We’re perpetually impressed by the photos Eric Marcus takes, to support editorial content in the Neighborhood News Enewsletter he edits and publishes, on behalf of the 300 West 2oth Street Block Association. His artful photos of art on the High Line caught our eye, and Marcus kindly consented to this reprint from the Jan. 26, 2021 Vol. 1 #76 edition. If you’d like to subscribe, send that request to eric@ericmarcus.com. The photos above and below, and the text to follow, are all the work of the busy Mr. Marcus.–Scott Stiffler

My guess is that you’ve seen Brick House—the fantastic huge sculpture by Simone Leigh on the High Line’s Spur at W. 30th St., which I pay homage to every morning on my fast walk. Unfortunately, when it comes to art on the High Line, nothing is permanent, so the Leigh sculpture is only on display until spring of this year. The High Line has just installed an exhibit on the Spur of the 12 finalists for the 2022 and 2024 works of art that will occupy the same spot as the Leigh sculpture. We don’t get to vote, but it’s interesting seeing who made the final list and what their proposals look like (in miniature).–Eric Marcus

BONUS CONTENT (as noted by Friends of the High Line)

High Line Art presents a temporary exhibition of the twelve shortlisted proposals for the third and fourth High Line Plinth commissions, currently on view as sculptural maquettes. The models are exhibited on the High Line in the Coach Passage at 30th Street and will remain on display through April 2021. The presented works are from artists Iván Argote, Nina Beier, Margarita Cabrera, Nick Cave, Banu Cennetoğlu, Rafa Esparza, Teresita Fernández, Kapwani Kiwanga, Lu Pingyuan, Pamela Rosenkranz, Mary Sibande, and Andra Ursuţa.

The High Line Plinth, a landmark destination for public art, was designed as the focal point of the newest section of the High Line, the Spur, which opened in June 2019. Two out of the 12 shortlisted artists will be selected to create the full-scale third and fourth High Line Plinth commissions, to be installed in 2022 and 2024 respectively. Simone Leigh’s Brick House, the first Plinth commission, is currently on view until spring 2021.

Each sculpture will be on view for 18 months. The maquettes, presented at approximately 1:16 scale, offer the public a three-dimensional perspective of the proposals. They range in material, from adobe brick soil to dichroic glass panes, suggesting the varying impact and challenges of their construction at full-size. Evoking themes that include climate change, decolonization, and civil rights, these proposals present 12 artists’ visions for monumental public art for the 21st century.

The High Line is currently open with a free timed-entry reservation system on weekends, reduced operating hours and amenities, and limited capacity in order to allow for social distancing. Free timed-entry passes are now available for weekend visits through Feb. 14. On weekdays, the park will open at 7am without reservations. On weekends, the park will open at 10am with reservations. During all open hours, you’re welcome to arrive at Gansevoort St., W. 23rd St., or W. 30th St., and may now move north or south. For more information, click here.

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