~MAX HEIGES . . “AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON” / MARVIN GARDENS / RIDGEWOOD, NY
ok . . . !!
changing ‘imaginary’ / editorial gears, here !!
departing from the Shakers, and their innovative, minimalist, but hard-core functional / spare-as-possible . . designs and machines /
onto Max Heiges & his elegant, though brutalist-leaning, spare-as-possible, absolutely creative hard-core sculptures – that may take their cue from machines, but the only gears that they ‘turn’ – are the ones within – your head.
could we call that: spinning your imagination – as opposed to spinning your knitting wool ?
MAX HEIGES: “. . . AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON” / (!!!!!!!!!!)
a site-specific, free-standing / installation sculpture
which opened for viewing on MAY 7th,
and remains up . . . thru mid-July, 2023.
MARVIN GARDENS – (OUTDOOR) YARD / a few doors down from the main gallery /
1560 Decatatur St., Ridgewood, NY 11385
HRS: Walk-in – Sun 1 – 5 PM
weekdays by appointment
MAX HEIGES, ‘AND THE HORSE YOU RODE IN ON’, 2023
photo: via Instagram @maxheiges
“site-specific monumental steel sculpture, inaugurating the gallery’s new outdoor space, to be called: ‘YARD’ / all the parts are found scrap metal, i.e. the horizontal spine is from the metal yard next door,
which Max assembled entirely on-site. the concrete block is hollow. though ‘visually intimidating’, it’s very safe. Max is a licensed metal worker (!!!), and all those leg joints are welded. the piece is structurally stable & fully reinforced with hidden bolts that can be seen in person.”
~MARVIN GARDENS
so, yes I did ask . . !!
who isn’t spooked by the illusion of DIY + design spareness / which this sculpture conjures. esp after this week’s loss of that apparently DIY-rigged / tiny 5 man submersible, at the bottom of the ocean – alongside it’s high ticket / tourist tour – target: the also ill-fated, even though professionally built, Titanic ???
photo: via Instagram @marvin_gardens
detail . . .
blunt, but compact.
more of a mind-game, than a machine.
not even a whiff of a ‘transporter device’, it stands for: imagination / in all its glory.
brevity and hardness that belie . . skills and, well: t-h-o-u-gh-t.
or, whatever comes to your mind, as you reflect upon this improvised scaffolding, of free-form thought.
a Trojan Horse for the 21st C. ?
the title seems to nudge us – in that direction.
detail . . .
photo: Instagram @marvin_gardens
blunt, compact, but . . . playful !!
maybe, even an autobiographical – flourish !!
a little girl running around, spinning through childhood.
the Trojan Horse still – comes to mind.
you can construct life how you will, and hope for the best /
best, ride that horse, we call: life, while you can.
playful, intimidating, and scary.