You would be forgiven for thinking--as I immediately did--that this splendid sculpture titled Mother Earth by artist Kris Perry was part of one of the grand Socialist Modernism IG offerings for it has all the hallmarks of one of these monuments that still populate the Eastern bloc countries. The Museum of Modern Art did a whole show of these in their marvelous Concrete Utopia exhibition of 2018--this ersatz steel rocket-ship would fit right in. But no: you can see it right now at Rockaway Beach where it's just been installed, a fitting monument to the open access beach that has served for so many years as the Hamptons alternative. The NYC Parks Department’s Art in the Park program is to be commended for the bold vision of its choice and installing this beauty in the midst of pandemic, a sight for sore, socially-distant eyes. But why only for one year Parks Department? Another wonderful steel sculpture, the Unisphere is still extant, though the Trylon and Perisphere were alas destroyed after the fair. Don't make the same mistake!

All photos of Mother Earth by Angus Mordant.