Park Avenue Paper Chase

Last Sunday, we walked along Park Avenue from 50th Street up to 57th Street to see the newly installed sculptures collectively called 'Park Avenue Paper Chase'.  They are all by the sculptor Alice Aycock.  Most are composed of strips of white painted aluminum.

The first one we encountered is called 'Maelstrom' -- a long, low piece that from angles looks like a corsage of white roses.  Placed on the median in the center of the block between 52nd and 53rd Streets it stands out in stark contrast to Ludwig Mies van de Rohe's dark Seagram Building to the east and Charles McKim's rusticated stone base on the Racquet and Tennis Club to the west:

'Maelstrom' from 'Park Avenue Paper Chase' by Alice Aycock, painted aluminum, 2014, 
with Seagram Building by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, 1958 in background, photo by McClure

'Maelstrom' from 'Park Avenue Paper Chase'  by Alice Aycock, painted aluminum, 2014,
photo by McClure (looking north along Park Avenue)

It appeared that the The Fund for Park Avenue folks were getting ready to plant flowers (bright red tulips perhaps) around the sculpture.  Some punches of color would enliven the mise-en-scene for these riveting, but stark sculptures.

Moving on to the next block up-town, a piece called 'Hoop-La' is installed near the intersection of 53rd Street.

'Hoop-La' from 'Park Avenue Paper Chase'  by Alice Aycock, painted aluminum, 2014,

photo by McClure (looking northwest)

Approaching along the Avenue from the south 'Hoop-La' appears to be fairly compact, but when viewed from the side you realize that it's much more expansive and complex with an arch of aluminum strips jumping between two anchoring pieces.

'Hoop-La' from 'Park Avenue Paper Chase'  by Alice Aycock, painted aluminum, 2014, with

Lever House by Gordon Bunshaft of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in background,

photo by McClure (looking west across Park Avenue)

Moving up to 54th Street there's a work called 'Twin Vortexes' installed there -- a piece truly looks like two tornados spinning -- one tall and the other more squat and broad.

'Twin Vortexes' from 'Park Avenue Paper Chase'  by Alice Aycock, painted aluminum and steel, 2014, 

photo by McClure (looking west across Park Avenue)

The tulips are just starting to come up around 'Twin Vortexes' which will add some color soon.  Now the bright yellow taxis whizzing by enliven the scene.  They even appear to set these sculptures spinning.  By 55th Street where 'Spin-the-Spin' is installed these twisters all start to look alike.

'Spin-the-Spin' from 'Park Avenue Paper Chase' by Alice Aycock, painted aluminum and steel, 2014,
photo by McClure (looking west across Park Avenue)

 After all of the kinetic pieces, it is a relief to come to 'Waltzing Matilda' at 56th Street.  It is like a pristine white shell on a beach or an animal skull in a Georgia O'Keefe desert -- gorgeous, sensual, organic -- and very different from all of the others.

'Waltzing Matilda' from 'Park Avenue Paper Chase' by Alice Aycock, reinforced fiberglass, 2014,
photo by McClure (looking west across Park Avenue)

'Waltzing Matilda' from 'Park Avenue Paper Chase' by Alice Aycock, reinforced fiberglass, 2014,
photo by McClure (looking north up Park Avenue)

'Waltzing Matilda' from 'Park Avenue Paper Chase' by Alice Aycock, reinforced fiberglass, 2014,
photo by McClure (looking southeast across Park Avenue)

At 57th Street there's another spinner -- 'Cyclone Twist' -- the tallest of them all.

'Cyclone Twist' from 'Park Avenue Paper Chase' by Alice Aycock, painted aluminum, 2013,
photo by McClure (looking north up Park Avenue)

There's one more piece in Aycock's 'Park Avenue Paper Chase' series -- 'Twister - 12 Feet' -- installed at 66th Street, which we didn't see that Sunday.  They'll be there until the end of June.  On a nice day this spring, if you're looking for an interesting place for a stroll, go check out 'Park Avenue Paper Chase'.  It changes how you see the familiar landmarks on Park Avenue -- even the sidewalk scaffolding.