If you read my post about this past week being free at MOCA and The Geffen then you know how excited I was to see Chris Burden’s, The Big Wheel. Well the God’s were on my side when I notice a crowd around this woman struggling to start an old blue Triumph that powers….THE BIG WHEEL. It is a display of power and fluidity that most be felt in person. You become the moth to the flame forgetting all about the power it wields. Until the security guard reminds you that it’s a bad idea to be two feet from a 3 tons of kinetic energy.

I was told that twice a day someone starts the motorcycle up, I was around 3:30, F.Y.I.

More of my favorites when you read more…

Pre-Kick Start…

Post-Kick Start.

After walking up two flights of stairs I noticed this well lit white object and at first I couldn’t tell what it was. Naturally, I read the placard and it said as follows: Yutaka Sone Hong Kong Island, 1998 Marble. After a proper head scratching I went in for a closer look…

Erie post-apocalyptic energy, like frozen time.

Fred Tomaselli Hang Over, 2005. Beautiful resin based piece looks like an open shutter photograph by Hieronymus Bosch, of “A pill and eye-ball throwing contest at midnight.”

Toba Khedoori, Untitled (Seats) 1996. This triptych is double over head, it’s incredibly haunting.

Ahh last but not least one my favorite living artist, Kara Walker, About the title—I had wanted to title this “sketch after my Mississippi youth” or “the Excavation” as I pictured it a sort of introduction to the panorama to come. However the image, which is partly borrowed, is of an Indian mound—painted by Mr. J Egan in 1850—is meant to remind the dear viewer of another place altogether, from which we suckle life. Perhaps my rendering is too subtle… 2002.

That’s the title by the way, this is a non-paper cut-out piece of hers that is not as striking but just as moving. The softer side of Kara Walker if you will, well soft for her (see image below of nipple bound to arm-strap.)

I’m sure you’ve all seen the banners around town advertising, Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years. But maybe you didn’t hear that they’re giving us six free days to soak in the, 500 PIECES!!! I’m pretty excited to see this Ruscha installation and I always wanted to see The Big Wheel in person. I doubt they’ll fire it up but I can picture C. Burden scaring people to death when he first showed this piece, revving that motorcycle like a mad-scientist!

O wait I! I found this video of Mr. Burden making that 3 ton wheel spin, sadly… more of a “scientist” scientist than a “mad” scientist.

I’m still psyched! See you there!