Just in time for Easter Abe's horse gets a hat. Legend has it that the sculpture is on our campus because nobody else would take it.
The sculptor is Anna V. Hyatt Huntington. To see several of her sculptures take the 1 train to 157th and walk over to the Hispanic Society of America on Audubon Terrace. I know, I know, you're thinking, "Hyatt Huntington doesn't sound very hispanic". True enough, but does that matter when your husband, Archer Milton Huntington, is the founder and benefactor of the museum? Archer also founded the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, Virginia. Along with Anna he founded Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina, a 10,000 acre nature preserve to showcase Anna's sculptures.
Archer's brother Henry was the founder of the Huntington Library (which you've seen if you've ever watched the Rose Bowl Parade) and the namesake of Huntington Beach, California, a town where you can get good fish tacos. Their father was the founder of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The Hispanic Society of America is almost invisible among museums in New York. There were only a couple other people there the time I visited. It has a great collection of Spanish art and admission is free. Because so few people visit, the society recently announced intentions to move downtown.
It is a beautiful place but mostly used by te neighborhood kids to hang out and skate board. It is basically in no man's land and gets overlooked. I am concerned what will happen to it once it leaves the neighborhood though...it is a very interesting structure. I haven't actually been...it always looks closed.
Posted by: Berry | 14 April 2006 at 01:29 PM
joe- was that you walking west-bound on 116th saturday night at 9:45?
Posted by: harlemfur | 14 April 2006 at 09:54 PM
I forgot to thank JB for giving me the tip about the bonnet.
Apparently the exterior of the Audubon Terrace buildings are landmarked, so nothing will happen to their looks. The interiors are not landmarked. Hopefully whoever takes over the space will treat it with respect.
My memory is a bit foggy but I'm pretty sure I was home last Saturday, so that wasn't me.
Posted by: joe | 15 April 2006 at 07:04 PM