Clouds Over Sutton Place

There are two Sutton Place Parks: The larger one, at the far east end of 57th Street in Manhattan, is temporarily closed for renovation. It is going to be expanded and will become part of a more extensive park along the East River. The smaller one, which I'll call Sutton Place Park Jr., is at the foot of East 53rd Street and is a pleasant triangle with excellent river views. It is noisier than "Sr.," because it is lower down and closer to FDR Drive traffic. Still, it's very pleasant, and one can watch boats go by. On a day like the one pictured, who needs to leave Manhattan? 

When a woman carrying her pet hyacinth macaw sat down near me yesterday in Sutton Place Park, I immediately consulted Google on my iPhone for more info about this bird. It appears that they make good pets if you don't mind being bitten occasionally. They survive mainly on nuts, and can cost as much as $10,000 to purchase. Needless to say, there are not all that many private owners of hyacinth macaws, although anything goes in New York. It appears that the bird owner was conferring with the owner of the cute lap dog about the merits of each pet. The gorgeous macaw is about the largest parrot and regularly makes itself known by loud squawking, as was evident yesterday. The owner kept stroking the bird as if it were a cat. These birds become very attached to their owners and need a lot of personal attention. They can learn a few words, but don't talk as much as other parrots. Maybe that's a good thing.

This is Seated Ballerina. It's 45 feet tall and inflated. Has to be taken down in bad weather. Not sure why; perhaps, despite its size, it could be blown over and hit some innocent passers-by. Most passers-by may not quibble over the sculpture. I like it almost as much as Koons's Puppy, the giant flower-covered terrier exhibited in Rockefeller Center some years back:

Puppy was also exhibited in various other locations here and abroad. The ballerina was inspired by a porcelain figurine. Like a lot of dance art, the artist didn't get some details right, e.g., ribbons on pointe shoes are not tied that way. However, it and the puppy are a lot of fun. There's plenty of room for lighthearted art, and we need a lot of cheering up these days.