Lush Paint, Badass Swing Set

Edwin Dickinson was a great painter, one of those American originals and an inspiration to the abstract expressionists who followed. At the turn of the last century (can't believe I'm saying "last century") through the 70s he was making wistfully pared-down but lush paintings unlike no other. Only painting what was necessary, if the inspiration waned - full stop. It sounds simple enough, but how many of us know when to quit? We're still talking about painting right?

He studied at the Art Student's League with William Merritt Chase, though Whistler and Sargent were definitely on his mind. At Babcock's mid-town gallery there is a mini-retrospective of his work through January. If you wait until after the holiday rush it may be a little easier to maneuver through the 5th Avenue madness.

Just in time for Christmas Mark di Suvero has a big, bold welded steel swing set titled Paula's Pleasure. Filling the main gallery space at Paula Cooper, this is not a swing you would find in a lust-filled Fragonard painting. This massive bad-ass swing has room for all your closest friends -- what a holiday party this could be!


This is one of the best he's created in a while. Di Suvero just may be the last of the big steel wielders and welders around -- a national treasure.