SATURDAY: Sketch the Meer

This event is hosted by Julie Kessler

Join us exploring and sketching Central Park's Harlem Meer

Harlem Meer ("meer" is Dutch for "lake") occupies the northeast corner of the park. It lies west of Fifth Avenue, south of 110th Street, and north of the Conservatory Garden. The Meer has a meandering shoreline that wraps around the bluff that contains the remains of gun emplacements erected for the War of 1812. It encompasses an area that's 11 acres (45,000 m2) in size.

For history buffs and the curious this section of the park were added to the original park site, which originally ended at 106th Street. The Meer, as Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the designers of Central Park, named it, was excavated at the lowest-lying section of the park, a semi-brackish, partly tidal wetland, which drained s l o w l y into the East River. It separated the former suburb of Harlem to the north from the lower part of Manhattan Island. To avoid the swamp, the Boston Post Road (which is mostly what we now know as Broadway) detoured westwards into the future park site.

For your sketching pleasure:  There are people fishing, people sitting on benches, and families hanging out. There's the quaint looking Dana A. Discovery Center (with bathrooms). The Conservatory Gardens just south of Harlem Meer (with more bathrooms) is a real treat.


DETAILS

WHERE:  Meet by the Dana Discovery Center.  In the northeast corner of Central Park (see photos and map).

WHEN:  Saturday, June 29th at 10 AM.  Sleeping late? Come anyway, we'll be there.

HOW:  Subways are a good choice.

LUNCH:  12:00 Noon - We'll eat together in the area around the Discovery Center.  There are limited food choices in the area, and some vendors.  A good strategy might include bringing your own food and drink.

Afternoon:  1 PM  Back to sketching the Harlem Meer.

Show and Tell:  3 PM - The social part of our day and not to be missed.   Meet at the Discovery Center, where we'll share our sketches and good stories.

NOTE:
_    Bring a hat!  Sketching can easily turn into a day of unexpected sunbathing.
-    Bring a stool if you have one, it gives you more options.

Click to Enlarge

If you can’t find us

call or text Julie at 646-704-2760

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