The Periodical Table

Setting aside the Obama story (for now), the now-famed issue of the New Yorker is noteworthy on a couple of other counts.

This piece of artwork in the art listings caught my eye. It's by Pepe Villegas, and it's called "Sears Tower, 1997."

It's from an exhibition Villegas has running at the Charles Cowles Gallery in Chelsea. Here's what his website says about it:

"The exhibition, The Will of an Epoch, consists of the first series of photographic assemblage of architectural iconic structures that objectify the identity and consciousness of a moment in modern society.

"The chosen eight structures, from the architectural expressionism of Eero Saarinen's TWA Terminal to the environmental consciousness of Renzo Piano's New York Times Building, embody a physical impression of a manifestation contemporary to its place and time.

"The title of this series is inspired by a segment of a quote by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who envisioned a need for an architecture expressive of and in harmony with his epoch.

"This series concept is to personalize and immortalize a visual presentation of popular landmarks, 'highlighted' amidst their urban context by incorporating their character in oneness through the application of vivacious colors from curious angles, emphasizing their identity by a technique that blends both the negative and positive essence, creating a contrasting perception respectively, resulting in a provocative ensemble.

"Ultimately, to celebrate and acknowledge their iconic relevance, anchoring the observer psychologically in the liveliness of a place and an era of socio-economical transformation in mankind."

You might also recognize the building used on this invitation.