SATURDAY: Sketch the Queens Museum

 

Each of our five boroughs has at least one if not several interesting museums.  Queens is no exception, except that we hardly visit.  Well, that's easily fixed!

The Queens Museum is in Flushing Meadows Park which was the site of the 1939 World's Fair and the 1964 World's Fair.  It seems that World Fairs have been replaced by other Mega events, but  if you can find an old timer, ask them if they can remember the Fair.  It's a great location and the museum has revolving exhibits. There will be fun views inside and outside.

DETAILS

When:   Saturday - February 3rd, 2024 , starts at 11 AM

Where:  At the Queens Museum  (see directions below)

Lunch:  12:30  At the museum Café.  Choices may be limited and there are no stores nearby so consider bringing your own.

Afternoon:  1:30  Sketch the galleries and outside - weather permitting.

Show and Tell:  3:00 at the Café or some place nearby where we will share drawings, good stories .

Admission is free until February 5th.  Since the fee's are modest you might consider donating or voluntarily paying their suggested admission

-  $8 for adults

-  $4 for seniors

-  Free for children 18 and under

Directions by Subway

Take #7 Train in the direction of Flushing, Queens. Your stop is Mets-Willets Point, the second to last stop on the 7 train.

Follow the signs to Flushing Meadows Corona Park through the exit ramp of the station into the park.

Then, follow signs for the Queens Museum which is located next to the Unisphere, the giant steel globe. There are two entrances to the museum, one facing the park and the other facing Grand Central Parkway.

The Park entrance is directly in front of the Unisphere. Please allot 15 minutes for the walk from the Mets-Willets Point subway station to the museum.

Click for Directions by Car

https://queensmuseum.org/visit/

There is loads of parking!

ADVICE

-  Bring a stool if you own one.  It makes sketching so much easier.

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.

 

THURSDAY, February 1, 2024: Westchester Sketchers at the Rye Arts Center

 

New Exhibition Celebrates Black History Month

During the month of February, the Rye Arts Center presents Black Artists in the Spotlight: Currents of Creativity.  The month-long exhibition displays the works of emerging and established Black artists from across mediums, including abstract, collage and digital artworks.

The exhibition, curated by Kicki Storm, amplifies the voices of Black artists, providing a platform to recognize their profound contributions to the global art scene.  Through this dynamic exhibition, The Rye Arts Center encourages the community to engage with the rich tapestry of creativity, cultural significance, and innovation within the Black artistic experience.

DETAILS:

DATE: THURSDAY, February 1, 2024

START TIME: 10:00 AM 
  

LOCATION: Rye Arts Center, www.ryeartscenter.org 51 Milton Road, Rye, NY 10580. Phone: (914) 967-0700.

DIRECTIONS: https://www.mapquest.com/us/new-york/rye-arts-center-464332070

PARKING:  You can park comfortably in the back lot behind the Center.

FROM Grand Central Terminal, NYC: Take the Metro-North New Haven Line to the Mamaroneck station.  Please contact Marianne Milzoff at mmilzoff@optimum.net to arrange transportation from the station.

LUNCH followed by Show and Tell: 12:30 PM:  Bring your lunch or purchase it on nearby Purchase Street.  

NOTES: 

• While Admission is FREE,  please consider giving a small donation to thank the Center for its hospitality.
• Drawing stools are permitted. 

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org

Looking for us? 

Call/text: Cathy at (914) 625-0766 or Marianne at (914) 355-6507

Weekday Sketchers At Pier 57

What Is It?

Its a converted Marine Terminal.  

It is a viewpoint in the Hudson River. 

It is a music venue. 

It is a roof garden.

It is a food court. 

It is a work space. 

What is it? ...........Its Pier 57! 

Join us this week as we visit a new gathering spot in NYC.  Converted from an old Marine Terminal, Google has taking over the space and created something new and exciting in this city. (Which is a feat in and of itself!).  Between the colorful food stalls, the fabulous river views and the constant parade of people it will be hard to run out of things to sketch.  

To learn more about the Pier 57, its history and conversion to an exciting multi-use location, click here: https://pier57nyc.com

DATE: WEDNESDAY JANUARY 31, 2024

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATON: PIER 57

                        25 11th Avenue  at approximately 15th Street

                        We will meet in the food hall at the rear of the first floor

TRANSPORTATION:  A, C, E or L train to 14th Street. 

                                    Then walk west to the Hudson River or take the crosstown bus 

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@nycurbansketchers.org
• Looking for Us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• Water, food and bathroom are available.
• Buy lunch from the many food vendors or bring your own
• We will meet in the food hall toward the back of the pier.                         

SATURDAY: Sketch the Winter Garden

 

​The Winter Garden at Brookfield Place

During the warm days of summer I wrote a list of all the cold weather locations we could use for sketching in the winter.  For some reason I wrote "Winter Garden".   I think most people refer to it as Brookfield Place.  When I looked at my list I just saw the words "Winter Garden" and that seemed like a delightful idea.

Honestly, it's not much of a garden but it is a really interesting, warm, dry place, with bathrooms and good food nearby.  What it has, is some challenging sketching.  The first time a met PJ Cobbs was at the Winter Garden.  She sat at my table and looked around for a long time trying to figure out what she'd sketch.  She eventually opted for what I considered the most difficult perspective challenge there.  And she drew it, . . .  beautifully.  Me? I spent the day drawing the people passing through.   

In other words, it's a good place, and you are invited to join us sketching this SATURDAY.  Details below:

DETAILS:

WHEN:  We’ll meet at 10 AM - sketching until 3 PM on ​S​ATURDY, ​J​anuary 27, 2024.  Sleeping late?  ​Enjoy but come anyway - we'll be there.

WHERE:  At Brookfield Place - 230 Vesey Street.   Meet by the huge window facing the river on the ground floor. (see map)

HOW:  There are plenty of subway choices.  If you want to come by car there are​ parking lots in the area.  It is also possible to find a free parking spot on the streets​, but it's not easy.

BY SUBWAY (see map)

•      E trains to WTC
•      A, C trains to Chambers St.
•      2, 3 trains to Park Place.
•      N, R trains to Cortland St.
•      4, 5 to Fulton St.

LUNCH:  12:​00 PM  - Bring your own or purchase from the many vendors and stores in the complex.​ The second floor, has gorgeous views of the Hudson, bathrooms and many interesting food options.   We may be able to get one large table so we can sit together.

AFTERNOON:  1:​00 PM  Back to sketching

SHOW AND TELL:  3 PM  ​(L​ocation to be determined on site) ​We will share our sketches, tell stories, and probably talk about art supplies.

NOTE:

-  Bring a stool - it gives you more options

Can't find us?  
Call Mark - 973-809-9128

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

​

THURSDAY, January 25, 2024: Westchester Sketchers at Clay Art Center in Port Chester

 

A Place to Create, Connect, and Be Inspired

Clay Art Center in Port Chester, New York, is a nationally recognized 501c3 non-profit dedicated to the advancement and practice of ceramic art.  Katherine Choy, a leader of the Newcomb pottery aesthetic, joined by master potter Henry Okamoto, founded the center as a communal studio in 1957.  With Choy's untimely death in 1958, Okamoto pursued her legacy for the rest of his life.  At one time a lone beacon of clay artistry on the east coast, CAC become a haven for clay artists, many of whom pursued significant careers in ceramics and influenced contemporary ceramic practice.

Today Clay Art Center is the largest and most active ceramic facility in the tri-state area.  Each year CAC serves over 12,000 people in-person and virtually with exhibitions, classes, workshops, volunteer opportunities, and exposure to the rich world of handmade ceramic art. 

As a follow-up to last week's visit to the Greenwich Historical Society's exhibition “Radical Pots & Cooperative Hands: Katherine Choy and Clay Art Center,” featuring archival items on loan from Clay Art Center.  At Clay Art Center, this week we will able to view the permanent Katherine Choy collection.

We can also sketch the current "Rising Stars" Annual Student Exhibition celebrating the accomplishments of the Center's adult, youth, and Community Arts students at various stages of their clay journey. The exhibition also presents the works of the Center's dedicated faculty and teachers.

 

 

DETAILS: 

DATE: THURDAY, January 25, 2023

Start time: 10:00 AM
  

LOCATION: Clay Art Center,  40 Beech Street, Port Chester, NY 10573. Phone: (914) 937-2047.

DIRECTIONS: https://www.mapquest.com/us/new-york/clay-art-center-1307749

FROM Grand Central Terminal, NYC: Take the Metro-North New Haven Line to the Portchester station.  Clay Art Center is a 9 min. walk from the station.

PARKING:
The parking lot fills up very quickly.  Park in the spaces in the middle of the lot, and along the gallery side (same side as the blue door).  The parking spots along the wall where the mosaic tree is, and the spots along the street side are all permit-only spots.  There is parking on the street which is also often full.  If you don't mind a short walk, there is parking over at Stop n Shop / Petco and in that complex in general.

SHOW and Tell: 12:30 PM.  There is no place to eat lunch on site.  Lunch will be on your own OR you can join a group of us at a location to be determined.

NOTES: 

• Admission is FREE.
• Drawing stools are permitted. 

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org

Looking for us? 

Call/text: Cathy at (914) 625-0766 or Marianne at (914) 355-6507

Weekday Sketchers at King Manor in Queens Thursday January 25th

One of the interesting benefits of Urban Sketchers is discovering pockets of history and culture all over the city.  This week's sketch site is one of them.

Join us this week as we travel back in time to the American Revolution to visit the home of Rufus King, first Senator of NY, Ambassador to Great Britain and one of the framers of the Constitution and an early advocate of the anti-slavery movement.  His son, John served in the State Assembly, US Congress and as Governor of NY.   For more information about the house and the family, click here: https://www.kingmanor.org/history

King Manor, also known as the Rufus King House, is an historic house at 150th Street and Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica, Queens. The two-story house is the main structure in Rufus King Park, a 11.5-acre public park that preserves part of the former estate of Rufus King, a U.S. Founding Father. 

A great big Thank You to Andrea Strongwater for investigating this location and making arrangements for us to visit the house.

. 

DATE: THURSDAY JANUARY 25, 2024

STARTING TIME: 12 NOON (when the museum opens)

LOCATION: 150-03 Jamaica Ave, Queens, NY 11432

TRANSPORTATION: E, J OR F Train to Jamaica Center/Parsons Archer.  Walk towards 153rd Street

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@nycurbansketchers.org
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• We will start at noon when the museum opens.  We will not break for lunch but will hold a show and tell at 2:30 PM
• Bathrooms and water are available
• Please be prepared to work in dry materials
• Limited parking is available. Please call the museum in advance to reserve a spot: (718) 206-0545

SUNDAY: Sketch the Ukrainian Museum

SUNDAY, January  21,, 2024

There isn’t a news cycle that goes by that doesn’t make me think of the hardship being faced by the Ukrainian people, and I’m sad that their struggle has gone on so long.

As New Yorkers we live in a wonderfully diverse community, and lately we’ve been finding sketching opportunities with other cultures.  The Ukrainian Museum is the largest museum of its kind outside of Ukraine, dedicated to the enjoyment, understanding, and preservation of the artistic and cultural heritage of Ukraine.  Sketching at the museum will give us a sense of the Ukrainian spirit.

DETAILS:

WHAT:  We will be sketching indoors at the Ukrainian Museum

WHEN:   The museum opens at noon - 12:00 PM on January 21, 2024.  (. . . a relatively short sketching day for us.)

WHERE:  The Ukrainian Museum is located at 222 E 6th St, NYC.  (between 2nd and 3rd Ave - see map below)

ADMISSION:

• $15 General
• $10 Seniors and Students

HOW:  

There are several subways nearby: ,

• #6 (Lexington Ave. line) to Astor Place (8th St./4th Ave.)
• N,R to 8th St./Broadway
• F to 2nd Ave./Houston S

By Car:  Parking is difficult although there is no alternate side of the street parking on Sunday which makes things a little easier.

LUNCH:  No lunch.  We’re starting later than usual, - come well fed or you'll spend valuable sketching time looking for lunch.

Show and Tell:   3:00 PM.  Where?  There is no good solution in the museum, and going outside is not going to an option.  We may end up doing a quick throw down instead of our usual way of sharing.  Will confirm that once we’re there.

NOTE:

-  Bring a stool - it gives you more options.  

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

New Jersey sketchers at Paterson Museum

Join us to sketch at the Paterson Museum 

From airplanes to locomotives to early Indian culture there’s plenty to sketch. And, if warm enough, we can take a short walk to the beautiful Great Falls. 

Some highlights:

The Wright Aeronautical Corporation 

was headquartered in Paterson. During the Second World War, the Wrights played a major part in the war effort. The plants in and around Paterson produced over 142,000 aircraft engines. 

Machine and Locomotive Industries

The machine shops of Paterson developed a reputation for employing the best men and producing the finest machinery in the United States. This is where the earliest machines that would spin and weave cotton were constructed and maintained. The total number of locomotives produced from 1837 to 1926 in Paterson amounts to over 10,000.

Pequapick 

The Lenape people called their homeland Lenapehoking. This land included all of what is now New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, southeastern New York State, northern Delaware and a small part of southwestern Connecticut.

This exhibit, comprised of artifacts and replications representing the Delaware-Lenape culture, has been designed to generate an appreciation of the ingenuity and harmonious environmental adaptation of this indigenous culture.

Silk Industry 

The museum has a collection of colorful spools and machines from this era. You’ll have to put the watercolor on at home as it’s dry materials only.

When: January 25

Where: Paterson Museum 

2 Market Street

Paterson, New Jersey 07501

Time: 10:30am 

please give a donation   

Plan to work in dry materials.

Bring your lunch and drinks. They will set up a table for us.

RSVP to margaret.casagrande@gmail.com

646-515-9913

Please email any questions or comments to the above email address.

There are no fees to join the group. All levels welcome.

Weekday Sketchers Schedule 

January, February and March

Maria Prymachenko at the Ukrainian Museum 

In an effort to help you plan to attend the Weekday Sketch Sessions, here is the schedule for February and March.  Be aware that this is subject to change so make sure to check the blog and your inbox for the current week's program.

WEDNESDAY January 17, 2024                     Poe House

THURSDAY  January 25, 2024                     King Mansion

WEDNESDAY January 31, 2024                     Pier 57

TUESDAY February 6, 2024                            NY Historical Society

WEDNESDAY February 14, 2024                   MOMA 

                                                                                Joint meeting with the Westchester Group

WEDNESDAY,  February 21, 2024                Fire Museum 

                                                                            Hosted by Margaret Casagrande

WEDNESDAY February 28, 2024                  Museum of the American Indian

                                                                            Hosted by Frieda Christofides

WEDNESDAY March 6, 2024                        Museum of Chinese in America

WEDNESDAY March 13, 2024                      Eldridge Street Museum

                                                                           28 Remarkable Women and 1 Scoundrel 

                                                                                by Adrianne Ottenberg

WEDNESDAY March 20, 2024                      Chaim Gross Foundation

WEDNESDAY March 27, 2024`                    Ukrainian Museum