Herb Alpert Sculptures to be Displayed in Dante Park, ACA Galleries this Month

Three of Alpert's tall black bronze totems, Spirit Totems, will be on exhibit in Dante Park at West 64th Street, between Columbus Avenue and Broadway, on January 25 - April 15, 2014. "I spent time looking all over New York City for the ideal place for the Spirit Totems. I fell in love with Dante Park because it is an open thoroughfare where the sculptures are visible with a connection to jazz at Lincoln Center," says Herb Alpert. The large totems are being transported by truck to Manhattan from Malibu, California, for the exhibition. Grace 2006 - 15 feet 8 inches, Freedom 2011 - 16 feet 9 inches, and Gratitude 2009 - 17 feet 2 inches.

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation's Art in the Parks program has consistently fostered the creation and installation of temporary public art in parks throughout the five boroughs. Since 1967, collaborations with arts organizations and artists have produced hundreds of public art projects in New York City parks. For more information visit www.nyc.gov/parks/art

"The black totem sculptures" says Alpert "are pieces made of bronze with a black patina and began life as 12 inch hand-sculpted clay forms. Gigantic-sized incarnations were then shaped by hand as well, before being molded and cast in bronze. Each piece takes as long as 3 months to complete." Alpert, inspired by the totem poles of the indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest, began work on the series back in 2000. The totems aesthetic has been described as "frozen smoke," with Alpert himself comparing the spontaneity of their design to his improvisational work as a jazz musician.

On January 16th the ACA Galleries, Chelsea, New York, will present a large selection, 14 total, of smaller, 3 - 4 feet tall bronze totems, and bronze maquettes by Herb Alpert. The ACA Galleries exhibit is titled Totems and Deities and is a joint exhibit with artist Anita Huffington. The exhibit is on view throught March l, 2014.

Alpert's paintings and sculptures have been exhibited at museums and galleries in the U.S. and Europe.

Alpert, eight-time Grammy winner, was just honored with a fresh Grammy nomination, "Best Pop Instrumental Album," for his latest album Steppin' Out which explores standards from the American Songbook and features his wife, the Grammy-winning vocalist Lani Hall. Since Herb Alpert first introduced the Tijuana Brass with its signature sound, it has grown into a global phenomenon. He has sold over 75 million records. He is the only artist in history to have a #1 record as a singer and as an instrumentalist. Watch Video "Puttin' on the Ritz"

Photo by Philipp Scholz Ritterman