Niki in the Garden
Occasionally a show comes along that so exciting and full of life, color and joy that it’s difficult to fit it into a simple blog post. This is true of Niki in the Garden at Chicago’s Garfield Park Conservatory. Over 30 larger-than-life sculptures by Niki de Saint Phalle are installed in the already wonderful greenhouses and gardens of the park.
Besides designing sculpture parks and theatre sets, she was also an actress and model. In a video of her life, she is shown doing a series of large assemblages with paint enclosed in plaster — she used a shotgun to shoot the plaster so the paint would explode across the surface of the piece. What a crazy lady! (and as always, I use the term ‘crazy’ with affection and admiration!)
Phalle is know for her multi-colored Nanas that boldly dance and sometimes even spout water. An exhibit placard explained Phalle’s inspiration, “Nanas are like goddesses to me, even superwomen of the sort, primitive tribes idolized. Perhaps they’re aggressive — that’s what some men think. They certainly know what they want, but they are warm, not mean.”
In addition to Nanas, there are huge totems, alligators you can climb, 
cats in which you can cuddle, man-chairs for sitting, and an amazing skull lined with a mosaic-mirrored interior complete with bench and delicious pearly teeth. 
Phalle’s work is covered with seductive surfaces that are delight to examine closer because the materials are so well composed and crafted.
(click on any thumbnail for a larger view) After just seeing Cloud Gate at Millenium Park, I was intrigued by the coicidence that Phalle’s “Large Firebird on Arch” had a similar, and yet totally different effect. Like Cloud Gate, Phalle’s mirrored surfaces reflect sky and land, but in a fractured, more complex way. (far left detail above)
A couple of pieces in a quiet corner of a garden caught my eye. These pieces are not volumetric like most of the show, but are almost linear sketches in air, filled with small toys, symbols and objects. As in all her other works, Phalle shows a judicious use of color and detail.
Phalle says, “When my lungs were severely damaged by working with polyester, air came into my life. I had to learn how to breathe again, breathe deeply. The Skinnys reflect that change.”
If you have a chance, run, don’t walk to Garfield Conservatory before this show ends on Oct. 31. Plan on not only seeing wonderful art, but pack a lunch (or buy a hotdog for a buck) and enjoy the whole day.
And I haven’t even posted all my photos of the exotic plants and flowers. I’ll leave that to your imagination….
If you ever get to Italy don’t miss The “Tarot Garden”!! http://www.nikidesaintphalle.com/. There you can not only admire Niki de Saint Phalle’s Art but also sculptures by Jean Tinguely http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Tinguely
GREAT!! Been there twice!!
wonderful! wish i could zoom up there to see them in person. love the skinnies…
I’m behind in checking up on your blog. Thanks for sharing your photos and thought from Garfield Park. You’re like my National Geographic, you take me there, educate, enlighten and inspire. Think I’ll go work on something that’s trying to get out of my head and into my studio.
Utterly gorgeous. Always been one of my VERY MOST favorite artists. Im grooming my three year old son to love her as well.
We’re lucky to have lots of Niki de St. Phalle work in San Diego. She lived here, in LaJolla at the end of her life. What an exuberant talent!
I love Nickis Art
p.s. I have nominated you for a Rockin’ blogger girl award… pop by my blog to get the badge : -)))
Fantastic! I especially love the big busted lady. Thanks for sharing so many pics.
Thanks for posting so many fabulous photos. I did a big projest with my 13 year old students, using her work as inspiration. The students loved making large papier mache women with large bums and bumps!
Best wishes
Maggie
What a great narrative of what you experienced.
I think her show was in Atlanta last year but I missed it.
This will have to definitely be on my list. I relate to the nanas. In fact, I am sure if I go people will stop and wonder if the statues are modeled after me. We share a similar shape… maybe my waist line is a little bigger.
Thank you Pam for a wonderful tour! Now I know I need to go there! Love Niki’s work…so colorful, so joyful, so alive. And the mosaics are tremendous.
The epitome of very cool! I am especially fond of the totem.
Aren’t here sculptures wonderful? I haven’t seen any of the really big ones but loved the ones at the Centre de Pompidou and Chateau Chinon.
Thanks Sarah, your comment is much appreciated — it was a difficult post to write and choosing a few out of a hundred photos was tough!
That was a WONDERFUL read! Thank you so much for your generosity — your pictures turned out beautifully, and your narration put me right there.
I LOVE the Niki in the Garden sculptures. Well, I love everything you posted. This is my kind of garden!! I love that fence like structure. Oooo, I want it outside my studio.
Hi Emmie, I didn’t know it was a passion flower, I thought it was from outer space!
Ah-ha! you like the passion flower too. See my blog. And you are right; we should run to see this exhibit. Hope I can. Your pictures are so enticing.