I went to the Museum of the City of New York. It's at Fifth Ave. and 104th street. I decided to go basically because I had never been there. Joel Grey, famous for his performance in the movie of Cabaret has been taking pictures of the city for years and some of them are on display. His career is also on display as a Joel Grey timeline. There are some other exhibits but the one I liked was a 30 minute film of the history of the city, narrated by Stanley Tucci. I left and decided to walk as much of the way home as I could. Made it to 2nd Ave. and 28th street; got the bus, and then walked from 14th street.
This is Ai Weiwei's 'Zodiac, Circle of Heads'. He is a Chinese artist and dissident who was imprisoned by the Chinese, and charged with tax evasion. He was released from confinement last month but is forbidden to leave the country. Today's N.Y. Times reports he has accepted an invitation to teach in Germany.
Another Chinese dissident, the writer Liao Yiwu, who was imprisoned and tortured in the 1990's for writing poems deploring the suppression of students in Tienanmen Square spent 4 years in prison. Due to the abuse and torture he received, he had several mental breakdowns and attempted suicide twice. When he was released his wife and daughter left him and his literary friends kept their distance. He lived for awhile on the streets as a homeless musician. Liao escaped to Germany on 7/6/2011.
The streets are a museum of art and history.
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