Doing a Summer Friday Right | Neighborbee Blog

Brooklyn Sting: Doing a Summer Friday Right

Through an accident of fate, karma, and bureaucratic regulation, I have the luxury of spending all of my Fridays this summer not at work. While I’m tempted to pass many hours on my couch in front of the television, I can always do that on Saturday. Instead, last Friday I decided to visit two places I have (shamefully, considering eight years of residence in the borough) never been – the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

Greg and the Gallery Insider are usually the ones to talk to you intelligently about art, so I’ll just give you the brainless version. [Full disclosure: I was an art history major, but never studied art made after 1950.]

My main interest in going to the Brooklyn Museum was to see the Murakami exhibition. What fascinates me about Murakami is how he blurs the line between fine art and commercial art – many of his designs and motifs are available as toys, pillows, t-shirts, etc. He forces viewers to question what defines fine art – something that is more difficult to create as computers continue to level the playing field.

The exhibition is made up of paintings, video, and my favorite – fiberglass sculptures. One of the most arresting is Second Mission Project KO2 – a series of three life-sized sculptures where a young, half-naked girl transforms (a la Gobots) into a jet. I found it fascinating and vaguely threatening, but this website went a little further in its analysis.

Then there was Inochi, the grotesque half-robot boy. Murakami created a whole back story around Inochi, complete with commercial-length teasers of how Inochi has trouble making friends at school (because he’s half-robot!).

After a few hours in Murakami’s weird, Technicolor world, I was in need of something a little more earthy. If you go to the Brooklyn Museum, you have the option of purchasing an “art and garden” ticket – a slightly discounted admission to both the museum and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. This I did and walked next door into the garden for the first time.

Like Central Park, the Botanic Garden transports you out of the commotion of the city, though you are still conscious of a low hum of traffic. The Botanic Garden is truly beautiful. Small plaques near the trees and plants give you information on their name and history, but you are in no way obligated to turn this into an educational visit. I strolled around for a little more than an hour, and managed to cover most of the park. By far the Japanese garden and pond were the most popular, with the rose gardens coming in at a close second.

Finally, I don’t have to be embarrassed when someone asks me if I’ve visited two of the most popular destinations in Brooklyn. My next goal: Prospect Park!