A few weeks ago I received a call from my friend Josh Young of Serett Metal Works asking if I’d document the completion and installation on Park Avenue from 53rd to 67th Streets of the ‘No Limits’ sculptures he was fabricating for Alexandre Arrechea. The ten sculptures are based around well known buildings in NYC: the Chrysler Building, Citicorp Center, Empire State Building, Flatiron building, Helmsley Building, MetLife Building, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, Seagram Building, Sherry Netherland, and the US Courthouse.
Of course I responded in the affirmative as Josh is my oldest friend in NYC and builds extremely cool stuff. I took these pictures over the course of three nights, two of which were very long and exhausting for everyone concerned. Some of these pieces are seriously huge – the ‘Helmsley’ weighs 4.5 Tonnes and took close to 2 1/2 hours to maneuver through the doors of the workshop as it could only fit at a 45 degree angle.
Finishing the base of the ‘Seagram’ sculpture at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Cleaning up the ‘Helmsley’ sculpture prior to painting at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Painting the ‘Empire State’ sculpture at the Serett Metal Workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Painting the ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Cutting holes in the baseplate of the ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Cutting holes in the baseplate of the ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Finishing the Pods which will go at the base of the ‘Citigroup’ and ‘Metlife’ sculptures once they are installed on Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young getting ready to move the ‘Empire State’ sculpture at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Empire State’ sculpture at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Empire State’ sculpture at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young of Serett Metal Works moving the ‘Empire State’ sculpture off the truck at 64th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Empire State’ sculpture off the truck at 64th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young of Serett Metal maneuvering the ‘Empire State’ sculpture into position at 64th St on Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young of Serett Metal bolting the ‘Empire State’ sculpture into position at 64th St on Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Artist Alexandre Arrechea in front of his ‘Flatiron’ sculpture at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Fabricator and Serett Metal owner Josh Young at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The ‘Flatiron’ sculpture waiting to be placed on the truck outside the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The ‘Flatiron’ sculpture being maneuvered onto the truck outside the Serett Metal workshop by Josh Young © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Seagram’ sculpture out of the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Gallery owner Alberto Magnan helping balance the ‘Seagram’ sculpture on its way out of the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The ‘Seagram’ sculpture waiting to be lowered on the truck outside the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The ‘Seagram’ sculpture being maneuvered onto the truck outside the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Chrysler’ sculpture out of the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young moving the 3 Tonne ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture into position so it can fit through the doors at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young moving the 3 Tonne ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture into position so it can fit through the doors at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young moving the 3 Tonne ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture into position so it can fit through the doors at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young using the forklift to push the 3 Tonne ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture out of the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture being moved out of the way outside the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young moving the 4.5 Tonne ‘Helmsley’ sculpture so it can fit through the doors at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young moving the 4.5 Tonne ‘Helmsley’ sculpture so it can fit through the doors at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Josh Young moving the 4.5 Tonne ‘Helmsley’ sculpture so it can fit through the doors at the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The two forklifts push the 4.5 Tonne ‘Helmsley’ sculpture out through the doors of the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The truck backs underneath the 4.5 Tonne ‘Helmsley’ sculpture outside the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The ‘Helmsley’ sculpture being maneuvered onto the truck outside the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture being moved on top of the ‘Helmsley’ sculpture on the truck outside the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture on top of the ‘Helmsley’ sculpture on the truck outside the Serett Metal workshop © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The fully laden truck leaving the Serett Metal workshop. Two inches clearance was available on either side © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The truck arrives at 66th St and Park Avenue to deposit the ‘Chrysler’ sculpture © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Chrysler’ sculpture into position at 66th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Preparing to insert the central axle to stabilize the ‘Chrysler’ sculpture in position at 66th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The ‘Chrysler’ sculpture in position at 66th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The crane lifting the ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture off the truck at 59th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture into position at 59th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture into position at 59th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Bolting the ‘Sherry Netherland’ sculpture into position at 59th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Flatiron’ sculpture off the truck at 61st St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Flatiron’ sculpture into position at 61st St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Bolting the ‘Flatiron’ sculpture into position at 61st St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Seagram’ sculpture off the truck at 55th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Moving the ‘Seagram’ sculpture into position at 55th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Securing the ‘Seagram’ sculpture in position at 55th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Lifting the ‘Helmsley’ sculpture off the truck at 65th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Maneuvering the ‘Helmsley’ sculpture into position at 65th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Bolting the ‘Helmsley’ sculpture into position at 65th St and Park Avenue © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
Shane riding the crane above the ‘Helmsley’ sculpture at 65th St and Park Avenue to remove the straps © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The crew that installed the Park Avenue Sculptures by artist Alexandre Arrechea and fabricated by Joshua Young of Serett Metal © Andrzej Liguz/moreimages.net. Not to be used without permission
The sculptures are in place between 54th St and 67th St on Park Avenue until June 9th. If you are in NYC go and check them out as they look truly magnificent. To see more extensive documentation of this process, check out this gallery on my website. And over the next couple of days I will be posting pictures of these cool sculptures in situ.
