Chanel Park has arrived; Times' review declares it "a dubious undertaking" and "delusional"

The Chanel handbag advertisement… oops. I mean art installation… has landed in Central Park and will preside there until November 9th. The New York Times writer Nicolai Ouroussoff had some choice words for it last week, stating:

“…if devoting so much intellectual effort to such a dubious undertaking might have seemed indulgent a year ago, today it looks delusional.

It’s not just that New York and much of the rest of the world are preoccupied by economic turmoil, although the timing could hardly be worse. It’s that the pavilion sets out to drape an aura of refinement over a cynical marketing gimmick. Surveying its self-important exhibits, you can’t help but hope that the era of exploiting the so-called intersection of architecture, art and fashion is finally over.

And then:

Opening the pavilion in Central Park only aggravates the wince factor. Frederick Law Olmsted planned the park as a great democratic experiment, an immense social mixing place as well as an instrument of psychological healing for the weary. The Chanel project reminds us how far we have traveled from those ideals by dismantling the boundary between the civic realm and corporate interests.

So what’s the cost to place a 7,500 square foot ad in Central Park?

According to the July 25th Metro, “Chanel will reportedly pay the Central Park Conservancy at least a million dollars for a three-week stay, and the city will collect another $400,000.”

And the Tisch Family paid a paltry $2.5 million to get their name – arguably – forever on the Washington Square Park Fountain…?

Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe was asked by the New York Times back in July whether he “anticipated criticism for allowing Chanel to advertise one of its products in the park” to which he replied, “Everything has a sponsor.'”

Well at least everything under Parks Commissioner Benepe and Mayor Bloomberg.

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** This may just be the new “Waterfalls” — hopefully it won’t kill any trees or other living beings.

Note: I’m not advocating that people view this (I’d rather not give Mayor Bloomberg additional reason to tout economic benefits – of dubious projects – that don’t exist.  See also: Waterfalls) but, if you feel you must attend, the installation is free but tickets are reserved online.

* Read Metro’s July 25th story here.

* New York Times advance “slide show” of the “exhibit” which is equal parts art/spaceship/Chanel handbag ad.

*WSP Blog Previous post on this from July 25th.

Photo: Metro Photo Composite