SATURDAY: Sketch the Met

 

The Met

In a city blessed with many museums, the Met has always been my favorite.  It seems to have everything, and yet there's always more to see.   The Met has broadened my horizons and taught me to love all forms of artistic expression.

Our WinterTalk this week will be all about the Met, delivered by an insider with a deep appreciation of this extraordinary institution.  I expect we'll all be excited to see the museum on Saturday with fresh eyes.

We will be using WhatsApp to stay in touch.  If you come late, ask any Urban Sketcher you see to add you to the group.

DETAILS

What:   We’ll be sketching at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Where:   The Met is located at 1000 5th Ave, New York at 82 St.

• There is also a less used entrance at 81st Street.  (Faster and less crowded.)
• Meet by the Information Desk located at the center of the lobby.

When:  The Museum opens at 10 AM.  Sleeping late?  Come anyway, we'll be there, you'll just miss the thrill of being in an empty museum at the start of the day.

Lunch:  12:00 Noon .  We will meet in the basement cafeteria (the big one).  After you get food (or bring your own) meet at the very back.  Try to find an open area so we can sit together.  

Afternoon:  1:00 PM  Back to the sketching

Show and Tell:  3:00 PM - Back to the back of the basement cafeteria, where we'll share our artwork, tell stories and discuss materials and techniques 

NOTE:

-      Bring a stool if you have one, it gives you more options. The museum permits the use of stools but you need to keep out of the flow of traffic.

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 29, 2024: Westchester Sketchers at the Mamaroneck Library

 

SKETCHERS AND BOOKWORMS, A WINNING COMBINATION

This will be a community event at the Mamaroneck Library. We will have the opportunity to sketch and interact with other library patrons, offer good words and encourage others to participate in this event. We may also sketch the present modern pop art exhibition show by Michael Albert titled "Cerealism and Sir Realism." The library features historical paintings, views of Mamaroneck and artists' display case. If weather permits, we may go out on the terrace to sketch. It is requested that we do not draw library patrons but of course we can draw each other.  

DETAILS

DATE: THURSDAY, February 29, 2024

START TIME: 10:00 AM. We will meet in the lobby of the Library.


LOCATION: Mamaroneck Library, 136 Prospect Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY.
Phone: 914-698-1250.  (Next to the Emelin Theatre).

DIRECTIONS: https://www.mapquest.com/us/new-york/mamaroneck-public-library-1298266


TRANSPORTATION By TRAIN (From Grand Central Terminal, NYC):
Take the Metro-North New Haven Line to the Mamaroneck Train Station.  Walk east along Mamaroneck Ave. about 5 blocks to Prospect Avenue before you get to Boston Post Road.


PARKING: Parking can be had at the municipal lot across the street from the library and the police station on Prospect Ave on the perimeter of the top tier. for 50 cents per hour, a maximum of 4 hours. After 4 hours you can add to the parking machine either by coins or credit card.


Lunch: 12:30 PM: Bring your own, or purchase from a selection of good eateries directly down the block from the library. We will eat lunch and hold show and tell in the community room.

NOTES:

• There are lots of chairs in the library, but you own stools may be used as long as they are not in the way of walking.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org
 
Looking for us? Call Cathy at 914-625-0766 or Marianne at 914-355-6507

All skill levels welcome!

Weekday Sketchers at Museum of The American Indian

WEDNESDAY February 28, 2024, 10:30 am

The  National Museum of the American Indian, housed in the old Customs House is a division of the Smithsonian Museum, offers endless sketching opportunities for capturing art and architecture.

 

The Permanent Collection is a compendium of artifacts from the many nations throughout the Americas. The current show Native New York explores 12 regions in New York State that relate to those nations that inhabited them in pre-colonial times and how they relate to current environments. 

The Landmark Customs House is a Beaux-Arts Masterpiece with architectural elements worthy of any sketch book.

Any queries or to RSVP email directly to Frieda Christofides at events@nycurbansketchers.org 

DATE: WEDNESDAY February 28, 2024

LOCATION: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIANS

 Bowling Green, Manhattan

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

TRANSPORTATION:

4 & 5 trains to Bowling Green
1 train to Rector Street or South Ferry
R (& W on weekdays) trains to Whitehall Street
J & Z trains to Broad Street
2 & 3 trains to Wall Street

NOTES

Please RSVP directly to Frieda Christofides at events@nycurbansketchers.org 

 Looking for us? Call or text Frieda at 917-747-6060

Water and Bathrooms are available

There is no admission charge for the museum. 

Security Alert

The NMAI’s security measures ensure visitor safety and the protection of objects in the museum. Visitors are greeted upon entry to the building by Federal Protective Services who conduct a thorough hand-check of all bags, briefcases, purses, strollers, and containers. Visitors will walk through a metal detector or be hand-screened with an electronic wand by security personnel.

SUNDAY: Sketch the Forum

 

For Sunday, February 25, 2024

Concept and event by Joy Hecht

The question:  Help us figure out new places to sketch?  Joy Hecht responded, with a suggestion we visit a new public space created by Columbia University. at Broadway and 125th Street.

The Forum, located on the corner of 125th Street and Broadway, is a unique community gathering space.  The Forum includes  a huge street level space filled with tables and chairs.  Open to the public.  Warm.  Bathrooms.  All glass walls and interesting views, especially of the space under the 1 train, which is elevated at 125th Street.  From the western end, there's an interesting view towards the Hudson under the elevated West Side Highway.  There's lots of places around to get coffee, lunch, etc.  Free wifi, too.  

It looks like a great place for winter sketching.  Across the street is the Green Building, which has a large coffee house that also has a lot of seating, and trees inside, and similar views to the outside.  If it's nice out, we can also walk over to the Hudson River (about a block) and sketch there, too. 

DETAILS:

WHAT:  We will be sketching indoors at the Forum

WHEN:   We’ll start our day at  10:00 AM.  Sleeping late?  Beauty rest?  Bring your well rested beautiful self anyway.  We’ll be there.

WHERE:  The main entrance to The Forum is at the northwest corner of 125th Street & Broadway. There are additional entryways at 605 W. 125th Street, 3207 Broadway, and the intersection of 125th and 129th Streets. (see map below)

By Subway:

The closest subway stop is the 1 line at 125th Street & Broadway. 

By Bus:

Bus: The M4, M104 and BX15 buses stop nearby The Forum. 

By Car:

Street parking is somewhat easier on Sunday.  There are also parking lots in the area.  Click for details: 

https://theforum.columbia.edu/content/visiting-forum

LUNCH:  12:00 Noon  Pick up food in the area or Bringyourowni.  We will dine where we’re sketching.

Show and Tell:   3:00 PM.  We’ll share our drawings, tell art stories and discuss our art supplies.  (I’m just guessing about the second two items, but we’ll definitely do the first.)

NOTE:

-  Bring a stool - it gives you so many more options.  

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 Turtleback Zoo

Join us for a day of sketching at Turtleback Zoo

There are indoor locations. If it’s a balmy day, we can venture outside. 

We will find a carousel with different animals than the typical carousel. At the reptile house, it will be warm! Watching over us will be a life size pterodactyl that ruled the skies of earth 150,000 million years ago. Through large glass panels we will see turtles, snakes, and lizards. The Penguin House and Essex Farm are also indoors, so there’s plenty to sketch.

The cafe is closed, so bring your lunch.

When: Thursday, February 29th

Time: 10am

Where: 560 Northfield Ave. 

West Orange, NJ 07052

Parking is free, tickets are $14-16

RSVP to margaret.casagrande@gmail.com

There are no fees to sketch, open to all.

THURSDAY, February 22, 2024: Westchester Sketchers at the New Dawn Foundation, New Rochelle

 

"The New Dawn Foundation is a hidden gem so close to New York City, yet so calm and serene with old-world elegance that is hard to find." -- Anonymous Guest

The New Dawn Foundation is located in “The White House,” which is also known as The Oaks.  It was built in 1900 and served as a school for girls before being privately purchased in 1919 by Charles and Magdalene Klingenstein.  The Klingensteins often invited nurses and nursing students from Mount Sinai to come to The Oaks for rest and relaxation.  In 2008 the property was donated to the New Dawn Foundation. 

The historic estate house is located on the exclusive waterfront peninsula of Davenport Neck in New Rochelle, NY.  Today this beautiful haven in Westchester overlooking the Long Island Sound offers the space for healing, growth, and general respite from the pressures and challenges of everyday life.  

DETAILS:

When: Thursday, February 22, 2024

Location: The New Dawn Foundation

590 Davenport Avenue, New Rochelle 10805 

http://www.thenewdawnfoundation.org

Phone: (914) 632-8084

Time: 10:00 AM 

Directions by Car: 

http://www.thenewdawnfoundation.org/directions.html

NOTE: The New Dawn Foundation is easy to get to but you could pass it by as the entrance is small. Most directions will tell you to go to Pelham Road.  If you come to Pelham Road from North Ave., make a right onto Pelham Road, then make a left at Church Street (Trinity Elementary School is on the corner).  Drive down to light and make a right onto Davenport Ave.  Take this road down past the beach and catering halls.  After the Greentree Club, you will see a VERY SMALL entrance on the left.  (There is a boat yard on the right).  It will say New Dawn Foundation and also "The Oaks" which was the former name of the estate.  Drive slowly down the very curved and narrow road.  There will be a fork.  Go to the left where there is a small white mansion.  Marianne and Cathy will be there to guide your parking.

If you are coming from Weyman Ave., make a left onto Pelham Road and take a right on Church Street by the elementary school and follow the above directions.

Transportation from NYC: Take the Metro-North New Haven Line to the New Rochelle Station.  The 9:08 AM off-peak train from Grand Central arrives in New Rochelle at 9:41 AM.  Call Marianne (914-355-6507) to arrange for pick-up and ride to the Foundation.

Lunch: Bring your own lunch/snack/water.  We'll be lunching together.

Show & Tell: After lunch, we'll share stories and sketches during this social part of our day.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org
 
Looking for us? Call Cathy at 914-625-0766 or Marianne at 914-355-6507


NOTES:

• We will be sketching inside the mansion.
• If it is a nice and comfortable day, you can sketch outside so you might want to bring your stool.
• Restrooms are available in the mansion.

 

Weekday Sketchers at Fire Museum Wednesday

It is said that every kid wants to be a fireman. Perhaps you did or perhaps you didn't but being a fireman is a serious business with evolving technology and lots of nostalgia about the lore of fire fighting  Join us this week for a trip back in time and a fun look at a serious subject. 

From their website: 

Our two exhibit floors trace the development of firefighting in New York from the early bucket brigades to the present day. Displayed are objects that document the history of the volunteer and paid departments, from painted leather buckets to early motorized apparatus. A separate memorial exhibit honors the 343 members of FDNY-EMS who made the Supreme Sacrifice on September 11, 2001.

DATE:  WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2024

LOCATION:  FIRE MUSEUM 

                        278 Spring Street btw. Varick and Hudson Streets

STARTING TIME:  10:30 AM

TRANSPORTATION: C or E TRAIN TO SPRING STREET 

                                     Walk west 1 1/2 blocks to Museum

NOTES: 

• PLEASE RSVP directly to Margaret Casagrande at margaret.casagrande@gmail.com
• Looking for us? Call Margaret at 646-515-9913
• There is an admission charge of $10 for adults $8 for Seniors.  They accept various memberships as well 
• Bring a stool and be prepared to work in dry materials if necessary
• For more information about the museum click here: https://www.nycfiremuseum.org/

 

SATURDAY: Sketch the Essex Street Market

 

This event was planned by Shawne Cooper for 

this Saturday, February 17, 2024

We'll be sketching inside Essex Market

The 37,000-square-foot space houses 

loads of sketch-able shops,

tons of food vendors, groceries, and more.

We know that our city changes all the time. It’s exciting when new spaces are created and a bit sad when old places close.  Shawne has shared that the Essex Street Market, a  venerable sketching location, will be closing.

Essex Market has been a fixture on the Lower East Side since 1818.  The city-owned food hall and market went from a dingy, low-ceilinged building to a state-of-the-art, award-winning-architect-designed space that has floor-to-ceiling windows, an impossibly high sloped ceiling, and all-new kitchens and stalls. It’s three times the size and even has a shortened new name: Essex Market.

DETAILS

What:  We'll be sketching at the Essex Market.  We'll be indoors with the option to explore outside if it feels warm enough.

Where:  The Essex Market is located at 88 Essex St,  it's easy to get there. Let's linger for a while by the main door when we first arrive. We'll be using What'sApp to stay in touch.

When:  We're starting at 10 AM on SATURDAY, February 17th.  Sleeping late?   Come anyway - we'll be there.

How:  Take the F or M train to Delancey St. / Essex St.  The market is across the street.  (see map below)

Lunch:   We'll break for lunch together at 12:30 PM

Afternoon:   More sketching

Show and Tell:  At 3 PM we'll get together, probably in the eating area to share our drawings, tell stories and talk about art supplies

If you can’t find us

call or text Mark at 973-809-9128,

or Shawne at 917-880-9249

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

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