SATURDAY: Sketch Lincoln Center

June 2, 2018

Co-hosted by Cathy and Lewis Gutterman

Incredible Lincoln Center, one of NYC's cultural centers is a joy to sketch.  Loads of interesting buildings, views and fantastic people watching

DETAILS

When:   Saturday, June 2nd starting at 10 AM.  Running late?  Come anyway - we'll be there.

Where:  Lincoln Center.  We'll meet at the Fountain at the center of the quadrangle

Alice Tully Hall by Julie Zhou

Lunch: 12:30 PM  Eating al fresco in the gardens by the library at the back of Lincoln Center.  Bring your own or purchase from street vendors and local stores.

Afternoon:  1:30 PM Back to sketching.

Show and Tell:  3:00 PM Meet by the library again to find a shady spot where we will share drawings, good stories and talk about art supplies (we're so predictable).

In Case of Rain:
We'll divide our time between the The David Rubenstein Atrium, 61 W 62nd St. NYC and the lobby of Alice Tully Hall.  However I'm a optimist and intend to bring a hat to keep the sunshine out of my face.


NOTE:

-     Bring a stool if you have one, it gives you more options.

If you can’t find us

call or text Mark at 973-809-9128

or Cathy at 914-625-0766

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

Weekday Sketchers for June and July

In an effort to help you organize your calendar to be available for weekday sketching dates, here is the schedule for June and July.

Thursday June 7, 2018            Elizabeth St Garden

Thursday June 14, 2018          Jefferson Market Library and Garden 

Wednesday June 20, 2018       South Street Seaport

Thursday June 28, 2018           Madison Square Park

     Week of July 4th.                 No Meeting   

 Wednesday July 11, 2018       Prospect Park Boat House and Carousel

NOTE:   Due to the  The International Symposium will be taking place in Porto Portugal July 18-21, Raylie Dunkel will not be hosting NYC Urban Sketchers sessions for the last two weeks of July.  Anyone interested in hosting can contact Raylie to organize a session and get help in organizing and posting the information.

 

Weekday Sketchers Hit Broadway!

Imagine a giant snail crawling up Broadway, or a moose dancing with a tree, or a large mouse atop an acorn squash standing on 79th Street.  Impossible you say?  Not this summer when a whimsical installation by Kathy Ruttenberg has been placed at 6 locations along Broadway.   Here is an article about the exhibition: https://www.westsiderag.com/2018/03/22/a-giant-snail-and-more-public-art-coming-to-broadway-median

All of the sculptures are located on the plaza near subway stops along Broadway. We will meet first at 64th St near Lincoln Center.  After sketching for about an hour we will continue up Broadway to sketch as many as we can within a reasonable time. Some are easy walking distance and some might require hopping on a bus or subway.  Bring a stool, some lunch, a hat and plenty of pages to capture the "Broadway Show", In Drams Awake.

DATE: THURSDAY MAY 31, 2018

START TIME: 10:00 AM

LOCATON: 64TH STREET AND BROADWAY

TRANSPORTATION: 1 TRAIN TO 66TH STREET/LINCOLN CENTER.

Please RSVP directly to Raylie@Verizon.net.  Looking for us? Call/test Raylie at 201-978-6387 

SATURDAY: Sketch Columbia

Sketch event designed and hosted by Betsy Wiesendanger

This Saturday, 

let's sketch a picturesque green enclave 

in the middle of Manhattan: 

Columbia University

Columbia University was founded in 1754 as King's College by royal charter of King George II of England. It is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York and the fifth oldest in the United States.There is much to sketch here: sculpture (Rodin, anyone?) Italian Renaissance buildings, and stately trees. There's also a wonderful view from a pedestrian walkway over Amsterdam Avenue if you'd like to practice your perspective.

Saturday 10 AM:  We will meet on the steps of Lowe Library, by the statue of Alma Mater a popular gathering spot for students that provides a sweeping view of the central campus. Enter the campus from either Broadway or Amsterdam Avenue at 116th Street.

We'll sketch from 10-12; then meet for lunch outside Uris Hall, where there are lots of tables and chairs (and bathrooms and water fountains). (Bring your own lunch or buy from one of the many delis along Broadway and Amsterdam)

We'll then go back to sketching and meet by the statue again at 3:00 PM.  We'll walk from there to  Mel's Burger at Broadway and 111th for our Show and Tell where we will share drawings, good stories and a snack, beer or wine - if you're so inclined..

NOTES
-    There are many benches and perching spots around campus, but a stool will provide maximum flexibility.
-    The weather promises to be picture-perfect, so consider also bringing a hat.
-    I look forward to welcoming you to my alma mater and current employer.  BW

Click to Enlarge

If you can’t find us

call or text Betsy at 914-208-1399

or Mark at 973-809-9128

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

Weekday Sketchers in Hanover Square and More

Let's try this again on Wednesday . Hopefully we won't get rained out this week. 

Hanover Square is a pocket of green in the middle of the Financial District in Lower Manhattan.  Flanked by Pearl and Stone Streets the square has a beautiful brownstone building surrounded by  new skyscrapers,  giving us the opportunity to capture some of the oldest and newest buildings in NYC.    We will start in Hanover Square and then walk down the street to sketch Fraunces Tavern and then down Stone Street to capture the "scene" with the outdoor cafes on the cobblestone Street.  If time allows we can sketch the old building on Old Slip.  

Hanover Square

Francis Tavern

Stone Street

DATE: Wednesday , MAY 23, 2018

START TIME: 10:00 AM

LOCATION:  HANOVER SQUARE, at the intersection of Pearl, Hanover and Stone Streets. 

TRANSPORTATION: N, R, W to Whitehall Street.  Walk north to Pearl, turn right and follow Pearl to Hanover Sq.  OR  2. 3 to Wall Street. Follow Williams Street south to Hanover Square. 

Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at raylie@verizon.net.  Bring a stool and lunch if you like, or purchase lunch along the way.  Looking for us? Call/text Raylie at 201-978-6387.

SUNDAY: Sketch the Mary A. Whalen

The Mary Whalen

This event is hosted by Alan Wernicke

This Sunday we're going to explore the NYC waterway in Red Hook and have a special invitation to come on board and sketch the historic ship - The Mary A. Whalen.  Celebrating it's 80th birthday the ship is the last of her kind, a coastal oil tanker.  The Mary Whalen has been repurposed for public culture and education.  Owned and operated by PortSide NewYork,  NYC Urban Sketcher will have exclusive use of the ship from 10 AM to 1 PM.  In the afternoon they will start their usual tour schedule, so we'll have company.  If the weather is bad we can stay onboard ship sketching warm and dry for the entire time.

There are a number of ways to get there, including a wonderfully scenic ferry ride that leaves from the Wall Street area.  (see below)

DETAILS

WHEN:  Sunday, May 20th.  Official start time 10 AM.  Arriving late?  Take (our host) Alan's phone number

WHERE:  Approximately 194 Clinton Warf, Brooklyn, NY 11231.  The ship is actually on the water and doesn't have a real street address.

LUNCH:  12:30 PM - Bring your own to eat onboard or purchase from several stores and restaurants nearby.

AFTERNOON:  1:30 - Continue sketching.
 
HOW:

http://portsidenewyork.org/

By Water:  (see map below)

The new NYC Ferry stop for Red Hook is right next to us in Atlantic Basin. The ferry leaves from Wall Street / Pier 11 at 9:15 and 10:15.  An adult one way ticket is $2.75.  Please note that the times on the schedule are departure times, plan accordingly to ride the ferry. Before you board, be sure to present your ticket to the deckhand and enjoy the ride!

From New York Water Taxi stop at Fairway, Walk up Van Brunt Street to Pioneer Street, take a left, walk to our Pioneer and Conover Street gate.  From IKEA is a longer walk (left on Beard, right on Van Brunt, left on Pioneer) or you can take the B61 bus to the Pioneer Street stop.

By Subway:  (see map below)

Take F/G to Smith & 9th Street stop.  Take a right out of the station to Smith St. Cross Smith and walk one short block to Mill St. Turn right, heading towards Hamilton Avenue (under the BQE). Make the crossing, underneath the highway, and continue straight on Mill St. Walk through NYCHA public housing. Enter Coffey Park at Dwight St. and continue straight across the park to exit at Pioneer Street. Walk down Pioneer Street two blocks to the corner of Pioneer and Conover Street and enter a small pedestrian gate in the chain link fence there. The ship is ahead of you and slightly to your right.

By Subway & Bus:

Take the A train to Jay Street Borough hall. Exit the subway station, walk two blocks south on Jay St, across Fulton, to the bus stop on the left or east side of the street at the Smith St and Livingston Street stop and take the B61 bus heading to Red Hook. Get off at Van Brunt and Verona Streets. Continue south on Van Brunt, take a right on Pioneer and enter the gate in the chain link fence at the corner of Conover Street. 

SHOW AND TELL:   3 PM - If weather permits we'll have an outdoor artshow of our work using the chain link fence.  If indoors is a better idea a  short walktakes us to the Brooklyn Ice House at 318 Van Brunt St (phone - (718) 222-1865)  where we will share drawings, good stories a snack or beer or wine if you're so inclined.


NOTE:

_    Bring a hat bring and an umbrella  (good for the rain or sun)
-     Bring a stool if you have one, it gives you more options. 
-     Be prepared for rain and hope for the sun.

By Ferry - Click to Enlarge

By Subway with Walk:  Click to Enlarge

If you can’t find us

call or text Alan Wernicke at (917) 685-5748 

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

Weekday Sketcher Cancel for Thursday 

Rain, rain go away. Urban Sketchers want to play!

The weather forecast for Thursday is grim, grim, grim.  It is a good day to sketch from your windows or a nearby coffee shop.  See you all next week. 

Weekday Sketchers in Hanover Square and More

Let's try this again on Wednesday . Hopefully we won't get rained out this week. 

Hanover Square is a pocket of green in the middle of the Financial District in Lower Manhattan.  Flanked by Pearl and Stone Streets the square has a beautiful brownstone building surrounded by  new skyscrapers,  giving us the opportunity to capture some of the oldest and newest buildings in NYC.    We will start in Hanover Square and then walk down the street to sketch Fraunces Tavern and then down Stone Street to capture the "scene" with the outdoor cafes on the cobblestone Street.  If time allows we can sketch the old building on Old Slip.  

Hanover Square

Francis Tavern

Stone Street

DATE: Wednesday , MAY 23, 2018

START TIME: 10:00 AM

LOCATION:  HANOVER SQUARE, at the intersection of Pearl, Hanover and Stone Streets. 

TRANSPORTATION: N, R, W to Whitehall Street.  Walk north to Pearl, turn right and follow Pearl to Hanover Sq.  OR  2. 3 to Wall Street. Follow Williams Street south to Hanover Square. 

Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at raylie@verizon.net.  Bring a stool and lunch if you like, or purchase lunch along the way.  Looking for us? Call/text Raylie at 201-978-6387.

Gamed Called on Account of Rain

With Mother's Day on Sunday, this Saturday looked like our best shot for a sketching date.  The weather report says 100% chance for rain and they're throwing in thunderstorms for good measure. 

  Sadly, there is no planned sketch event for this coming weekend.

I'm sorry.  Could be a good time to sharpen your indoor sketching skills, or to just play in the rain.

We had a great time last week at the Botanic Gardens last Saturday.  Hope to see you the following week for our usual sketch event.

Weekday Sketchers at Hudson County Court House

Is three times a charm?  We have been snowed out twice on this program. Hopefully it won't happen this time!!

There was a time when public buildings were grander than grand and were decorated to inspire the better angels in all of us.  The Hudson County Court House is one of those places  

Travel across the Hudson River and back in time to a gem hidden in plain sight.   Located on a busy street, in a less than beautiful neighborhood, this building sits proudly on a small grassy knoll, reminding us of a time when Jersey City was a bit grander and bit shinier than it is now. (One could argue that along with NYC's  Tammany Hall era, it was also a time of greater government corruption and suppression, but that's another discussion.)

We will explore the grand staircases, beautiful murals, and hopefully be able to sketch in the Board of Chosen Freeholders room, decorated with Howard Pyle's murals, depicting the early Dutch and English settlements in Hudson County.

Here is an article about the building and the restoration.  https://jerseydigs.com/william-j-brennan-hudson-county-courthouse-history/

Freeholders Room w Howard Pyle Mural

DATE: WEDNESDAY MAY 9 2018

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION:  HUDSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE

                         595 Newark Ave, Jersey City, NJ

DIRECTION:  Take the PATH to Journal Square. The courthouse is a short walk from the station. 

When you exit the station turn right to the corner.  Turn right again onto Pavonia Ave.  Walk one long block and cross Summit Ave. Then turn left turn onto Central Ave. Walk one block to Newark Ave turn right and walk to the Hudson County Courthouse.  Make sure you go to the Hudson County Court House (see picture above ) and not the modern building which is the Hudson County Administrative Offices.  

(Please note: for some reason the map program won't indicate the Hudson Co. Courthouse.  It is pointing to the Admin. Blgd.  Just walk past this to the Courthouse.  You can't miss it! )

You can bring a stool and some lunch, or purchase lunch at one of the delis or fast food places along Newark Ave.  You might want to bring some binoculars to see the murals a bit better.

Depending on time, interest and the weather, we can walk to Newark Avenue for lunch in "Little India".  This unique and colorful neighborhood will offer us some interesting street scenes with some wonderful murals that have been painted on the sides of buildings. 

Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at raylie@verizon.net. Looking for us? Call/text Raylie at 201-978-6387

SATURDAY: Sketch NY Botanic Garden

Big weekend at the NY Botanic Gardens.  Lots of activities including a Garden Art & Antiques Fair, and a Plein-Air Invitational.  Many well know plein air artists will be there including Elissa Gore, Jason Das, Marc Taro Holmes and James Gurney.

The Garden has invited NYC Urban Sketchers to participate.  If you've never sketched at the Botanic Gardens it's a wonderful place.  For more information about the entire weekend's events, click here:  https://www.nybg.org/event/garden-art-antiques-fair/plein-air-invitational/

The invitation includes admission to the garden and parking. However YOU MUST register in advance (see note below) to receive the free entrance.  You can check in at the Mosholu Entrance where your name will be on an attendance list.  The Garden is open from 10 AM to 6 PM.

Click here to add your name to the free admission/parking list:  

If you want to add your name for Free Admission and/or Free Parking use this link, not the one I provided earlier:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UpIVFylxhZ165rwl0lXS6EpfkLWo2q1NxizXIWpqSfc/edit?usp=sharing

Use this link not the one provided earlier

DETAILS

WHERE:  NY BOTANIC GARDEN, 2950 Southern Boulevard, Bronx NY.  We will meet at the Haupt Conservatory a stunning example of Victorian-style glasshouse artistry, and a New York City Landmark.  You'll find us at the walkway, under the trees, on the path to the stairs to the main entrance to the greenhouse.

WHEN: Saturday MAY 5, 2018 at 10 AM

HOW:  The $28 admission (and parking) is free for registered Urban Sketchers - add your name to the sign-up sheet (see link above)

TRANSPORTATION:  PLEASE GO TO THE NYBG FOR TRAVEL INFO BY CAR OR SUBWAY. Click here for a link to the web site: https://www.nybg.org/visit/

LUNCH: 12:30 - We'll meet back at the Conservatory.  Bring your own food or buy something at the Pine Tree Cafe.  We'll be dining al fresco

AFTERNOON:  1:30 PM  Back to sketching the gardens.

SHOW and TELL:  3:00 PM - Meet back at the Conservatory.  We'll find a shady spot to share drawings and good stories

NOTE:
-     Bring a hat
-     Bring a stool if you have one, it gives you more options.
-     Add your name to be registered with the NYBG staff for free entrance.
-     If you need parking, please indicate that on the form
-     If you don't register you are still welcome to join the group but will have to pay the entrance fee. 

If you can’t find us

call or text Mark at 973-809-9128

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

Weekday Sketchers at NY Botanic Garden on Friday

The NY Botanic Garden is having their annual plant sale from Friday to Sunday and we have been invited to come and capture the event in our sketchbooks.

In addition to the sale of plants, shrubs and trees that are guaranteed to be apartment friendly, there will be demonstrations, music and workshop on container gardening.    For more information about the entire weekend's events, click here: https://www.nybg.org/event/garden-art-antiques-fair/weekend-specialty-plant-sale/

The invitation includes admission to the garden and parking. However YOU MUST register in advance (see note below) to receive the free entrance.  You can check in at the Mosholu Entrance where you name will be on an attendance list.  The Garden is open from 10 AM to 5 PM. We will meet at 11:00 and make our way to the sale where we can work at our leisure to capture the events, the people, the plants and the excitement.   Bring some lunch or purchase it in the cafe. 

DATE: FRIDAY MAY 4, 2018

STARATING TME: 11:00 AM

LOCATION: NY BOTANIC GARDEN

                       2950 Southern Boulevard, Bronx NY

             NOTE: We will meet at the Mosholu Entrance. 

TRANSPORTATION:  PLEASE GO TO THE NYBG FOR TRAVEL INFO BY CAR OR SUBWAY. Click here for a link to the web site: https://www.nybg.org/visit/

If you are going you MUST RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at Raylie@verizon.net.  You name will be registered with the NYBG staff for free entrance. If you need parking, please indicate that in you RSVP  If you don't RSVP you are still welcome to join the group but you will have to pay the entrance fee.