sees the presence of religion
and religious buildings at least
as backdrop, in these works. As
early as a 1987 interview at Cal
State Long Beach, Smyth stated:
"My work is about reverence,
not necessarily religious but an
expression of reverence as a
personal ideal." Is it a coincidence
that one of Smyth's most noted
works, a permanent installation
of colonnades at Battery Park
City, is entitled "Upper Room"?
I think not!
Smyth inhabited the heady art
world of SoHo in the 1970s, a
pure, pioneer era I remember,
creating minimalist works of
solemn architectural beauty:
Arches, Circles, Squares, among
other forms. In those days,
before Mammon invaded, Soho
was a slightly shadowy enclave
of loft buildings with a few
high quality, esoteric outposts,
notably the cafeteria restaurant,
FOOD, where Smyth worked. I
remember the food at FOOD as
excellent, wonderfully cooked
simple fare.
HYLAND
Nestle Standing hr
