Events &amp; Things To Do

Cities for Tomorrow is back again for its second year, and we’ve teamed up with the New York Times to give one lucky 6sqft reader a free pass (worth $595!) to the event taking place July 20th–21st in Midtown Manhattan. Join leaders in the real estate, architecture and urban planning fields such as New York City’s police commissioner, […]

July 9, 2015

POSH City Club Aims to Upgrade Your Public Restroom Experience

By Shiloh Frederick

At any given time there are well over one million people in Manhattan who aren't Manhattan residents. This figure, obtained from a report from NYU's Wagner School of Public Service, accounts for tourists and commuting workers from the suburbs and the outer boroughs. That being said, non-residents don't usually have the luxury of popping home to drop off a few things, using a clean restroom, or especially showering. POSH City Club, a luxury storage and bathroom facility, plans to change that.
Learn more about this innovative startup here

July 9, 2015

EVENT: Is Historic Preservation Elitist?

Many folks argue that historic preservation is elitist, time-consuming, expensive and a drain on resources, further claiming that it’s a whole lot easier, cheaper and more practical to replace an old building with something new—especially when that means more housing. However, on the other side of that coin is the argument that historic districts and the architecture preserved within them are […]

July 8, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 7/9-7/15

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 end of week picks for 6sqft readers! Summer jams mean we do things a little differently in the art world, assuming most of the population escapes the hot city streets each weekend. Thursday and Friday nights are the art-heavy celebrations of the art openings we love to see and be seen at. Explore the pop-color collage world of Anthony Iacono, or a real life Facebook status as performed by Katya Grokhovsky, or become part of the performance with Quinn Dukes' "Mapping Ritual." Friday it's time for the je ne sais quois, first with an exhibition and Edith Piaf's 100th birthday at Dejavu Gallery, then a free screening of a Tunisian love triangle, "Goha." If you're still around Saturday, spend the day meeting your makers at Open House New York's open studios across the city, or settle into the air conditioning of the Guggenheim and explore the wild wild world of Matthew Barney in an all-day film screening.
Get the details on all these events here

Events & Things To Do

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 7/2-7/8

Image via Michael Dougherty/flickr

July 2, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 7/2-7/8

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 which start tonight! Of course, July 4th is on everyone's mind this weekend. If you're not into battling the crowds along the East River to see the fireworks (of if you're not lucky enough to have east-side roof access!), we've rounded up some patriotic alternatives for festive Independence Day fun, including the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, a ride aboard a replica 1780 sailboat, and music and fireworks at the Seaport. If you're going to be out on the Island, be sure to check out the ArtHamptons fair. And before we celebrate our own independence, let's not forget about our neighbors to the north; an exhibit at Westbeth marks Canada Day with pieces from Canadian artists. Next, shift gears to Copenhagen, as this month's #MidnightMoment in Times Square will transport New Yorkers to the Danish city. There's also the "Summer Show" with Jorge Pardo, Jon Pylypchuk, and Dirk Skreber at the Petzel Gallery, free public hours at the Judd Foundation and a giant installation art exhibit at the Knockdown Center.
Get the details on all these events here

Events & Things To Do

July 1, 2015

POLL: Are You Traveling for July 4th or Staying in the City?

As the week goes on and we get closer to the July 4th holiday, the city seems to be emptying out little by little. But here in our office, the consensus is that it’s going to be a staycation weekend. While hopping on the Hampton Jitney and getting away to the beach to eat some hot […]

Events & Things To Do

June 26, 2015

Moooi Makes Stunning Photorealistic Carpets Using iPhone Photos

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Dutch design is famous for its daring, playful, and smart solutions, and these photorealistic carpets by Moooi completely exemplify that esthetic. The furniture and lighting brand recently launched Moooi Carpets, a sister company with an advanced print-on-demand technology that allows people to design their own rug -- or choose one from its Signature Collection by the likes of Ross Lovegrove or Christian Lacroix. Featuring extreme high definition and available in immense dimensions that could cover floors, walls, and ceilings, these stunning carpets might be setting a new trend for interior decoration.
Learn more about these customizable carpets

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/25-7/1

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 which start tonight! The dominating celebration of this week and weekend is of course NYC Pride, a city-wide, days-long series of festivities celebrating LGBT, diversity and an overall message of LOVE. If you can't take the crowds during the iconic March, make sure not to miss the screening of "Paris is Burning," which will include a reunion with original cast members. On the art side, enjoy a survey of stencil art at Dorian Grey, while the Gladstone Gallery will be transforming its walls into literal art works. The Lower East Side Printshop shows off its most recent artists in residence, and Chashama's Harlem space will be hosting a show about Spinozan ethics (go to at least find out what that means). Artist Andrew Jeffrey Wright blends art, comedy and a dance party (together at last!) and innovative fashion collective threeASFOUR creates a fashion-meets-art installation for you and your dog on the beach in Fire Island.
All the best events here

Events & Things To Do

First Look: Andrés Jaque’s Wild, Water-Purifying ‘COSMO’ Now Open at MoMA PS1!

Photo © Miguel de Guzman

June 24, 2015

First Look: Andrés Jaque’s Wild, Water-Purifying ‘COSMO’ Now Open at MoMA PS1!

By Shiloh Frederick

"COSMO" has officially brought the party to MoMA PS1. The winning project of MoMA PS1's 16th Young Architects Program (YAP) is now open for public viewing in the museum affiliate's courtyard. "COSMO: Give me a pipe and I will move/celebrate the Earth," which was designed by Andrés Jaque/Office for Political Innovation, is a moveable artifact made from customized irrigation components that puts out an effort to make visible–and enjoyable–the hidden urbanism of the water pipes we live by. We stopped by the courtyard earlier today as "COSMO" got its finishing touches, and we must say, this installation looks as incredible as its renderings.
Your first look here

June 23, 2015

Join Global Architecture, Urban Planning and Real Estate Pundits at the NYT’s Cities for Tomorrow Conference

The New York Times Cities For Tomorrow conference is back again and better than ever, this time promising to deliver even more riveting talks centered on the forward-thinking innovations that are rapidly reshaping the world as we know it. This year, join Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman as he leads the two-day event, running July […]

June 23, 2015

Illustrator Federico Babina Reimagines Famous Directors as Architecture

We've seen famous buildings inspired by inanimate objects, and architecture likened to food, but here are 27 buildings that personify the style of the world's most-noted movie directors. In a fun series called "ARCHIDIRECTOR," Barcelona-based architect-turned-illustrator Federico Babina envisions everyone one from Michel Gondry to the Coen brothers to Stanley Kubrick as fanciful architectural structures that borrow from the imagery of their subjects' most popular films.
Check out all of the posters here

What’s the Meaning Behind Those Peculiar Red Frames Found in Union Square Station?

Images by This Hidden City

June 19, 2015

What’s the Meaning Behind Those Peculiar Red Frames Found in Union Square Station?

You've surely walked past these bright red frames beneath 14th Street-Union Square numerous times, but probably haven't given much thought to why they are there—or if you have, you've likely just assumed they were another one of the city's unfinished construction projects. But as it turns out, these seemingly simplistic outlines hold great significance, each piece pointing to a very special time in New York's transportation history.
Find out more here

June 18, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/18-6/24

The summer sun means the vibrant River to River Festival is back again, bringing 60 free events to landmarks, venues and performance spaces around Lower Manhattan (see the top two images for a sampling). You're in store for eclectic art experiences this week. Finish off your new Mark John Smith obsession at his large scale exhibition, "TOTALSMIT," or explore the changing Lower East Side through the work of Clayton Patterson. Go outside the box for your art fix and enter a seedy Japanese nightclub in the basement of Castor Gallery tonight, a faux-gift shop at Redbull Studios, or an actual abandoned bank in the Bronx. Finish it off with two great museums—a dance performance by the Merce Cunningham Company at the new Whitney, or a film program at the Guggenheim!
All the best events here

June 18, 2015

This Poster Displays All 468 Subway Station Signs

For all intents and purposes, we do not want any visual of the subway hanging in our apartments. The grimy stations don't really complement our decor, and we'd prefer not to be reminded of the daily bloodbath that is trying to squeeze onto the 6 train. But this poster is the exception to our no-MTA-in-the-house rule. Printed using 11 Pantone® spot colors, this snappy piece of wall art displays all 468 subway station signs throughout the city, arranged in alphabetical order. It was designed by Hamish Smyth, one member of the duo who reprinted Massimo Vignelli's iconic Standards Manual last year. Once again inspired by Vignelli's graphic visual approach, Smyth created the new poster because he feels "this is an iconic design that should be remembered and celebrated, and we think a beautifully printed poster is a great way to get it into many people's hands."
Find out how to get your own copy and watch a video from the design team

Photo via Garrett Ziegler/Flickr

June 15, 2015

5Pointz Artists Sue Developer for Whitewashing Iconic Graffiti Facade

Photo via Garrett Ziegler/Flickr It's been 19 months since the 5Pointz graffiti mecca was secretly whitewashed overnight by the developers who have since razed the site to make way for the two residential towers that will replace it. Then, to pour salt in the wound, this past November G&M Realty announced that they planned to use the iconic 5Pointz name for their new project, infuriating the artists whose work adorned the building and leading them to launch a petition to stop the title. Now, the plot has thickened. Nine graffiti artists filed a lawsuit on Friday "seeking unspecified damages from the owner who whitewashed away their artwork," reports the Daily News. The plaintiffs claim they're owed financial compensation as they were not given the opportunity to retrieve their work, much of which could have ended up in museums or the artists' personal collections. The lost collection amounts to more than 350 graffiti pieces.
More details here

June 12, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Al Diaz on NYC Street Art and Working with Jean-Michel Basquiat

Artist Al Diaz is often asked to speak at panel discussions about Jean-Michel Basquiat or to lend his expertise for new exhibits about the world-famous artist. But Diaz was just as much a part of the downtown street art movement as his buddy Basquiat; in fact, the two got involved with the art form together. They met in high school and created the tag SAMO©, which appeared throughout lower Manhattan between 1977 and 1979 and put them on the map. They were first-generation NYC subway graffiti artists, and Diaz later became a text-oriented street artist. Today, you'll see his hand in the subway again with his WET PAINT series, which uses individually-cut-out letters to create "clever, surreal and sometimes poignant anagrams." We recently chatted with Al Diaz to get the inside scoop on street art history in New York City, what it was like to work with Basquiat, and how he and his art work are much more than a shadow of his famous friend.
Read the full interview here

June 11, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/11-6/17

This week I invite you to enjoy a free glass of wine while getting to know my curatorial side at the Roger Smith Hotel in Midtown. A shameless self-promotion, I'm excited to bring the work of Mark John Smith before the eyes of 47th Street. If you don't feel like meeting me, you can still catch Smith's work along with his colleagues on Rivington Street, or sample an interactive experience at the Park Avenue Armory. This week you can also catch a sample of short films about street dancing (What time is it? IT'S SHOW TIME!), or gear up on the joys of tech and design at the Hudson 3D fest in Lower Manhattan. Saturday, get outside and celebrate street art in Astoria, or take Van Alen-led tours of Central Park.
All the best events here

Events & Things To Do

June 9, 2015

Luxury Parisian Hotel May Be Coming to Chetrit’s Sony Building Conversion

It's definitely been a big number game at Chetrit's Sony Building conversion–from the 96 luxury condos they'll add to floors 14 to 33 of the 37-story tower, to the planned $1.8 billion sellout, to the $150 million triplex penthouse, which, if sold, would be both the city's priciest unit in history (if not eclipsed by the $175 million unit at 220 Central Park South) as well as the largest at 21,504 square feet. And now the Post reports that Chetrit is going to up the ante at 550 Madison Avenue by turning part of the commercial space on the lower floors into a luxury Parisian hotel.
Get the scoop

June 5, 2015

Inventor D.H. Burrell’s Little Falls Mansion Will Transport You Back to the Victorian Age

By Shiloh Frederick

Comfortably nestled within the Mohawk Valley in upstate New York, the Burrell Overlook Mansion is seemingly untouched by time. This former farmstead built between 1886-1889 was the home of inventor and engineer D.H. Burrell. Burrell, a quirky genius in his own right, paired the Victorian mansion with a self-sustaining hydroelectric power generator that amazingly remains functional to this day. But while the mansion once served as a playground for madcap ideas, today it operates as a peaceful bed and breakfast and historical hideaway for those passing through the valley. And now, for a mere $725,000, you can make this beauty your very own personal retreat.
Read more about this historic home

June 4, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 6/4-6/10

Kim Gordon, the unstoppable, inspirational Jane-of-all-trades leads the week with the opening of her latest fine art exhibition—as if playing in two bands and penning a best-selling memoir were not enough already. Novice art collectors can have their day at Cotton Candy for their very popular annual Tiny Trifecta, where all works by renowned artists are just $100. And being thrifty is in the air with the Museum Mile Festival which is offering free admission to nine museums along 5th Avenue. But if art isn't your thing, there's still lots more to do: get cultured with a French flick in Washington Square Park, or schooled at Lost Lectures as it returns to a secret, former ship-building warehouse somewhere in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
All the best events here

Events & Things To Do

June 4, 2015

Ai Weiwei and HHF’s Artfarm Displays Contemporary Chinese Art Inside an Agricultural Building

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

HHF Architects and Ai Weiwei have come up with a super cool, ready-made and affordable solution for an art gallery in a rural environment. They blended art and a farm, resulting in Artfarm. Using a pre-engineered agricultural structure commonly used in the area, they created a versatile and expansive display for the public exhibition of Chinese art from private collections worldwide.
Learn more about this rural art gallery in upstate NY

May 29, 2015

Fantasy Floorplans Bring to Life Your Favorite TV Show Homes from ‘Friends’ to ‘Mad Men’