Enrique Martinez Celaya at Jack Shainman

The paintings of Enrique Martinez Celaya came as a surprise to Bill and me.

We fell in love with the mad poetry of the work on first sight.

The show is called Empires and its two parts are on display at both Shainman's two galleries in Chelsea.

We had wandered into Empires: Sea

 

 

Wanted to have a closer look at the brushstrokes.

The show also had some nice Marinez Celaya sculpture.

We found part two of the show Empires: Land on 24th Street.

Great art lover shooting in through the window. 

A lovely show. Another career to follow closely. 

Wolfgang Tillmans at David Zwirner

John and I are big fans of the photography of Wolfgang Tillmans so it was fun to see him fill several large rooms at David Zwirner in Chelsea, NYC, last week.

Tillmans is famous for his idiosyncratic installations. 

 Large prints

 sharing the walls with some prints as small as 4"x 6"

 and clips used instead of frames.

 His shows always attract

 a hip crowd of photography-lovers.

We were lucky to catch the show on its last day.

New York Streets

John and I love to walk in New York City.

 Be it Fifth Avenue

Madison Avenue, 

or Chelsea.

 It's all good.

Even walking along West 25th Street. 

to the Salvation Army headquarters.

Coming up out of the subway into Soho.

 ending in the East Village.

Ah, New York streets

Ancient Egypt Transformed at the Met

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a world famous permanent collection of ancient Egyptian art and artifacts so Bill and I were surprised to come upon a special exhibition devoted to the subject.

"Ancient Egypt Transformed" is a thrilling, superbly curated show of artifacts from the Met's collection and from 37 other lenders.

We were instantly caught by this Relief of Nebhepetre Muntuhotep II and the Goddess Hathor. Limestone, paint, plaster ca. 2010-2000 B.C.

Love the painting and carving of these hieroglyphs.

Anubis the jackal god from the Lintel of Amenemhat I and Deities, painted limestone, ca 1981-1952 B.C.

Colossal Head of Senwosret I. Limestone, paint. ca. 1961-1917 B.C., with an admirer.

Relief of Seankhkare Mentuhotep III and the Goddess Iunyt. Limestone. ca. 2000-1988 B.C.

Statue of the Priest Amenemhatankh. Quartzite. ca. 1895-1813 B.C.

He is a priest of the crocodile god Sobek and the creator god Ptah-Sokar.

I've taken pictures of William Kimber striding that look much like this rushing figure of Senwosret I Running towerd the God Min. Limestone. ca. 1961-1917 B.C.

Stele of the Trustworthy Sealer Seneb, Limestone, c 1878-1749 BC. What superb design and images.

Relief of a Priest and Offerings. Limestone, paint. ca. 2051-2013 B.C. The colours throughout this show are stunningly rich.

Reliefs from the Chapel of the Overseer of the Troops Sehetepibre. Limestone, paint. 1802-1650 B.C.

Stele of Khetyand his Wife, Henet. Painted limestone, ca 1981-1917 BC

Canopic Jars of Nebsen and Senwosret. Limestone. ca. 1919-1878 B.C.

Head of a statue of Amenemhat III wearing the White Crown c 1859-1813 B.C.

Bill noticed this wonderful wooden model sculpture of calving in progress.

Bill also caught this amazing wooden Model of a Hunting Party. So many people for such a light craft but the promised afterlife hunt certainly seems like a success.

Model Sail Boat, 1981-1975 B.C., Thebes, Middle Kingdom. These models are much bigger than most we've seen in museum collections.

Model Paddling Boat, 1981-1975 B.C., Thebes, Middle Kingdom

Head of a Statue of the God Sobek Shedeti. Limestone, plaster restoration. ca. 1859-1813 B.C. 

Head of the Statue of a Bovine Deity. Limestone. ca. 1961-1917 B.C.  Ancient Egypt Transformed: The Middle Kingdom is a must see show and  continues until January 2016.