La Chiffoniere ... 1978
This piece, by Jean Dubuffet, (so passioné, so décadente, such a salesman) stands by the Hyatt at Justin Herman Plaza. Made of stainless steel with black epoxy, its title translates roughly to ragpicker. If you catch it in the morning, as the sun clears the horizon, it seems to de-cohere as the glare catches one plane, then the next.
Unfortunately, La Chiffoniere is a textbook example of shoddy placement. It's tall, and doesn't scan as a whole piece until you step back. When you're next to it all you really notice are the sheets of stainless, discolored by bird droppings, and the underside, featuring various gifts from the gimmies. Traffic paths from the buildings to the street flow around it closely. Getting a larger view is blocked in most directions by the building and the one clear sightline, out in sk8ter country, shows a side view with the armatures visible. A wet rag and about a ten foot move would change things right around.
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