Olympia Scarry, once a socialite, now an artist

The invitation may have listed a few featured artists: Susan Collis, Carol Bove, Xaviera Simmons, but the highlight of the current show at the Half Gallery in LES is clearly socialite — now evolved as artist — Olympia Scarry. (She is the granddaughter of children’s book author, Richard Scarry.)

One might doubt that this girl, born in Geneva, sent to boarding school, then living in Paris and London without university art training could turn out something notable. But, after assisting artist Matthew Barney — who creates full worlds of fantasy, gore, and feats of imagination — Scarry seems to be on to something. The show at Half centers around a rectangle molded in animal fat and Scarry’s own saliva. In fact, the sculpture is actually called “Saliva.” It tempts the senses since it resembles a cross between marble, your best milled French soap, and white chocolate. I heard one woman say, “I just want to lick it.”

In any case, Scarry is one to watch. Between Scarry’s beau, the show’s curator Neville Wakefield and her boss, Mr. Barney, I’ll have my eyes peeled. (Show goes until August 13th at Half Gallery, 208 Forsyth Street,  (Outtakes in slideshow below.)