Verbal Description: Introduction

Narrator: On the fifth floor, as you exit the elevators you will see an exhibition titled Hopper’s New York. If you move to the right there is a smaller focus collection show titled In the Balance: Between Painting and Sculpture 1965-1985. On the left wall is an intro text for In the Balance and in the center of the space there are two artworks spread out in the center of the floor. This show is located in a large 60 by 70 foot room, and places all of the artworks along the walls except for two artworks situated in the center of the space. The sculptures in the middle of the room have friction tape around them to demarcate where visitors should stop walking so as not to disturb or damage the artworks. One of the works on the floor is by Lynda Benglis and is about 33 feet by 10 feet and positioned diagonally on the floor. Directly forward and to the left, past this floor sculpture, are several benches. Just beyond the Benglis is an artwork by Judy Chicago, which is a 10 foot by 5 foot series of three triangular forms stacked in front of one another. Many of the paintings in the show have shaped canvases that are not squares or rectangles. Others are quite thick and are almost sculptural. One artwork hangs high on the wall and takes on an undulating form. On the long wall across the room, a sculpture connects the floor and the wall in an almost rainbow-like coil. On either side of the long wall there is access to a respite space with sofa seating in front of full wall windows, which overlook the Hudson river.