SATURDAY: Sotheby’s Auction House

Sketching Sotheby’s 

Saturday April 11

(a sketching event curated by Joy Hecht for your enjoyment)

The world famous Sotheby’s not only auctions off works of art and other valuables, they also display them in many floors of galleries that are open to the public.  

Sotheby's opened the doors of its New York offices in 1955. As the current headquarters for Sotheby's global business, the New York office is the site of nearly 100 high-profile auctions each year, from eagerly anticipated sales of Impressionist & Modern Art, Contemporary Art and extraordinary Jewelry to those of rare historical objects such as the Magna Carta and the Emancipation Proclamation. During the past three years, the New York auctions have realized $5.35 billion.  Sotheby's New York features exhibition space on six floors, a soaring nine-story glass atrium and galleries designed by museum architect Richard Gluckman.  Sotheby's expansive 22,000-square-foot space includes a state-of-the-art lighting system that enables nuances and subtleties of color and surface to be strikingly revealed.

Different galleries are open on different days. Collections are only up for a week or two, and they change constantly. Look at their website and you’ll get tantalizing glimpses of all kinds of delightful things that have already been auctioned off  – some lovely Chinese paintings inspired by spring, a New York City collection of objects and  artworks, lots more that we can’t see because someone has already bought them. 

This Saturday three collections will be on display:

1. Designer Showhouse – Thirteen interior designers and design firms have built a home in one of its museum quality gallery spaces where each designer created a room using a diverse selection of fine and decorative art from a wide array of collecting categories ranging from European furniture, silver and porcelain to modern paintings, prints and photographs.
2. Important European Silver, Vertu, and Russian Works of Art – A superb selection of Russian works, including decorative pieces by Fabergé, a refined portrait by Court artist Vladimir Hau, important bronzes from distinguished private collections.
3. Chaste Paper – A selling exhibition featuring drawings by the masters of Minimalism. This show explores the ways in which the pioneers of the Minimalist movement investigated form on paper as early as the 1960s and 70s. 

In addition, there are all sorts of interesting objects in the lobby, including their wine collection –want to practice sketching bottles all in a row? Or perhaps the statue of liberty?




DETAILS:

Where:  Sotheby’s  New York City, 1334 York Avenue - On the east side between 71st and 72nd Streets

When:  We will meet in the lobby at 11:00. (The galleries open at 10:00, if you want to get there earlier.) From 11:00 till 12:30, pick your spot and have fun sketching.

Lunch:  12:30 we’ll head up to the Sotheby’s café on the 10th floor for lunch, chat, and sketching (of course). 

Afternoon:  1:15 - return to the galleries or the lobby,... or try your hand at the views off the roof outside the café, if the weather is inviting

Show and Tell:   3:30 reconvene in the lobby, for a short walk to Finnegans Wake Pub, 1361 1st Ave on the north west corner of 73rd St. and 1st Avenue, to share drawings, good stories and beer, coffee, tea or wine if you're so inclined (food too if you like).

Directions to Sotheby’s:

• The nearest subway stop is the Lexington Avenue local stop at 68th Street (the 6 train). 
• The express trains (the 4 and 5) stop at 59th Street and 86th Street. 
•  The 72nd Street crosstown bus will take you right there; the 68th Street crosstown will get you to 68th and York. 
•  If you’re coming by subway and the weather is bad, you can hop onto the 68th Street crosstown at Lex and 68th Street, instead of walking the four rather long blocks from the subway to York Avenue. 

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Can't find us?  

Call or Text Joy 202-494-1162

or Mark - 973-809-9128

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