With thanks to Anny Lamsifer for suggesting this event
There’s a woman staring at us across the river in Jersey City. It’s the 80-foot “Water’s Soul, 2020” by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa. The Barcelona based artist has depicted the head of a young person with an index finger pressed against her lips, her eyes closed in a “gesture for quietude.”
The massive installation sits on the edge of the Hudson River, in Jersey City, New Jersey, paying tribute to the river and created as a call to protect all water, which Plensa calls “ the most public space in the world.” “It is my wish for Water’s Soul to become an icon for Newport and a landmark that visually connects it with New York City across the Hudson River. Just as Water’s Soul acts to unite the city of Jersey City and New York City, we are reminded that water is the great public space that unites and embraces communities as well as people around the world.”[7] "The water, when it moves, makes a special sound, very special," Plensa said in an interview suggesting the sculpture's message is "to keep silent...to listen to the profound noise of the water talking to us."
“Water’s Soul,” which is made of polyester resin, fiberglass and marble dust, was shipped to the U.S. in 23 containers and is intended to appear “like a drawing in space.” “Just as ‘Water’s Soul’ acts to unite the city of Jersey City and New York City, we are reminded that water is the great public space that unites and embraces communities as well as people around the world,” Plensa said. (From the recent October 21st article in Bloomberg’s CityLab by Doyinsola Oladipo.)
DETAILS
What: We’ll be sketching the riverside view from Jersey City. Our focus will be the new Water's Soul sculpture that was just installed.
Where: We’ll meet at bwè kafe (see map)
When: Start time - 10 AM. Running late? Messed up by the subways? Come anyway - we'll be there.
How:
- By PATH Train:
Take the path train from 33rd Street located at the intersection of 32nd Street and Sixth Avenue in the Herald Square to Journal Square (via Hoboken) Sunday Schedule: Trains leave at 8:55, 9:30, 10:05, 10:20, 10:32. Get off at the Newport station. The Path train accepts regular NYC MetroCards.
click to enlarge
- By Ferry:
There is also a ferry you can take to get there. The ferry leaves from the Brookfield Place Terminal and arrives at Paulus Hook. Although you can’t beat the view from the ferry, it is more expensive ($7 each way,) and the first ferry doesn’t leave until 10:20 AM. It’s about a fifteen minute walk north along the water from the ferry to the sculpture.
Lunch: We'll break at 12:00. Location to be determined. Bring your own food and drink or rely on local vendors.
Afternoon: 1:00 Back to sketching
Show and Tell: 3:00 PM - Location to be determined.
NOTE:
- Bring a hat (for the sun - hopefully!)
- Bring a stool if you have one, it gives you more options.
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.
