Better Safe Than Sorry

In an effort to stay as safe as possible, the Board of NYC Urban Sketcher has decided to suspend all in-person gatherings for the near future.  This includes the Weekend, Weekday and Westchester gathering.  Additionally the Holiday Party planned for February 5, will also be canceled.  

BUT. that doesn't mean we are not meeting! 

With our Virtual Group, led by Theresa Smith, we can still continue our chapter's activities.   Please watch for Theresa's announcements for virtual meetings as we enter the new year.

The Board wishes you a most happy, safe and productive New Year.   We are looking forward to getting together in person again as soon as possible.

  

CANCELED - SUNDAY Sketch Event

 

CANCELED - SUNDAY Sketch Event

We are canceling the sketch event for Sunday at Grand Central Terminal.  The sharply rising covid infections in the city make this a necessary and logical decision.  Like everyone, I am very disappointed.

Unless the current trends change, it seems likely we will need to suspend in-person weekend sketching until we can be together sketching outdoors.  We’ll monitor this closely.  In the meantime we’ll be looking for creative ways to continue making art and to encourage one another.

Although this feels familiar a lot has changed since this began and in many, many ways we are in a better position to deal with this winter’s challenge.   

We will get through this. 

 

NYC USk - Holiday/Winter Party

Saturday, February 5th.

* * * SAVE the DAY! * * *

From Noon to 5 PM

@ the High School of Art and Design

245 E 56th St, NYC.

Fun, Games, Music and a Cool Art Auction 

with Odd Bits and Antique Art Supplies

SUNDAY: Sketch GCT

SUNDAY: It's Huge! It's Iconic.

It's New York City's Grand Central Terminal.

Sunday, December 19, 2021

It's a monumental space filled with meticulously crafted details - a fascinating challenge to sketch. Grand Central Terminal is one of our nation's historical landmarks and remains the busiest train station in the country.

This special event will be hosted by Judy Garza from NYC USk.   Judy worked as a tour guide at Grand Central and has lots to share.

The Main Concourse is the center of Grand Central. At 275 ft long by 120 ft wide by 125 ft high.  Originally opened in 1871, it was rebuilt in 1913 and restored in 1994–2000

Grand Central Terminal:

• Covers 48 acres 
• Has 44 platforms (more than any other railroad station in the world).
• One of the world's most visited tourist attractions, with 21.9 million annual visitors.

DETAILS:

Where:  The Main Concourse at Grand Central Station - Meet by east side of Clock at the Information Booth at the center of the terminal.  The east side of the clock faces the stairs leading up to the Apple Store

When:   Start time - 10 AM.    Running late?  Messed up by the subways?  Come anyway - we'll be there.

How:  Assuming everyone can find it.

Lunch:  Meet at noon 12:00 PM by the stairs leading up to the Apple Store.  Bring your own food or purchase from the many vendors.

Afternoon:   1:15 PM - Back to the Concourse to continue sketching.

Show and Tell:   3:00 PM  Location to be determined.  We’ll share drawings, tell good art stories maybe we’ll even talk about art supplies!

Notes:

   -  IMPORTANT: Bring a stool if you have one.  Security no longer allows people to sketch sitting on the floor, stools seem to be acceptable

If you can’t find us

call or text Mark at 973-809-9128

There are no fees. All drawing skill levels are welcome

SATURDAY - December 18 - Holidays Around the World Celebration

Sketchers  – let's travel online - drawing and painting holiday traditions around the world.  The last month of the year is a “world of holidays“ from America to Scandinavia to the Far East, people celebrating holidays with special rituals and festivities for Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, Christmas, Omisoka and many others.

This year’s holiday celebrations might feel a little deja vu or simply reliving last year’s socially distant get togethers. Across the world many popular traditions have been upended, including Europe’s annual Christmas markets. We can still keep the holiday cheer alive this season by learning about some of the world’s most unique holiday traditions around the world.

NYC Urban Sketchers is hosting a “Free Virtual Holiday Sketch Event”. Slip on an ugly Christmas sweater, or holiday socks. Don a holiday hat or spruce up your creating space with a little holiday cheer or just come as you are!

Ten o’clock, Eastern Standard Time, we will kick off our virtual party with sketching “Holiday’s Around the World Celebration.” At noon, we will share all of our works of art and take a holiday photo. Then we will take a 15 minute break. After that sketchers will sit down to share a virtual holiday meal. But don’t rush off! The fun is just beginning! The NYC Urban Sketchers online team has planned fun activities for all of us to enjoy! Mark your Calendar! Don’t be late! Let’s make our virtual holiday sketch party an event to remember!

There are no fees. All skill levels are welcome. 

Registration is required. Please register at the Eventbrite link below: 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saturday-holidays-around-the-world-sketch-celebration-tickets-223011913637

Photographic references for the event can be found below:

https://61a0fddabc411.site123.me/

Future Events

January 8, 2022 - Hearst Castle and San Simeon

January 15, 2022 - Parades

January 22, 2022 - Fairbanks and Denali

January 29, 2022 - Trains and Railroads

This is the giving time of year. Consider making a donation to NYC Urban Sketchers. 

Donations by check can be sent to:    

                           NYC Urban Sketchers

                           P.O. Box 1083

                           New York, NY 10016

Weekday Sketchers at Union Square Holiday Market Wednesday

 

Lights, color, crowds, excitement...It must be Christmas Time NYC 

 Let's get out there and capture the scenes in our sketchbooks before the season passes by.   One place to do this is the Union Square Holiday Market. Wednesday's forecast is for mild weather, (low 50's and dry)  so get out your sketchbooks, put on your fingerless gloves and join us for a day of reportage at the market place.   The Union Square Greenmarket will also be open so there are plenty of options for us to choose from. 

Too cold for you?  You can work indoors at the windows in the Whole Foods dining area on the second floor,  where we will gather for lunch. 

NOTES

• The craft market opens at 11:00 but the Greenmarket on the north side of Union Square opens earlier.  Come earlier if you want to jump start the day
• We will gather at the corner of 14th Street and Union Sq West (University Place) on the Southwest corner of Union Square at 11:00 AM
• It will be CROWDED.  Be prepared to work with limited materials in a small space with lots of people passing by. 
• Bring a stool but you might not be able to set it up due to the crowds
• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at raylie@verizon.net.
• Looking for us? Call/text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• We will break for lunch at 1:00 at the dining area on the second floor of Whole Foods on 14th Street across from Union Square. You can purchase something there or just bring your own lunch. 
• This will be our last get together before the holiday break. We will resume meeting in January

DATE: WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 15, 2021

SATRTING TIME: 11:00 AM 

LOCATION:  UNION SQUARE AT 14TH STREET 

 We will gather at the corner of 14th Street and Union Sq West (University Place) on the Southwest corner of Union Square 

TRANSPORTATION: Any subway line that stops at 14th Street.

THURSDAY: Westchester Sketchers at the Hudson River Museum, Yonkers, NY

The Hudson River Museum is a preeminent cultural institution in Westchester County and the New York metropolitan area. Situated on the banks of the Hudson River in Yonkers, New York, the HRM’s mission is to engage, inspire, and connect diverse communities through the power of the arts, sciences, and history.

Current exhibitions include:

Charles Searles, Celebration, 1975

African American Art in the 20th Century

This exhibition presents forty-three paintings and sculptures by thirty-four African American artists who came to prominence during the period bracketed by the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights movement.

Richard Haas - Circles in Space

In his most recent series of paintings and drawings, Richard Haas explores intersections between abstraction, color theory, and the geometry of the universe, bringing together passions and preoccupations from throughout his long career.

 

Jack Stuppin: The Beginning of my World 

Renowned for vibrant landscape paintings of Northern California, Jack Stuppin (American, b. 1933), grew up in Yonkers and returns again and again to reconnect with the formative Hudson Valley scenery of his youth. This exhibition highlights nine oil paintings, ranging from 2008 to 2020, from an ongoing series the artist has called his “homage to the Hudson River School.”

Optional: Glenview Holiday Tour at 1 PM  

Travel back in time to the Gilded Age! Enjoy a 45-minute guided tour of historic Glenview’s six fully restored period rooms decorated for the holidays. Advance tickets are strongly encouraged.


DETAILS: 

DATE: THURSDAY, December 16, 2021 

LOCATION: Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Ave. Yonkers, NY (914) 963-4550

DIRECTIONS: https://www.hrm.org/plan-your-visit/
From NYC: Take the Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line local train to Glenwood Station. Walk 1 block east on Glenwood Avenue, and then turn left onto Ravine Avenue. At the end of Ravine Avenue, enter Trevor Park. Follow path to the main entrance of the Museum.

START TIME: 12:00 PM (Opening time)

LUNCH: Since the Museum opens at Noon, we won’t have a scheduled time for lunch. Please bring your own lunch/snack, or purchase something from the Museum Shop.

SHOW and TELL: 3:00 PM The Green Education Wing has been reserved for us from 2:30-5 PM. This is the social portion of our day when we will share our drawings, techniques, and stories. It is a time not to be missed.

NOTES:

• VACCINATION Required for Entry. All visitors 12+ must show proof of full vaccination or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of visit; those 18+ must also show proof of identity.
• FACE MASKS are required indoors.
• Admission: $8 for Adults, $5 for Seniors. Free for members. Tickets are available for purchase online or at (914) 963-4550 during business hours. Tickets are nonrefundable. Reservations are accepted by credit card only.
• Tickets for Glenview tours and planetarium shows are an additional purchase and are not included in general admission. Adults +$5 each; Seniors +$4 each.
• Stools will be available for our use.
•  DRY MATERIALS ONLY (Museum Galleries). Wet materials may be used in the Multipurpose room.

Please RSVP to Cathy (cathygutterman@verizon.net).

Looking for us? Call/text: Cathy at (914) 625-0766

There are no fees. All drawing skill levels are welcome. 

SATURDAY: The Weather Bet Sketch

This Saturday it’s supposed to be 64 degrees.  Definitely warm enough to sketch outdoors.  It’s mid December and we’ve got the least amount of daylight, - but a warm day feels like a gift.  The following day is much colder - so, we’re talking about SATURDAY, not Sunday,  The forecast us also talking about rain, but the percentages keep changing

So our plan is to pick a place that will be great to sketch outdoors but has a nearby indoor refuge if we need it.  We’re going to meet at the gate to Central Park at Columbus Circle.  If the weather holds we’ll be outside sketching the bridges in the park.   We have an interesting variety of bridges nearby and loads of park things to draw.  However, if it’s raining at our designated start time (10 AM) we’ll meet in the lobby of the Time Warner Center which is on the opposite side of Columbus Circle from the gate.

We’re hoping for unseasonably warm weather, and no rain for this SATURDAY December 11th, 2021.

DETAILS

What:   

• We’ll be sketching in the southwest corner of Central Park if it’s not raining.  
• Our backup, if it's raining will be to sketch the interior and the views from the Time Warner Center.

Where:   

• No Rain:  Meet by the Maine Monument at the Park entrance at the corner of West 59th Street and Central Park West.
• If it’s Raining:   Meet inside the main entrance to the Time Warner Center 
• See map below

When:  Start time - 10 AM.    Running late?  Messed up by the subways?  Come anyway - we'll be there.

How:   Take the 1, 2, A, B or C to Columbus Circle.  Or the N, Q, R or W train to 57th Street and walk two blocks north.

Lunch:  12:00 PM - Our plans will depend on the weather.  There are indoor eating spots in the Time Warner building and lots of vendors if we're outdoors.  Bring your own or take your pick from the many nearby choices.

Afternoon:   1:00 PM  Back to sketching

Show and Tell:  3:00 PM - We’ll try to find a quiet place to meet to share our sketches and tell art stories.  

NOTE:

-    Bring a stool.  It gives you options and creates art opportunities.

(click to enlarge)

If you can’t find us

call or text Mark at 973-809-9128

There are no fees.   All drawing skill levels are welcome.

SATURDAY - December 11th - Morocco: The Kingdom of the West

From Saharan dunes to the peaks of the High Atlas mountain range, Morocco was tailor-made for travelers. Lyrical landscapes carpet this slice of North Africa like the richly colored and patterned rugs sold in the markets. The mountains, not just the famous High Atlas, but also the Rif and sunbaked ranges leading to Saharan oasis – offer simple, breathtaking pleasures: night skies glistening and views over a cumulous cloud bank from the Tizi n’Test Pass. On lower ground, there are rugged coastlines, waterfalls, sizzling deserts, and caves in forested hills.

Morocco's cities are some of the most exciting on the continent. Explore the centuries-old trail of nomads and traders from the winding ancient medina maze of Fez to the carnivalesque street-theatre of the Djemaa El Fna in Marrakesh. Or, the rocky desert medinas protected by kasbahs, on the coast by thick sea walls.

Let’s immerse ourselves into the rich Berber culture and explore the diverse landscapes of Morocco. Pack up your favorite art supplies and let’s people-watch in a street café with a mug of coffee or a cup of mint tea, shop in the souks, or simply sit quietly and take in the sounds and colorful sights of a county steeped in century old traditions.  

As the day comes to an end, we will enter through heavy cedar carved doors of a Moroccan house called a ryad, “meaning a garden”. A townhouse built around a courtyard filled with lush plants, fountains, impressive art collections, pottery, 300 year old painted ceilings and furnishings. We will rest our weary bodies and dream of the smell of jasmine and the adventures of our day nestled in our embroidered bed covers in a room filled with Berber rugs, silk drapes, velvet sofas and intricate mosaics.

There are no fees. All skill levels are welcome.

Registration for this virtual event is required. Use the following link at Eventbrite:

SATURDAY: Morocco the Kingdom of the West Tickets, Sat, Dec 11, 2021, at 10:00 AM | Eventbrite

Photographic references for this event are provided below:

https://619eec42a91c9.site123.me/

Future Events:

December 18th  - Let's Celebrate the Holidays - 10am - 2pm. Special Holiday Program.  Wear your Ugly Sweater and Santa / Elf Hat. After sketching plan for a meal and a drink. 

January 8th - Hearst Castle & San Simeon

January 15th - Parades

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 Weekday Sketchers at Hispanic Society THURSDAY

UPDATE: 

Hispanic Society Winter Concert

For those interested in going to the Hispanic Society on Thursday, be aware that the museum's Winter Concert will take place Thursday evening from6:00-7:30.  It is free but you must RSVP.  For more information, click here:  https://heightsites.com/event/winter-concert/

Join us this THURSDAY as we take a trip across the ocean and across the years to the Hispanic Society in upper Manhattan to see the current exhibit " Gilded Figures: Wood and Clay Made Flesh".  

The Hispanic Society has been closed for the past few years for renovations.  Recently they have opened one small exhibit space for this special exhibit of a rare art form of polychrome figures dating from 1500-1800. These delicate and beautiful figures are carved in wood and decorated with paint and gold leaf.  For more information check out the web site: https://hispanicsociety.org/exhibitions/current-exhibitions/gilded-figures-wood-and-clay-made-flesh/

NOTES

• Please note that we are meeting on THURSDAY this week not Wednesday
• Because of the late start time we will not break for lunch 
• Proof of vaccination will be required
• Admission to the museum is free and there doesn't seem to be a requirement to pre-purchase a ticket.
• Be prepared to work in dry materials
• Bring a stool 
• Many of the sculptures are rendered with very white faces and a lot of gold accents.  Bring appropriate materials 
• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at raylie@verizon.net
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-274-0445

DATE:  THURSDAY DECEMBER 9, 2021

STARTING TIME:  12:00 PM. (the museum opens at noon)

LOCATION:  THE HISPANIC SOICIETY 

                         AUDUBON TERRACE 

                          Broadway and 155th Street

TRANSPORTATION:1 Train to 157th St or the A, C train to 155th Street

Sunday: Sketching Behind the Lions

 

One of the world's great libraries.  It's a visual treat both inside and outside filled with the Beaux-Arts details that are so much fun to sketch.

Some Library facts for you.

• It was officially opened in 1911 and at the time it was the largest marble structure in the United States
• The main reading room was contemporaneously the largest of its kind in the world (You can't quite see the curvature of the earth but there are lots of perspective challenges to work out.)

DETAILS

What:   We’ll be sketching in the main branch of the Manhattan Public Library, (AKA the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building)

Where:   The building covers two blocks from 40th Street to 42nd Street at 476 5th Ave 

When:  Start time - 1 PM.  We will be there until 3 PM.  (This is a short sketch for us.)   Running late?  Messed up by the subways?  Come anyway - we'll be there.

How:   Assuming we can all get to 42nd St and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan?

Show and Tell:  3:00 PM - We’ll try to find a quiet place to meet to share our sketches and tell art stories.  Likely location is tucked under the staircase on the first floor.

NOTE:

-    There is no coat check 

-    I’ve used my stool there many times.  It gives you more sketching opportunities.

If you can’t find us

text Mark at 973-809-9128

There are no fees.   All drawing skill levels are welcome.

SATURDAY - December 4th - Salzburg - Storybook Austria

  

Join us for a day of virtual sketching, immersed in the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, following in the footsteps of the Von Trapps, and exploring the castles, fortresses, cathedrals, opera houses and splendid gardens of Salzburg, renowned for baroque architecture.

Sketch-worthy Salzburg is a a story-book town, burrowed below steep hills looking much as it did when Mozart lived here 250 years ago. Beside the fast-flowing Salzach River, your gaze is raised inch by inch to graceful domes and spires, the formidable clifftop fortress and the mountains beyond. The richly preserved urban fabric was developed over hundreds of years from the Middle Ages to the 19th century. Its flamboyant Gothic art attracted craftsmen and artists before the city became even better known through the work of the Italian architects Vincenzo Scamozzi and Santinin Solari for its Baroque appearance.

Let’s explore the lavishly frescoed chandelier-lit palace, a fortress with a million dollar view and a town which was the back drop for The Sound of Music. This is where Maria (Julie Andrews) waltzed on her way to mass at Benedictine Nonnberg Abbey, belted out "I Have Confidence" as she frolicked in the fountain on Residenzplatz, and taught the von Trapp kids to tunefully sing Do-Re-Mi in the gardens of Mirabell Gardens.

Salzburg will surprise you with a flourishing arts scene, gourmet food, a world-famous music festival, gardens, and quiet side streets where classical music wafts from open windows, and concert halls that uphold musical tradition 365 days a year. Everywhere you go, the scenery, the skyline, the music and the history send your spirits soaring higher than Julie Andrews' octave-leaping vocals.

Alps soaring above its dome-encrusted baroque skyline and cliffs dropping to the river like a theatre curtain, Salzburg envelopes you with an intriguing atmosphere that welcomes you to explore this glorious UNESCO World Heritage site. Let’s meet the artists and their creations which transformed this sparkling gem called Salzburg.

 

There are no fees. All skill levels are welcome.

 

Registration for this virtual event is required. Use the following link at Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saturday-music-art-of-salzburg-austria-tickets-214331901487?aff=ebdssbcitybrowse

 

Photographic references for this event are provided below:

https://619742422bfc9.site123.me/

Future Events:

Saturday, December 11th - Morocco

Saturday, December 18th - Holiday Traditions Around the World

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Weekday Sketchers at Cast Hall

Join us as we return to a favorite sketching site, the Institute for Classical  Architecture and Art's Cast Hall.

Long ago, before the Met Museum was the major institution that it is now and could afford the real statures that we now see in the Greek and Roman Galleries, they displayed plaster casts of the original statures.  Once the real statures replaced the plaster casts, the casts went into storage and were largely forgotten. Then the Met donated them to the ICAA, who restored them and put them on display in...Cast Hall.

This bright sunny room will be our home for the day.  Bring your watercolors, bring your lunch but don't bring a stool as there are tables and chairs for us to use.   For more information about the ICAA, its services and trips, click here:https://www.classicist.org

But wait!  That's not all!

The building that houses the ICAA, The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen, is an artifact by itself,  with a Lock Museum, a multi-level library with a stained glass ceiling, beautiful hallways, railings and an incredible sculpture of an arm (you have to see it for yourself).  When you get tired of drawing the statures walk into the hallway and sketch this building that is a true hidden gem of NYC. 

DATE:  WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 1, 2021

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION:  THE INSTITUTE FOR CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE AND ART 

                       THE MECHANICS AND TRADESMAN BUILDING

                        20 West 44th Street NYC

TRANSPORTATION: B, D, F, M to 41nd Street/Bryant Park Station or 7 to 5th Ave Station. 

                        

Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at raylie@verizon.net.  Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445. 

Thanksgiving Sketching

 

​There is no planned sketching event for this coming Sunday 

during our Thanksgiving weekend.  

Have a wonderful holiday with family, friends and your loved ones. ​

Sunday: Sketch the American Wing

 

Looks like we’ll be sketching indoors for a couple of months.  The autumn light has been beautiful.   This coming Sunday, November 21, 2021 we’ll be sketching in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum.  

I’ve often thought that if the wing was its own museum, all on it’s own, it would be very impressive.  Another attraction for the American Wing is that the lighting there can be wonderful to sketch on a sunny day - providing wonderful shadows.  (see photo)

 

DETAILS

What:   We’ll be sketching in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum  (see attached map)

Where:   The Metropolitan Museum is located at 1000 Fifth Avenue.  The main entrance is at E. 82nd Street.  However, I usually enter the museum using the small entrance off of E 81 Street.  The signs imply it's a school entrance, but anyone can use it.  You can usually get in more quickly there.

When:  Start time - 10 AM.   Running late?  Messed up by the subways?  Come anyway - we'll be there.

How:

By Subway:  

-   From the east side take the 6 train to 77th St. or the 4,5 or 6 train to 86th St.  Walk three blocks west to Fifth Avenue. This walk is about a half mile and takes approximately 10 minutes.

-   Or travel up the west side and walk across Central Park, by taking the C train to 81 St or 86th.   It’s a slightly longer walk crosstown taking the Broadway line 1 train to 79 St or 86th.  

If you prefer to take a bus instead of walking - Take the 1 train to 86th Street, then the M86 crosstown bus across Central Park to Fifth Avenue; OR take the C train to 81st Street, then the M79 bus across Central Park to Fifth Avenue.

By  car:  

The museum has its own parking.  The Museum parking garage, located at Fifth Avenue and 80th Street, is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A parking discount is available to Museum Members and Patrons during Museum operating hours. To receive a discount, Museum Members and Patrons must have their tickets validated at the Uris Center for Education Membership/Visitor Information Desk.

Lunch:  We'll break at 12:00 to have a luncheon in the cafeteria one level below the American Wing.  See the attached map for the location of the stairs.  We’ll meet in the back of the cafeteria.  Bring your own food if you prefer or purchase from the cafeteria.

Afternoon:  1:00 PM  Yes!   More sketching.

Show and Tell:  3:00 PM - Meet back in the cafeteria to share sketches, tell stories and talk about art supplies.

NOTES:

-    The Museum’s policy is pencils and dry media only.  It is unevenly enforced

-    The coat check is no longer available and you’ll need to carry everything you bring

-    Stools are permitted, although they are not used frequently.  You’ll also need to carry it the entire time.

-    Purchasing a ticket in advance saves time.  Or, just show your card if you are a member 

click to enlarge

If you can’t find us

call or text Mark at 973-809-9128

There are no fees.   All drawing skill levels are welcome.

 

SATURDAY - November 20 - Celebrating Thanksgiving Around the World

 

Today fellow sketchers let’s travel online to explore the history of seventeen nations celebrating Thanksgiving around the world. Grab your favorite art supplies as we create works of art of a holiday filled with gratitude.

Thanksgiving Day is a national holiday in the United States, and Thanksgiving 2021 occurs on Thursday, November 25th. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and Wampanoag Native Americans shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged today as one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in the colonies. For more than two centuries, days of thanksgiving were celebrated by individual colonies and states. It wasn’t until 1863, in the midst of the civil war, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national Thanksgiving Day to be held each November.

One of the most famous thanksgiving traditions in the United States happens in New York City every year - the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The first parade marched down Broadway in the winter of 1924, and in the years since, it’s grown into an event with more than 3.5 million spectators. The history behind the festivities and larger-than-life balloons is just as mesmerizing. The original parade route started at 145th street and Convent Avenue in Harlem and continued six miles to Herald Square. The parade itself was small, about two blocks, but the route was almost three times as long as it is today. The boisterous processional included Macy’s employees marching to the flagship store, as well as floats, professional bands, and live animals borrowed from the Central Park Zoo. The parade was a huge success, and within a week, Macy’s announced that New York City should set aside the morning of November 25, 1925, because the parade would be back next year. Ninety five years later 3.5 million Americans will gather on Thanksgiving day to watch the parade in person.

The United States isn’t the only nation with a holiday dedicated to gratitude— There are 17 nations that celebrate their own version of Thanksgiving traditions from around the world. It began as a day of giving thanks and sacrifice for the blessing of the harvest. Canada, Grenada, Japan, Norfolk Island, Germany, Liberia, Netherlands and Puerto Rico just to name a few celebrate their own versions of  a “harvest of thanks” holiday.  Sketchers let’s immerse ourselves into the rich history and background of time honored celebrations, festivals and rituals throughout the world.

There are no fees. All drawing skills are welcome.

Registration for this virtual event is required. Use the following link at Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saturday-celebrating-thanksgiving-around-the-world-tickets-208008758797?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

Photographic references for this event are provided below:

https://618751c31e4cc.site123.me/

www.zazzle.com/nycurbansketchers/products