.
Photo of David from a Tyler Look Book.
 An intriguing "closet" with a tile interior.
 Our favorite painter in the Biennial is
Celeste Dupuy-Spenser, a
38-year old artist living in Los Angeles.
Her work is described as raw and
cartoonish, with a wry humor
and sympathy for her subject.
 A teaching moment in front of a
painting by Henry Taylor.
Fashion in the Whitney.
We loved the red and blue palette
and the poppy motif on the pants.
 We admired this lady in a
whimsical Marni blouse.
 A stunning stained glass installation
with beaded figures by Raul de Nienes.
A figure covered in beads and tassels.
We lunched at a cafe called Bagatelle.
Two blocks from the Whitney,
it is a calm oasis amid the
clamor of jack hammers.
And a lovely Francophile space indeed.
On a trip to Paris, Richard and I wandered
the Jardins de Bagatelle within the
Bois de Boulogne.
There we lost ourselves amid
the intoxicating Rose Garden of over10,000 bushes.
Bagatelle, from the Italian, means
"decorative little trifle".
Wouldn't you know it?
Jeanne brought me a present just "for Wednesday".
And French-themed to boot,
in a French restaurant!
It was wrapped like the French flag.
Bleu, Blanc, Rouge.
Here is the lovely Equipment Femme blouse from Jeanne.
 It's embroidered  with tiny French flags
and Eiffel Towers.
Lunch was delicious. Hearts of Bibb lettuce
and a chicken paillard with quinoa.
After lunch we walked through the
bustling Chelsea Market.
Our destination was Del Posto
on Tenth Avenue
for their famed Negroni.
Jeanne sipped a Campari and tonic.

À Bientôt!
Tous les mercredis.


3 comments:

  1. Looks like you had a fantastic Wednesday! I can't wait to see the biennial.

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  2. Thanks for a FABULOUS post, Carol! What a wonderful exhibition and area to visit. Love your brilliantly coloured Coat, you look gorgeous. Your Wednesday outings are inspiring me to go out and explore my own territory more, thank you. xx

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  3. Hello Carol. Nice to meet you. And how lovely to share a little part of your city. Spotted you on Instagram. What a wonderful thing this social media mularky is! Hilary

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