Picasso's Classical Period and Al Taylor's Wire Instruments Exhibited in New York Galleries

Two concurrent exhibitions in New York explore classical themes through modern art. At C & M Arts on 45 East 78th Street, 'Picasso: The Classical Period' presents serene works created after the artist's travels to Rome and Pompeii, including the delicate painting 'Baigneuse a la Serviette de Bain' on handmade paper. This exhibition, running through December 5, 2003, also features Greek and Roman sculptures loaned from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Nearby at Lawrence Markey gallery on 42 East 76th Street, 'Al Taylor: Wire Instruments, 1989-90' showcases the late artist's sculptures and drawings from November 13 to December 20, 2003. Taylor's works, constructed from found wood and wire, resemble abstracted lyres and evoke ancient temple architecture. Both exhibitions connect to contemporary engagement with classical antiquity, as seen in Anne Carson's recent translation of Sappho's fragmented poetry, 'If Not, Winter,' which uses page layout to emphasize textual absence. Picasso's classical period works demonstrate sculptural solidity in depictions of heads, drapery, and bodies, while Taylor's instruments suggest a lyrical, heroic quality reminiscent of ancient musical accompaniment.