SATURDAY: Sketch the Naked Beauty

Saturday, August 1, 2015

Before and After

The restored building is a vision of beauty that must be sketched.

Yes, ... sketch the Naked Beauty of Saint Patrick's Cathedral.  The scaffolding is finally down and the Cathedral has been restored to it's pristine beauty.

As the NY Post reported,. "The venerable house of worship unveiled a brighter new pressure-washed Fifth Avenue facade ... tearing down the scaffolding that masked it for more than two years."  The transformation has been stunning.

Restoration Transformation from St. Patrick's Cathedral on Vimeo.

Watch St. Patrick's Tuckahoe marble become white again 

in this time lapse video. 

Learn more about the restoration here: http://www.saintpatrickscathedral.org

HISTORY
The cornerstone of St. Patrick’s Cathedral was laid in 1858 and her doors swept open in 1879.  The Cathedral serves more than five and a half million visitors each year.

Constructed of marble quarried at Tuckahoe NY the stone varies in color from a light gray to light green to a bluish white or the brilliant white and has been used in many prominent NYC buildings including the Federal Hall located across the street from the NY Stock Exchange on Wall Street.

It was announced in 2012 that the Cathedral would undergo a massive five-year, three-phase, $175 million renovation because of crumbling bricks, faulty heating, and acid rain and pollution that has eaten away at the marble of the 135-year-old church. Passing the site on Fifth Avenue viwers could see the work which  involve repairing, restoring, and cleaning the soot-covered exterior, and an extensive cleaning of the outside and inside surfaces of the stained glass windows.

DETAILS:

When:  Saturday at 10 AM.  Sleeping late?  Come join us when you can.

Where:  We will meet across the street from the Cathedral on Fifth Ave between 50th and 52st Streets.  There is an alcove area with an Art Deco statue of Atlas holding the world.  We'll be there. (see picture above)

How:  Loads of subway choices
  - Rockefeller Center - B,D,F or M
  - 5th Ave and 53rd St - E, M
  - 51 St,  #6

What:   Bring a stool if you have one or a mat to sit on.  Bring water and consider an umbrella to create your own portable shade.

Lunch:  12:15 at Paley Park, a tiny pocket-park with waterfall located on the north side of 53 Street, between Fifth and Madison Avenues.

Afternoon:   1:30 - Back to sketching Fifth Avenue and Saint Patricks

Show and Tell:  3:00  Off to Bill’s Bar & Burger, 16 W 51st St. to share drawings, good stories and a beer or wine if you're so inclined.

Click to Enlarge

Can't find us?

Call or Text Mark - 973-809-9128

There are no fees or attendance taken. All drawing skill levels are welcome