Over the long weekend, I finally got a chance to see “Maelstrom” (2009) by American artist Roxy Paine. Set on the roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, “Maelstrom” is a 130-foot-long by 45-foot-wide stainless-steel sculpture. Walking out onto the rooftop, surrounded by gorgeous views of the city and Central Park, visitors are encompassed by the sculpture – what initially appears to be a chaotic maze of tree branches. It is Paine’s largest and most ambitious work to date, and it gives one a sense of being immersed in the middle of a cataclysmic force of nature.
But there is definitely order to the piece – the steel itself implies this, as does the piece’s overall grace. And the juxtaposition of the natural world and the built environment – “Maelstrom” is one of the Paine’s Dendroids, based on systems like vascular networks, tree roots, industrial piping, and fungal mycelia – further reinforces Paine’s balanced success. The installation is up through November 29th, and I definitely recommend stopping by. I know I’ll be back, if only to see how Paine’s piece plays with the changing seasons in NY.
For more information, visit The Met’s website. And check out the installation video below.
Spectacular! Great description! We loved it too, and the view was awesome. We would love to go back too!!