Art in Hell

CTA TBD

Joel Shapiro, 20 elements

Never has there been a greater demonstration of meanness than the parking garages of Northpark Center on the Saturday after Christmas.

Mimmo Paladino, A Surrounded Figure (Assediato)

But it’s worth it, not just for the shopping, but for the generous supply of museum-grade art on view throughout the mall.

Frank Stella, Washington Island Gadwall (Exotic Birds)

Barry Flanagan, Large Leaping Hare

This odd union of art and mall comes courtesy of the late Ray Nasher, namesake of the Nasher Sculpture Center and builder of Northpark Center.

Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, Corridor Pin, Blue

Tom Hendricks

This is just one person’s opinion, but I don’t think the Nasher’s got the best examples of the work of the artists that are in their collections. They seemed to end up with famous names but cold 2nd rate sculptures.
I would not put any of the above in a great category or in the best of that artists work, category.
There’s no doubt that it is better than nothing. But I tend to think that it will also give the impression to mall-ees that don’t know much about art, that this is the best of modern sculpture. Not true.
anonymous

Perhaps the best stuff is located at the Nasher Sculpture Center, rather than at the mall…

Surely we aren’t going to argue that Rodin’s Age of Bronze or Matisse’s Large Seated Nude are “cold 2nd rate sculptures”?
Bill Marvel

Tom,
Would you like to take that on a case-by-case basis?The Stella, for example. How does that fall short of the artist’s best work?