Mr. Flower Fantastic’s Concrete Jungle March 15, 2026
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Art exhibit, Art instalation, Florals, Mr. Flower Fantastic, nature, NYBG, Orchid Show, photography, street culture
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This is a 23rd annual Orchid Show at the New York Botanical Garden. Mr. Flower Fantastic is a self-taught artist. He got his start guerrilla-style, crafting floral art installations on the streets of New York. He grew up in Queens, New York, where his love of flowers began in his mother’s garden. Over time, he taught himself floral design and began experimenting across creative mediums, eventually merging his passion for sneakers with his floral work. His signature mask and gloves, originally worn to manage his allergy to flowers, became part of his identity, allowing the focus to stay on the art rather than the artist. Mr. Flower Fantastic has carved out a unique niche at the intersection of contemporary art, florals, and street culture, making a name for himself. This is a fun, unique show and is on through April 26th.
The Gates Project – 20 Years Later February 9, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: 2005, Art exhibit, Art instalation, Central Park, Christo, Jeanne Claude, Mayor Bloomberg, NYC, photography, The Gates Project
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Twenty years ago, I was lucky to work at The Gates Project when Jeanne-Claude and Christo created their fabulous site-specific work of art in 2005. The artists installed 7,503 vinyl “gates” along 23 miles of pathways in Central Park. From each gate hung a panel of deep saffron-colored nylon fabric. The exhibit ran from February 12, 2005 through February 27, 2005. Even though the exhibit officially ran for two weeks the installation and deinstallation of the project stretched out this work for almost two months. I believe this community work of art, was the beginning of the recovery for our wounded City from the devastation of 9/11 (thanks to Mayor Bloomberg for his decision to go ahead with this project). As a Gate Watcher, I held a long pole with a tennis ball on the end of it so that I could unfurl the saffron curtains if the wind wrapped them around their stanchions. I had the good fortune of speaking to thousands of visitors from all around the world about the project, about New York City, about life, art and politics for two weeks. It was an experience I will never forget. Many of you who are reading this blog came to visit me at my Gates post to share the experience. Every morning that we worked we would meet Jeanne-Claude and Christo at the Boat House for free breakfast where they would talk to us, both individually and as a group.They also were generous enough to take the time to sign our souvenir posters, books or whatever – every Friday afternoon – with their signature orange crayons. I have my signed prints proudly hanging in my living room. May they rest in peace and may their memory be a blessing, dear Jeanne -Claude and Christo. I created all of the photo montages seen here 20 years ago as a way to remember that singular experience.
While at the Zoo 