Christmas (Windows) in New York City

Ever since watching "Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's," I've wanted to see the celebrated B-G Christmas windows firsthand. Shopping at Bergdorf Goodman is totally out of my realm, but looking is something I can afford. This year I had to bring some art south for an upcoming show in New York (info at the bottom of this post), so a rendezvous with my dear friend Binnie was in order - just in time to see all the bright lights and magic of Manhattan at this special season of Selling.

Inspired by the Arts
The window theme this year is "Inspired" and each window is dedicated to a particular art that inspires. More than 100 artists and display artisans contributed to the windows.

Here is the Bergdorf Goodman statement about the windows:

We decided to base each window on a major art form, drawing equally from the fine arts, performing arts and applied arts. For our main windows, we settled on literature, architecture, theater, painting, music, dance, sculpture and film. Each window would be designed independently from the others. Each would be made from its own set of materials. But the entire set of windows would constitute a sort of eight-lesson course in art appreciation.

Windows Curated by Moi
Although all the windows were fabulous, I thought the first two were outstanding, so those are the two I am featuring.

This is the official photograph of the Literature window, photographed by Ricky Zehavi,
from the Bergdorf Goodman blog. Please click to enlarge.

This wonderful red window, dedicated to Literature, was made entirely from "fabric, soft sculpture, and needlepoint." I was blown away by all the detail. Here are a few of my iPhone pix. Please click on them to can see them enlarged because they are so rich.

My second most favorite was Architecture, done up mainly in blues. This window was composed from paper and old blueprints.

The official photograph by Ricky Zehavi from the B-G blog.

Here are some of my detail shots.

Looking Through Another Window
Seeing these wonderful compositions was really a treat. Then as we wandered around, we passed by a building, looked in, and were surprised to see a work by El Anatsui hanging on a wall above a lobby reception desk. Of course we marched right in and prepared to shoot a photo, but we were told that no photos were allowed. "Why is this work hanging here?" we asked, and the guards said that it belonged to Mr. Bloomberg. At that we noticed that the building was apparently the Bloomberg Tower. Who knew? So we shot the Anatsui from outside, needing no permission and not being chased away. We did walk the length - inside - of the very large installation of works by Ursula von Rydingsvard without any prohibition.

A lovely work by El Anatsui behind heavy glass doors

To All a Good Night and Ho, Ho, Ho!
And so, after a brief glimpse of The Tree, the giant nutcracker soldiers, the flags, the unending throng of celebrants, and amid the raucous blare of "holiday music," we took our selfie and departed for Grand Central.

(Onward to the New York show - Opening January 23rd: A Few Conversations About Color, curated by Joanne Mattera,  at dm contemporary)