Mr Ryman's Blacktop

I visited Will's rooftop on the Bowery today. He asked me to help him with a design for a garden and outdoor space. Challenges: the building next door has been sold and will be turned into a twenty floor hotel. Welcome to the new Bowery (The New Museum building is all but finished a block up). The building on the other side of him is already notoriously tall and skinny. So his full sun roof will turn into deep, serious shade. Bamb-bloody-boo, I fear. I try so hard to avoid it: the cliche of cliches. Hm. Then there are all the utilities in the middle, so we'll have to bridge them. He actually doesn't want to hide them, which is quite refreshing. And, best of all, Will liked my graffiti idea for his exposed white wall. Somebody's going to have graffiti in their garden, dammit. Now to find the right street artist...

The view east - where some morning sun will still manage to peek through...

West down spring Street. Faaaar down is Balthazar...still one of my favourite streets.

Utilities. Graded deck with plexiglass risers and hidden lighting?

We climbed out of his studio window to see the deep shade roof next door, to get a feel for what his may be like soon. This is one of the pieces that will be on show at Marlborough after November 8th.

The sun caused Will to collapse. Then his pets attacked him.