The Thomas Houseago outdoor art installation Masks (Pentagon) will be unveiled at Rockefeller Center on Tuesday, April 28th. This site-specific installation consists of five masks cast from clay in industrial-strength synthetic plastic and stand in height from 14 1/2 feet to 16 1/2 feet. They are set on a stepped base pedestal of unfinished redwood and, blending in beautifully with their surroundings, in an installation organized by Public Art Fund and Tishman Speyer.
Thomas Houseago positioned the pieces so that viewers can walk freely in and around each, looking through the eyes of the masks and seeing a different perspective of the surrounding plaza and cityscape. While you are on the inside of the installation, try to find the artist’s hand print and his young daughter’s footprints. They’re a nice touch to give the viewer a sense of being in his studio.
Born and raised in Leeds, England, Mr. Houseago now lives and works in Los Angles. His recent exhibits have included work at Storm King Art Center, Galleria Borghese, Rome, Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts, Norwich, and Palazzo Grassi, Venice to name a few. His work was also included in the 2010 Whitney Biennial.
On your way out, head toward the Fifth Avenue entrance and take in the pink rubber ducks in each of the fountains of the Channel Garden. Masks (Pentagon) will run from April 28th to June 12th.
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