Flashback Friday:
Last week, Swinging Jenny celebrated its fourth
year at the 57 WEST block!
Located in the thru-block between FRANK
and VIA 57 WEST, Swinging Jenny is a bronze
sculpture standing at an impressive 18’ tall and
23’ long. Martha’s Vineyard-based artist, Jay
Lagemann, has created numerous iterations of
the sculpture, with the original manifestation of
Swinging Jenny being a three-dimensional sketch
of a man swinging a young girl made 25 years ago
with colored pipe cleaners.
Some might recall, one metal iteration of the sculpture resided in the lobby of the Bank of America Building
at One Bryant Park at the end of 2015.
By focusing on materials that can thrive both
indoors and outdoors, such as metal and clay, and
creating sculptures that range in size from larger than-
life down to pieces that fit on a coffee table,
Lagemann has honed his skills over the years to
create enduring & adaptable pieces. Many of his
signature works focus on capturing figures in action
and creating a sense of movement. Lagemann is
able to craft whimsical, abstract scenes that are
also incredibly relatable. Though the figures may
be sculpted from rigid materials, Lagemann is able
to give them life and playfulness that evokes the
human spirit. This talent for creating metal figures
that are suspended in seemingly weightless
reverie, dancing and flying through the air, is
epitomized with his sculpture, Swinging Jenny.
Swinging Jenny’s Fourth Anniversary
Smaller version of Lagemann’s Swinging Jenny in the lobby of One
Bryant Park, 2015. Durst Archives, 2015.059.010.002.
Installation of Swinging Jenny at the 57 WEST block, 23 June
2017. Credit: Jay Lagemann
Douglas Durst and Jay Lagemann in front of Swinging Jenny at
the dedication ceremony, 23 June 2017. Credit: Michael Priest
Flashback Friday:
On June 23rd 2017, The Durst Organization held
a dedication ceremony for the sculpture at VIA 57
WEST. Along with representatives from The Durst
Organization, the artist attended with his family
members and friends to celebrate the official
unveiling.
The Durst Organization has recognized that the
addition of art to our properties is essential to the
wellness of our tenants and residents, dating back
to the first building we constructed in 1958. We
are proud to have this whimsical piece as part of
our porfolio’s art collection. An essential addition
to the 57 WEST block, we encourage everyone to
pay a visit to see Swinging Jenny.
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