Monday, September 19, 2011

Gorgeous Geyser Gushes GeeGaws

Gusher by Nichole Van Beek
In the wilds of Queens, a cement fountain spouts forth porcelain kittens and puppies, birdies, bowls, salt & pepper shakers, vases, and all manner of kitchy knick-knacks. It's one of the pieces in Socrates Sculpture Park's Emerging Artist Fellowship Exhibition that opened September 10th, 2011, and it was created by my friend, artist Nichole Van Beek . If you've never been to Socrates, at Broadway and Vernon Boulevard in Astoria Queens, get out there and check it out now. It's a beautiful time of year to go to an open air, free museum of cutting edge sculpture and installation art right on the East River with a spectacular view of Manhattan. There are always interesting things to see there, sometimes beautiful, sometimes hideous, sometimes completely baffling, but they inevitably spark thought or conversation. Besides that, you can bring your dog or your bike, have a picnic or just hang out and do nothing. You don't even have to look at the art. But when you do go, I urge you to note Nichole's piece, "Gusher." It's cool and fun, whimsical and energetic, very reflective of Nichole herself, a nerd-girl of the first degree. Congratulations on having a  piece on display in one of the most prestigious venues in the city, nerd-girl Nichole; you make us proud!

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