SOUTH COVE – MARY MISS B Y G R A C E C H A R L E S

THESISSouth cove is an area that has brought

together natural elements of water and

plant life, combined with industrial

architecture. By incorporating both natural

and industrial elements, the ecology of the

site blends together to create and ever

evolving and adapting habitat. I have

chosen to focus on the vulnerability,

exposure and fluid architecture of the art

site, as throughout my visiting experience,

these were the most prominent features of

the site. By Miss’ use of grates, circular

patterns/levels and living organisms, she

has created a communal space that is open

and free for all to make their own.

Transparency is a theme she has created

through the artwork through her use of

grates for walls / floor / roof structures. The

installation is visible from every area of the

installation, both from the use of levels, and

materials.

THESIS – PART 2 The openness of the space is vulnerable to both

weather conditions and to the viewer. Every

aspect of the infrastructure is shown – in

terms of how it was built. Miss has used the

idea of exposure throughout the installation.

She has created open enclosed spaces

through the plant life that roams freely within

it’s area and the water that is constantly

splashing and rocking back and forth, and

public/private spaces for the viewer

throughout the different ways of interaction

Miss has aloud the each person to have. Miss

wants the viewer to see the ‘skeleton’ of

every part of the artwork – nothing is hidden.

HISTORY – SOUTH COVE

- “The organic form is purposefully contrasted against the built environment.”4

*Miss contrasted nature and the metal structure. The area used to be landfill,

but is now a peaceful art piece. Wood and industrial materials are used to

create a blend of nature and city life – perfect for a city like New York.

- Created with help of architect Stanton Eckstut and landscape architect Susan

Child, 1988.

- “Miss conceived South Cove as a place where people could smell the river, hear

it, get their feet wet and actually go out on the water.” 5

*This relates back to the idea of people being able to make this private space

their own – involving themselves in the infrastructure and becoming a part of

the art. The piece is literally growing and changing as time goes on.

- “South Cove acts as a portal for a visual experience but also establishes its

own ground—this is done so quite literally—as an architectural installation.” 6

*You’re feeling the wind on your face and hearing the rustling of the leaves.

The people and plants are moving around you – giving the installation life.

- It is up kept by Battery Park City Park team – new plants are planted depending

on the season. 7

MARY MISS - “Miss received a B.A. in art in 1966 from the University of California,

Santa Barbara, and an M.F.A. in 1968 from the Maryland Institute

College of Art, where she studied sculpture.” 1

- Known for her art works that incorporate nature and infrastructure and

their ecology throughout the space.

- One of the forefront female artists during the 1960’s / 70’s, combing

architecture, sculpture and and design of environmental landscapes.

- “More specifically, she treats the surface of the

landscape as a permeable skin, and pays particular

attention to places where the solid parts of the planet

meet the watery ones: riverbanks, lakefronts,

tidal basins, even an old swimming pool.”2

MARY MISS - “A lot of things I do are illusionistic or have been almost like

painting, like flattening something out while trying at the same time

to give the experience of space. I’m interested in that very thin line

that happens between these two different things,”3

*This idea of the thin line between two things that are the complete

opposites is seen throughout the open/enclosed and personal private

spaces. Miss brings two things together that are very different, and

uses their ecology to blend them together.

- Miss pays special attention to how a person moves throughout the

space.

- “Outside the gallery, sculpture has morphed into new genres and

forms like eco-art, community based art, public interventions, and

anti monuments. The discipline of sculpture, indeed the whole notion

of art, has been reinvented due to efforts of pioneers like Miss.” 8

*As well as being one of the first female installation artists of the

1960’s, Miss was also testing the waters in a new form of art –

breaking boundaries with forms of sculpture.

EVERYTHING IS EXPOSED.

- Grates used for floor and ‘roof’ on the lookout *On the lookout area, everything can be seen – behind, in front, above and below you. Miss has created a space that is somewhat transparent.

- Grates as walls to keep plants and water enclosed *The area that are closed off with the plants and water are made of grates. Although they are in their own spaces, what is separating them is see through.

- The under structure of the jetty / board walk*The artwork can be seen from every angle, both in terms of what Miss has designed and how each aspect physically exists in the space. The jetty is a perfect example of the way Miss shows the public what is beneath the surface – keeping to the theme of exposure.

- True colors of nature / steel wood *The installation is raw and true to its natural colors. It is organic and based around the ecology it continues to adapt to – both in terms of the blue water and the green plants.

VULNERABILITY - Nothing is hidden

*Nothing within the piece is hidden. Every area of the installation can

be seen from every angle. The walls, floors and roof like structures are made from grates which you can see through.

- It is outside for everyone to see*The artwork relies on environmental and human interaction. It is a living piece that depends on the ecology of what inhabits it.

- Plants / water*The site depends on the wildlife – without the plants and water it would just be a still structure

- Vulnerable to weather *Depending on the weather, the mood and tone of the space can drastically change.

- Exposed to be treated however *There is a constant movement throughout the space of both nature and the people who come to the site (People running, children playing).

PHYSICAL MOVEMENT / CIRCULAR ARCHITECTURE WITHIN THE SPACE - Plants moving in the wind / growing dying

*The site is a living place that relies on interaction from people and plants to keep it alive.

- Water rushing back and forth*There is a sound and smell element from the water and the leaves/plants rustling in the wind. The ecology of the space taps into many senses. Smell of the sea, sounds of leaves.

- Yin yang shape of the architecture, equal on both sides*Theme of balance and equality. Each element complements the other. There is water in the left section, surrounded by forest. And there is the plant section, surrounded by ocean.

- There are no edges or corners, the artwork is fluid and visible everywhere*There is no where for the artwork to not be seen, lookout provides another level

- It is curved, consists of wave like levels, flowing like the water*The framing of the water / plant sections, the stairs, the overpass and the jetty are all curved /spiral like with round edges and wave like levels

- Spiral motif, starting form the jetty*The piece continues out to the water where the jetty begins in a spiral pattern, framing the skyline view. The staircase to the lookout is also in a winding pattern.

INTERVIEW – MOTHER OF 2, JACKIE (APPROX. 40 YEARS OLD)

Grace: Do you come here often with your children?

Jackie: Yes, this is a regular spot, the kids love to ride around on their bikes.

Grace: It seems like you view South Cove as a place of exercise for you kids rather than an art

installation.

Jackie: Well, yes. It is a beautiful place, and very artistic, but I more treat it as a ‘park’ than an

art installation I come to look at.

Grace: When I say the word vulnerable, what comes to mind?

Jackie: Well, it reminds of the word ‘helpless’. For this place, the only vulnerable part would

probably be the location. It’s outside and unprotected from bad weather and animals. Also to

people littering.

Grace: I see. How do you think having natural, living things as part of the site works?

Jackie: I love it. It’s good to get back to nature, and I like for my kids to be able to see something

other than buildings every now and then. It’s nice to be by the water and have nature as part

of the site.

Grace: The site is quite industrial in terms of how it is built, using metals grates and poles of

wood for a lot of it’s form. How does this contrast the plants and water?

Jackie: I think they blend well. It leaves room to focus on the beautiful calm water and plants. I

don’t really pay attention to it cause it’s black and minimal, more just there for structure

rather than something nice to look at.

INTERVIEW – LUKE, REGULAR RUNNER (YOUNG ADULT)

Grace: Is this a regular running spot for you?

Luke: Yes! This has been my route for quite some time now, love the view.

Grace: How do you view South Cove?

Luke: It’s a nice spot to run by in the mornings and escape from the city hustle and bustle.

Grace: Did you know this is actually an art installation created by a female artist?

Luke: Sort of… I knew it had some relevance to art and architecture but not much about the

history of it.

Grace: Have you ever come to South Cove to admire the artistry and architecture?

Luke: I have to admit… I have not, but I might now that you mention it!

Grace: When I say exposure, what comes to mind?

Luke: That’s a tough one. Well, probably this entire place. If that’s not too broad.

Grace: What specifically?

Luke: I mean, there’s no roof or walls, the weather, everything is out in the open.

BIBLIOGPRAHY - The Cultural Landscape Foundation, http://tclf.org/pioneer/mary-miss (1)

- Mary Miss, Art in America, April 3 2013http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-features/magazine/mary-miss/ (2)

- Video Data Bank,http://www.vdb.org/titles/mary-miss-interview (3)

- Eekarchitectshttp://www.eekarchitects.com/portfolio/1-waterfronts/14-battery-park-city-south-cove (4)

- Downtown Express, South Cove in need of repair due to Hudson River’s fierce tides, August 10 2011http://www.downtownexpress.com/2011/08/10/south-cove-in-need-of-repair-due-to-hudson-river’s-fierce-tides/ (5)

- Mary Miss’s South Cove, Sculpture Nature, Jonathon Goodman, July 7 2015, http://www.sculpturenature.com/en/mary-misss-south-cove/ (6)

- South Cove, Battery Park City Parks, http://bpcparks.org/whats-here/parks/south-cove/ (7)

- Eleanor Heartney, Beyond Boundaries, (Princeton Architectural Press, 2004) 9