6/26

I am the son and grandson of grocers.  Thus is the origin of my interest in demand and supply networks and most -- of any -- expertise.  I am a generalist in terms of how networks respond to duress and disruption.  But when it comes to groceries, I hope to to apply a bit more depth of understanding.

Given this context, I especially appreciate the new piece of public art erected on the Southeast Corner of Central Park (shown below).

According to the Public Art Fund:

MEMORIAL, by British artist David Shrigley (b. 1968, Macclesfield, UK), honors one of the most common of all acts: the writing of a grocery list. By engraving this ephemeral, throwaway list on a solid slab of granite, a material ubiquitous with the language of monuments, the artist humorously subverts both a daily routine and the role of the classic memorial. While Shrigley’s shopping list might appear to posture as a counter monument, through its celebration of a common activity, its anonymity, and absurdity, the sculpture becomes a memorial both to no-one and to everyone—perhaps standing as a simple but poignant ode to humanity.

It also strikes me as a meaningful reminder of how our greatest cities depend on the most quotidian of inputs.

The art will continue on view until February 12, 2017