Park Avenue Skyscrapers Move to Southampton

Skyscrapers are rising on North Sea Road in Southampton Village — though the tallest is under 20 feet.

They are, in fact, sculptures that represent real New York City iconic buildings. Three are displayed outside 200 North Sea Road, a historic power plant that is now the Keszler Gallery. Two more of the pieces by Cuban artist Alexandre Arrechea are on display inside, and gallery manager Christopher Arnold said he is expecting more skyscraper sculptures, of a smaller scale, will be coming soon.

The big sculptures are five of 20 that were on display along Park Avenue last month, Arnold said. Work on Park Avenue may only begin after 10 p.m., he noted, so the sculptures had to be taken down in the dead of night.

The steel and aluminum works are part of Arrechea's "No Limit" series. The Empire State Building is refashioned in the shape of The Pentagon, the Hemsley building is in a circle, and the U.S. Courthouse can be titled up and down. The Citigroup and MetLife buildings are placed on tops that can be spun with the touch of a finger.

The designs represent the "elasticity of rigid structures," Arnold said, and the Pentagon-shaped Empire State Building is a commentary on government involvement in the economy.

Arnold said the sculptures had to be refurbished after their move, and they were kept out of sight on the side of the building. "We didn't want people to see them until the last possible second."

Then a couple days ago, they were put in place by cranes.

The exhibition, in conjunction with Magnan Metz gallery on 26th Street, opens July 20 with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. and will last about a month. The former power plant has been refinished, with half looking like an upscale building and half keeping the look of a factory.

Arrechea's watercolors and lithographs will also be displayed during the exhibition..