Two More Dia Foundation Sites

I was working on Park Ave between 25th - 26th Streets yesterday so, at the end of the work day, I thought it would be nice to walk down to 22nd and over to the West Side between 10th and 11th.  Armed with a mango-strawberry-banana smoothie (my now two-day old way of getting some fruit in me in different ways), I started walking.

Destination: Two additional Dia Foundation sites.  (See SoHo Night entry for more Dia information.)

First Stop: 548 West 22nd Street, Untitled, Artist Dan Flavin, installed 1996

Walking west on 22nd Street as dusk approached, I could see this 4-story installation.  It's an attention grabber; the glow called me to the building.

According to the Dia Art Foundation website, this stairwell installation

...comprises two rows of blue and green fluorescent lamps which measure 2 feet each (61 cm) and are stacked vertically, end to end, between the five floors of the building.

Five floors?  I clearly only saw 4 floors from street level.  Maybe the lights run into the basement level?

Set within custom-made fixtures that fit directly into the corners of the stairwells, eight blue lamps are on the first landing, seven blue lamps are on the second landing, seven green lamps are on the third landing, and nine green lamps are on the fourth landing.

Hhmmm, so they only describe 4 floors?  OK, I'm not just imagining 4 floors. 

The lights can be seen both within the building and from the street, and the installation exemplifies Flavin's subtle work in relation to a specific architectural context. Completed just prior to the artist’s death, it is Flavin’s last work in fluorescent light.

The best perspective of this work is from directly across the street.  It gives the full view of this tower of light.  As I walked back east on 22nd from this site, I passed (again) the 2nd installation.

Second Stop: West 22nd Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, 7000 Oaks, Artist Joseph Beuys, 1988

The jist of this installation is that are several varieties of trees and each is paired with a basalt stone.  If you are by these tree/rock pairs and look east, you can see trees that are both part of and not part of this installation.  This is a nicely-treed street, residential area with trees as far east as 8th Ave.  I am sure this is a very pretty walk in the summer and fall.  There are many galleries to peer into as you stroll, also.

One of the interesting things I saw near this 2nd installation on my tour was a repair shop. The entrance was painted like a roadway going through a tunnel. The outside of the building had lots of interesting signs and art.  Unfortunately, the picture is a little dark, but it does show the tunnel effect.

This business facade was actually more interesting than what I saw in some of the galleries in the area.

After this little investigative trip, I headed back to my apartment and remembered I wanted to stop by the Ace Hotel on 29th St and Broadway.  I was still in search of  Stumptown Coffee.  (See the Busy New York City Weekend entry for more on this newfound interest.)  Much to my dismay, they didn't have any decaf.  I was offered a decaf Americano as a alternative and I started to decline.  He explained it was espresso and, yes, it is possible to have decaf espresso. 

I am not a fan of espresso, or I thought I wasn't, but I tried it with some cream.  OMG.  I'm in love.  This was the moment I've wanted it New York.  I FINALLY have found something that I will make a point of getting in the future when I come back to the city.  (See the Busy New York City Weekend entry for more on this lament.)  It's not an entree or dessert or drink...it's coffee. 

I'm not a coffee connoisseur by any means - Dunkin' Donuts is about my speed and Starbucks is typically too strong for me.  Stumptown's espresso and coffee are simply fabulous.  That first taste of espresso was such a delight!  I'm hooked.  I almost walked back there tonight but it got much colder since the day began and I was cold with a too-light jacket.  Perhaps tomorrow.  I'll be working close-by again...and thinking about it all day.