14th Street Street Art

I live on 14th and 1st, where the east village meets Gramercy, and while I've only been there since September, I have noticed that 14th street is filled with interesting street art. While this is pretty normal for New York, I have to say that I've found some of the most odd (for lack of a better word) street art campaigns.

First of all, there is a series of gold objects that from what I can tell serve no practical purpose except confusion. These are non-functioning objects. Gold painted objects posing an subjects that an average passer-by would completely ignore - a lamp post, a pay phone, and a mechanical box. But, the best thing that I have realized so far, from living and walking on 14th everyday, is that they move. The artist periodically moves the items (lamp post near bus stop in particular). Some days they are there, some days not. I was wondering what his thesis was, but so far I have only found the collective's photo blog. They are called - Kenny Komer and Boris Rasin - MIDAS.














































My second favorite are the neon industrial taped boxes. These are 3-D boxes (or objects) taped onto windows and street grates, randomly scattered, coming and going on 14th, sometimes undone, sometimes in tact. AND, one morning I woke up and notice the artist had actually tape MY WINDOW! Yes, my very own street level bedroom window. Alas, I did not have my camera to capture the moment, but I did find the artist's website, and his personal statements to be quite interesting - Aakash Nihalani. His work, at least from my graphic designer's perspective, is clever, taking flat objects and making them into 3D visuals. He simply rethinks average shape and function of existing space, only does it poignantly.

















(This photo is an example of what the artist did to my window, photo taken from his website.)