HIDDEN PICASSO

You've just stumbled across an actual 36-foot Picasso sculpture, hidden in the heart of New York City.

But before we take in the statue, have a look at the buildings surrounding it. This is the Silver Towers complex, a residential area for NYU students that was developed by world-renowned architect I.M. Pei. Pei was born in a small Chinese province in 1917, then migrated to the United States. He earned a degree in architecture from MIT in 1940, then earned a master's degree from Harvard in 1946. Keep in mind, this was during World War 2, when anti-Asian sentiments were at an all-time high. This was a truly remarkable achievement.

Other notable buildings he designed: The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, The Louvre Pyramid in Paris, and... wait for it... the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, where so much priceless memorabilia from CBGB's is on display. Don't you just love how these dots keep connecting?

Now, about this statue... Take a minute to walk all the way around it as this plot thickens.

The Bust of Sylvette was physically created by Norwegian artist / sculptor Carl Nesjar, based on Pablo Picasso's exact designs and specifications. These two artists had a very close professional relationship and collaborated on many projects together. This sculpture was completed in 1968 and is based on a series of paintings and drawings of a young French woman named Sylvette David (later known as Lydia Corbett). She was Picasso’s muse in the mid-1950s.

Sylvette caught Picasso’s eye due to her strikingly beautiful appearance, particularly her distinctive blonde ponytail, which became a central element in the series of about 40 artworks he created that were directly inspired by her. And the combination of all of these works is known as the "Sylvette series."

Despite being his muse and spending considerable time with him during the creation of the "Sylvette series," Picasso's most famous model later emphasized that their relationship did not involve any romance or physical intimacy. On his character, Sylvette said "He was very kind and respectful. There was a certain magic in the air when he worked. He had a way of making you feel special, as if you were contributing to something greater."

As you walk around the sculpture, see if you can make out Sylvette's ponytail. It's almost as if this incredible sculpture unwraps itself to reveal a new dimension every time I see it.