Events & Things To Do

February 17, 2017

A photo-luminescent, solar canopy is coming to MoMA PS1 this summer

It never hurts to think of warmer months on days like today, and MoMA PS1's announcement of whose design will fill their courtyard this summer certainly does the trick. The winner of their 18th annual Young Architects Program is Jenny Sabin Studio. The Ithaca-based experimental architecture studio created "Lumen" in response to the competition's request for a temporary outdoor installation that provides shade, seating, and water, while addressing environmental issues such as sustainability and recycling. The result is a tubular canopy made of "recycled, photo-luminescent, and solar active textiles that absorb, collect, and deliver light."
More renderings and info on Lumen

February 16, 2017

Materials for the Arts offers free supplies to NYC public schools, nonprofits and artists

By Metro New York

On the third floor of an unassuming warehouse building in Long Island City is a cavern of creativity. Welcome to Materials for the Arts, which gathers discarded items from businesses and individuals from across the five boroughs and donates them to public schools, nonprofits and artists. MFTA’s 35,000-square-foot warehouse is a treasure trove, stuffed with […]

Events & Things To Do

Image: Jason Wyche, Public Art

February 16, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week – 2/16-2/22

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting events occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top picks for 6sqft readers! This week, the Red Bull space rechristens itself in style with a massive department store-style installation by Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard. Also this week, the Public Art Fund is battling advertisements with a city-wide ad screen takeover by 23 artists, while SVA’s Curatorial MA program hosts a panel about art and commodity. Buff Monster’s ice cream murals delve into the third dimension in a new sculptural pop-up, and William Binnie’s WINTER is coming to LMAK. LES gallery Pierogi welcomes a solo show by Elliott Green, and finally, The Museum of the City of New York celebrates the rich diversity that Muslims have brought to our city for generations in a new exhibit.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

Download free coloring books from the Met, New York Public Library, and more

Cover image (May 29, 1970) from “Black News” via Brooklyn Public Library (L); Arabesques via NYPL (R)

February 14, 2017

Download free coloring books from the Met, New York Public Library, and more

By Dana Schulz

Combining two trends--adult coloring books and open-access digital policies--#ColorOurCollections is a social media event during which 44 libraries, museums, archives, and cultural institutions from around the world are sharing free coloring pages based on materials in their collections. From the Brooklyn Public Library's 1970 "Black News" cover to the South Street Seaport Museum's ship diagrams to the New York Botanical Garden's floral illustrations, there's something for everyone.
More on the project

How the heart shape became a symbol of love

Via Etsy

February 14, 2017

How the heart shape became a symbol of love

By Diane Pham

Red and pink hearts are synonymous with love, romance, and, of course, Valentine's Day. But this hasn't always been the case. In fact, according to Eric Jager, author of "The Book of the Heart," the heart shape ❤ had nothing to do with love until after the 1300 and 1400s, when the ideas of devotion and intimacy started to manifest themselves in this singular concept.
more on the history of the romantic heart here

February 13, 2017

Tips and storage ideas for couples living in small apartments

By Annie Doge

6sqft’s series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week we offer up some tips for couples living together in a tiny pad. When New York City couples move in together, it often means searching for, or being absorbed into, a modest one-bedroom apartment. For many, taking this plunge will be both exciting (think of all that saved rent!) and excruciating, as sharing a space will mean compromises, fights over housework, and the paring down of personal items so everyone's stuff can fit. So for those about to take the plunge—and those who could benefit from a bit more squabble-proofing at home—we've culled a list of our favorite self-preservation and storage tips for shacking up in small apartments.
our top tips here

February 12, 2017

375,000 images now free from the Metropolitan Museum of Art

By Dana Schulz

The Times may have recently questioned whether or not the Metropolitan Museum of Art is "a great institution in decline" (referring to its $40 million deficit and decision to put on hold its $600 million expansion), but the paper is much more positive when reporting on the Met's new Open Access policy. This allows free and unrestricted use of 375,000 high-resolution images of artworks in their collection, ranging from paintings by Van Gogh, El Greco and DeGas to ancient Egyptian relics to classical furniture and clothing.
Find out more

Upcoming photo auction will include iconic images of NYC through the ages

Ormond Gigli (1925- ) Girls in the Windows, New York City. Image courtesy of Swann Galleries

February 9, 2017

Upcoming photo auction will include iconic images of NYC through the ages

By Michelle Cohen

An auction to be held at Swann Auction Galleries in Manhattan on February 14th will feature historic photos that capture the essence of New York City through the ages. The event, titled "Icons & Images: Photographs & Photobooks," will put up for bid everything from classics from 19th century portraiture to Edgar Allan Poe tintypes to Nan Goldin's evocative images of 1990s NYC. This will also be a rare opportunity to own a contemporaneous print of Lewis W. Hine's dramatic "Empire State Building," (c. 1930).
Preview the prints up for auction

Events & Things To Do

February 9, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for 2/9-2/15

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting events occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top picks for 6sqft readers! Love is in the air with Valentine's Day around the corner, and Times Square is proving that Love Trumps Hate with a day of weddings, engagements and of course public art. Brookfield Place is celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year with a site specific installation by Amy Kao, and the New York Transit Museum is celebrating the long-awaited opening of the Second Avenue Subway. The Center for Architecture is highlighting 20 talented African American Architects, and there's a 6,000-pound ice spectacle to be found in Central Park. More details on these events and a flurry of others ahead.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

February 8, 2017

10 alternative Valentine’s Day events for urbanists, historians, and art lovers

By Dana Schulz

Roses and chocolate are nice, but why go the traditional route when the city has so much more to offer for Valentine's Day. Show your significant other, spouse, or best friend how much they mean to you with one of these ten alternative events that 6sqft rounded up throughout the city. From a wastewater treatment plant tour, to after-hours museum visits, to a romantic evening at the planetarium, these are the perfect ideas for urbanists, historians, and art lovers.
All the events this way

Events & Things To Do

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week – 2/2-2/8

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting events occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top picks for 6sqft readers! Times Square is abuzz this month with a new film by Alex Da Corte for #Midnightmoment and the unveiling of the annual Valentine's sculpture—this year's piece an interactive work that honors the diversity that immigrants have brought to New York. Also this week, head to the National Arts Club for all the gossip Marie Antoinette shared with hairdresser; check out minimalist illustrators at Spoke Art; then stop by Lincoln Center for this year’s New York City Ballet artist collaboration. Untapped Cities is also offering an underground adventure that will take curious straphangers into the depths of the NYC Subway. Finally, treat yourself to the decadence that is The Art of Food at Sotheby’s, an evening of delicious treats inspired by master artworks made by leading chefs!
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Events & Things To Do

January 31, 2017

12 unique wallpaper ideas for renters and homeowners at every budget

By Elizabeth Finkelstein

6sqft’s series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week we get tips from historic interiors expert Elizabeth Finkelstein, founder of CIRCA, a curated historic house marketplace showcasing the most beautiful old homes for sale all across the country, and columnist at Country Living Magazine. She's rounded up some fun, beautiful, and modern wall treatments for renters and homeowners at every budget. If comparing paint samples makes you blue in the face (yes, there are indeed over fifty shades of grey), why not opt for wallpaper instead? It's fun, it's an instant conversation-starter, and we promise it'll look the same in every light. Grandma's favorite decorating staple is undergoing a fresh, modern renaissance–and thanks to some innovative artists designing with the renter in mind, it's easier than ever to install. From peel-and-stick options to those you can roll on with a brush, we've rounded up our favorite wall treatments for every budget!
See our top 12 picks here

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 1/26-2/1

Patrick Kwan

January 26, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 1/26-2/1

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top event picks for 6sqft readers! This week, take home a piece of Logan Hicks’ Bowery Wall at Taglialatella Gallery or a piece of Aurelie Guillaume’s jewelry at Reinstein Rose. Then experience the quiet beauty of horses at Emmanuel Fremin Gallery and express yourself at the Brooklyn Museum’s Art History Happy hour. Also this week, Korean artist Hyon Gyon gives insight into her latest exhibition at a talk at Shin Gallery, and Ricky Gervais hits the Times Center for what's sure to be a thought-provoking conversation. Finally, let out some aggression at the Lunar New Year Chinese Firecracker Festival and then wind down in the beautiful Albertine for a talk on the city everyone seems to be moving to, Los Angeles.
More on all the best events this way

January 25, 2017

7 easy ways to feng shui your apartment

By Hannah Frishberg

As intangible a concept as feng shui may seem, it all comes down to the basic idea of having a space you're happy to come home to because its energy is positive. "Feng shui is an ancient philosophy about how you can improve your life and create a space that supports and nurtures you," explained Anjie Cho, a New York-based architect, author, and founder of online mindfulness design blog and shop Holistic Spaces. Indeed, adjusting your apartment in just a few small and informed ways can make all the difference in the look and feel of your unit and, resultantly, your own wellbeing. Ahead are some ideas you can apply to your space, straight from a pro.
First off, take that mattress off the floor

January 20, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week – 1/19-1/25

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top event picks for 6sqft readers! The work of the wonderful Pipillotti Rist has won over New Yorkers at both the New Museum and in Times Square, and now a new event invites guests to hear from the artist herself as she closes out her much-lauded “Pixel Forest.” Also this week, Albertine at the French Embassy invites guests to their beautiful space for a talk between Frédéric Beigbeder and American novelist Jay McInerney on his new book. If you're searching for affordable art, you can grab a work for $120 while also supporting Planned Parenthood and the ACLU at the MF GALLERY in Gowanus. Finally, head to sister galleries Last Rites and Booth Gallery, to discover new photography, and a realist group show, respectively.
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Events & Things To Do

January 19, 2017

Gain free admission to these NYC cultural institutions on Inauguration Day

By Dana Schulz

A couple weeks ago, a long list of artists, including Cindy Sherman and Richard Serra, started a petition calling for cultural institutions to close on Inauguration Day as "an act of noncompliance" against "Trumpism." That list has grown to 740 artists and critics, and many galleries, museums, and academic spaces will shut their doors tomorrow according to the J20 Art Strike. But there's also a long list of museums and cultural institutions across the city that have decided to take an alternate approach and remain open, offering free admission and/or special programming. From a marathon reading of Langston Hughes’s"Let America Be America Again" at the Brooklyn Museum to special gallery tours at the Rubin, these are all the (free!) ways to use the arts as an outlet on Inauguration Day.
See the full list here

Events & Things To Do

January 13, 2017

Pieces of Thomas Heatherwick’s massive, climbable ‘Vessel’ arrive at Hudson Yards site

By Michelle Cohen

Back in September, Related Companies chairman Stephen Ross finally unveiled the large-scale artwork that would anchor the central public space within Hudson Yards. As Ross revealed, Thomas Heatherwick was chosen to design the piece, and it would cost an incredible $150 million to build. Dubbed "The Vessel,” the climbable sculpture would rise 16-stories—150 feet tall, 50 feet wide at its base and 150 feet wide at the top—and consist of a web of 154 concrete and steel staircases with 2,500 steps, 80 landings and an elevator; the piece, in fact, so massive that it could comfortably accommodate 1,000 visitors at a time. The sculpture was to be constructed in Monfalcone, Italy before being shipped to its home on the Hudson River. And now CityRealty reports that parts of what Ross once called "New York's Eiffel Tower" have officially arrived at the site and await assembly.
More photos this way

January 12, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week — 1/12-1/18

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Ahead Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer shares her top event picks for 6sqft readers! Get nasty this week with not only one, but two powerful group exhibitions featuring female artists who are biting back at The Untitled Space and The Knockdown Center in Queens. Get a curator’s insight on art history at The Met, then step into the future of art with a talk on virtual reality at The New Museum. David Zwirner welcomes the work of famed illustrators R. Crumb and his wife, and Canada Gallery discusses the work of Elizabeth Murray with Linda Yablonsky. Finally, educate yourself on New York history, first with an incredible photography show about New Yorkers in protest at the Bronx Documentary Center, then at UnionDocs for a film on the Lower East Side of yesteryear when squatters ruled the streets—and abandoned buildings.
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Events & Things To Do

January 11, 2017

Iconic ‘Miss Manhattan’ and ‘Miss Brooklyn’ statues return to the Manhattan Bridge

By Dana Schulz

“Miss Manhattan” by Daniel Chester French. It was originally alongside the Manhattan Bridge, but was moved to the entrance of the Brooklyn Museum. Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum. In the early 1900s, renowned sculptor Daniel Chester French was asked to create "two allegorical figures," a Miss Manhattan and a Miss Brooklyn, to stand at the Brooklyn entrance to the Manhattan Bridge. The granite women were removed, however, in the 1960s when Robert Moses decided to move them. They were then relocated to their current home at the Brooklyn Museum's entrance, but after a 10-year, $450,000 project, a resin replica of the original has returned to the bridge. As the Times tells us, sculptor and installation artist Brian Tolle (he's also responsible for the Irish Hunger Memorial) designed the new version to glow at night with interior LED lights and rotate "on two lamppost-like arms."
See the ladies in action

Events & Things To Do

January 9, 2017

Built in Poland and shipped in pieces, NYC’s biggest modular hotel project is 55 percent complete

By Michelle Cohen

The 20-story, 300-room project at 185 Bowery was constructed in Poland and shipped to New York in 210 pieces. Owned by Dutch hotel developer/operator Citizen M with Brack Capital Real Estate, the high-rise hotel at 185 Bowery is more than half done, reports the Wall Street Journal. It will be the largest permanent modular hotel project ever in NYC. Modular construction is more common in Europe; the developer already has nine hotels up and running and 14 in the works. They’ve used the technique of stacking sealed, factory-made units containing finished hotel rooms on the majority of those projects.
Check out photos of the sealed hotel pods arriving

January 5, 2017

Art Nerd New York’s top event picks for the week – 1/5-1/11

By Lori Zimmer

Happy New Year! New year, new month, new #Midnightmoment film in Times Square. This month Pipilotti Rist flattens and squishes her face each night across the screens in conjunction with her solo show at the New Museum. SF’s Spoke Art also opens a new show curated at Supersonic at their LES outpost, and Japanese artist Ayakamay examines media perception at The Lodge Gallery. But if you're looking for a throwback or something more low-key, hear from old school graffiti writers at Eric Firestone Gallery, or treat yourself to new and exciting film at the Museum of the Moving Image. Lastly, head to The City Reliquary to catch a screening about Philip Johnson’s iconic World’s Fair pavilion in Flushing Meadow, bring your ideas to The Center for Architecture, and then visit the Brooklyn Museum for free courtesy of Target.
More on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

January 5, 2017

Get 2-for-1 tickets at 74 museums, venues, tours during NYC Attractions Week

By Diane Pham

If you hate flying solo, this deal is for you. Starting January 17th, the city will kick off its first ever NYC Attractions Week, a 20-day (not 7!) extravaganza that will offer two-for-one admission at more than 70 New York destinations and experiences, including museums like the Guggenheim and Cooper Hewitt, rides to the top of the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center, access to Lincoln Center and The Metropolitan Opera House, and much more.
find out more and #seeyourcity

Ride Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel for free on New Year’s Eve

Image via Deno’s Wonder Wheel Amusement Park

December 29, 2016

Ride Coney Island’s Wonder Wheel for free on New Year’s Eve

By Dana Schulz

Since it opened on the Coney Island boardwalk in 1920, the landmarked Wonder Wheel has given more than 35 million rides. If you want to add to this number, a press release from Deno's Wonder Wheel tells us that it will offer free rides from 6 to 10pm on New Year's Eve. They'll also charge only $5 from 11am to 2pm on New Year's Day to coincide with the annual Polar Bear Plunge (50 percent of January 1st's profits will go to the Plunge's charity Camp Sunshine).
READ MORE

Events & Things To Do

December 29, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for New Year’s Eve 2017

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! With most of us ready to kick 2016 to the curb, there’s never been a better reason to get out and do something big for New Year’s Eve. This Saturday, put on something fancy/freaky/celebratory and get yourself to one of these amazing experiential parties. Take a cue from Dali at the Second Annual Surrealist Ball at the Roxy Hotel, or go Black Tie with Soho Grand’s Masquerade Ball. Expand your Sleep No More experience with their super fancy Bohemian Ball, or get a table at Mission Chinese for Luke Neocamp’s takeover. Hang all night at an art opening by Rae BK, or go the tourist way for the 112th New Year’s celebration in Times Square. Or if you’re in Brooklyn, head to The Well for a massive Tiki Disco, or to the immersive House of Yes for a party looking to the future. Whatever path you choose, happy New Year to all!
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Events & Things To Do

December 23, 2016

New Yorkers love ‘It’s a Wonderful Life:’ Mapping every state’s favorite holiday movie

By Dana Schulz

New Yorkers tend to be a distinct mix of cynicism and optimism, so it's not surprising that our favorite holiday movie is "It's a Wonderful Life," the classic Christmas tale of George Bailey being saved from his suicidal state by a guardian angel who helps him see the positive impact he's had in his life. This data comes from CableTV's fun map of every state's favorite holiday movie, which they arrived at by cross referencing AMC's top-rated holiday movies with state data over the past decade from Google Trends.
See the full map and find out the country's top pick