They serve no function other than 'artistic.' There's a plaque nearby with a brief summary about the artist and his creation. Personally, I think they fail with regard to their placement since they block the beatiful view of the ocean. Maybe the ICA will do us a favor and take them inside so the public can have an unobstructed view of the seabirds, ships and harbor once again. One wonders who would commission a large work that obstructs an ocean view...

Agreed

By BostonDog on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 3:57pm.

I'm normally one for abstract art but when it blocks natural art (the sea) it only detracts. There are abstract designs which would compliment the background but that isn't one. (In contrast to the floating fabric over the greenway which was a great installation.)

It's a shame too -- not many places for the public to be near the water in Boston. If this was rural seacoast Maine it would be more fitting as a contrast to the rocky seacoast. But in Boston it only serves to remind the public of brutalism designs which plague the city. (Perhaps that is the point of the work but still, the reminder is not needed nor welcome.)

Hopefully it's temporary.

Not many places to be near

By The original Seaport Yuppie... on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 5:18pm.

Not many places to be near the water in boston? You must be new here.

"temporary"

By Lisfnord on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 6:28pm.

I agree with you, but they've been there for years. Maybe they're temporary in the long-term sense of the word....

BostonDog, meet the

By faegirl on Sun, 06/05/2016 - 7:24am.

BostonDog, meet the Harborwalk (http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/planning/planning-initiative...). Almost 50 miles of walking, sitting, and learning all along our beautiful harbor open to the public, both tourist and resident alike.

Its a great thing to do on a day with a slight breeze.

Also, East Boston has some amazing city parks that are open to the public just outside of Maverick.

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah

By BostonDog on Sun, 06/05/2016 - 2:46pm.

The harbor walk is nice and I'm glad to have it. But there is just as many areas which are blocked or removed from the water. Beyond Boston, a majority of MA's coastline is private and inaccessible.

So I stand by my feelings that the installation blocks the view of the water while providing little artistic compliment to it. Simply put, it's not a good use of the space, a key element in installation pieces.

Untitled Landscape, David von

By anon on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 9:41pm.

Untitled Landscape, David von Schlegell, 1972

Consists of eight buffed stainless steel panels in the shape of obtuse angles, set in a square facing each other. An interpretive marker is located nearby. From 1971 to 1990, von Schlegell was the head of the Yale School of Art sculpture department.

David von Schlegell studied painting at the Art Students League in New York, where his father taught.

He turned to sculpture in the early 1960's after building his house in Ogunquit, Me. He evolved a vocabulary of streamlined abstract forms and planes, often held in place by rigging wire, that reflected his knowledge of Constructivism and as well as his lifelong interest in yacht and airplane design. Throughout his career, Mr. von Schlegell received many public commissions and several grants and awards, including the Skowhegan Medal for Sculpture in 1978. His work is represented in the collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, R.I.

SRC; http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/06/arts/david-von-schlegell-abstract-arti...

http://www.publicartboston.com/content/untitled-landscape

I'm not an art critic,but they are...

By Rick C on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 2:06pm.

Eyesores.

When I get takeout lunch I

By Tazz on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 3:40pm.

When I get takeout lunch I occasionally sit on those things. It's a waste of space, a few benches on a grassy area might draw more traffic.

You're assuming, though ...

By adamg on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 7:11pm.

That the folks at Harbor Towers want to draw more people to the site.

I think it's private property

By anon on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 8:10pm.

I think it's private property. There are signs in the area indicating as such. People do pass through there but I don't think its a public space intended for congregating.

Private property, perhaps ...

By adamg on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 10:24pm.

But it's part of the Harborwalk, subject to - state or city? - law requiring public access to the waterfront.

Ch.91

By John-W on Sun, 06/05/2016 - 2:09pm.

State law. Access to water front....so we can go clamming and shoot waterfowl.

Zeroscaping pretending to art?

By Daan on Sat, 06/04/2016 - 6:16pm.

They are quite useful if the idea was to make the area a zeroscape (i.e., no landscaping). Put up a couple of Richard Serra type slabs of metal, call it art and forget about it except perhaps for cleaning it once a year to get rid of the bird droppings.

Not all art is good art. Plus as the kids at SFMOMA proved many people don't put enough time into considering what is art to even know whether something should be considered art.

I remember when they went up and wondering why they did

By scollaysq on Sun, 06/05/2016 - 1:49pm.

Swain improved them, at least a little bit. They make more sense his way.

(I know I'm showing my age)

Large Laptop @ Boston Harbor Tower

By anon on Sun, 06/05/2016 - 8:19pm.

Is that going to be one day only or everyday?

You know those things that look like giant laptops down by Harbor Towers?

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