How do you capture a city as frenetic as New York?
For the late artistMartha Diamond,it meant looking up.
Though sparse in detail, her buildings teem, as the city does, with life.
GROUNDEDMartha Diamond in her Bowery studio circa 1994.
Throughout her five-decade career, she didnt so much re-create what she saw as channel its slippery essence.
Her buildings sway in the wind and glisten in the light.
I think her work is still startling, sayspoet Eileen Myles, who was a longtime friend of Diamonds.
BROAD STROKESMartha Diamond’sUntitled(1973). Photographed by Jason Mandella.
Its there to wake people up.
BROAD STROKESMartha DiamondsUntitled(1973).
Photographed by Jason Mandella.
BRIDGE AND TUNNELMartha Diamond’sUntitled(1988–1993). Photographed by Jason Mandella.
All of a sudden we were in this milieu, says Dennis.
BRIDGE AND TUNNELMartha DiamondsUntitled(19881993).
Photographed by Jason Mandella.
The show at the Aldrich is a homecoming of sorts.
Diamond knew of the plans for this new survey before her passing.
She loved sharing her excitement about what she found beautiful, Dennis says.
Martha made the art partly to share it.
Like, Look at this, look at how amazing.
Look at this building.
