Sheep Station

The cool thing about New York is the surprises you experience just by being there. After a nice walk along the High Line, we walked into a filling station, a Getty Station. A derelict station with a green garden. I count 25 sheep on the lawn.

I learned that 'Getty Station' is a public art program based at the former Getty filling station curated by the art collector Michael Shvo and Paul Kasmin Gallery to bring outdoor exhibitions to a broad audience. The program centers on site specific installations with the idea to present twentieth century art icons in a contemporary setting. The sheep are made of epoxy stone and bronze and are "Moutons" made by Les Lalanne. Les Lalanne refers to the french couple, Claude Lalanne (b. 1924)  and François-Xavier Lalanne (1927 - 2008). They're known individually and collectively since the 1960s. Les Lalanne developed a style that defines inventive, poetic and surrealist sculpture and both found inspiration for their works in nature.

On the wall by the station there is a street art work by JR and Jose Parla ('wrinkles of the city'). The street art, the industrial gas station architecture and the 'Moutons' creates a surrealist landscape in the middle of the city. ‘Moutons’ have become Lalanne’s most iconic work and the 'sheep station' installation gave us energy and started lively talk among us as we migrated further into the urban jungle.