SATURDAY: Westchester Sketchers at The Peekskill Museum

 

The Peekskill Museum is a community-supported cultural organization, which had its beginnings in 1946 with the acquisition of the former Herrick family home.

Its mission is to collect, preserve, study, and display objects, documents, photographs, and other items relating to the history of Peekskill and its immediate surrounding area. It offers information about Peekskill and regional history through exhibits, programs, and publications for educational and cultural purposes.

While artifacts and imagery are distributed throughout the Herrick House, the Peekskill Museum has several permanent collections, including the Ladies' Victorian Bedroom, the Cast Iron Stove collection, and the Marion Boyle Children's Room with a 1939 Soapbox Derby Racer and the Museum's infamous giant ball of string.

DETAILS:

DATE: SATURDAY, March 4, 2023

Start time: 1:00 PM (NOTE: LATER START TIME)

LOCATION: The Peekskill Museum https://peekskillmuseum.org/ 124 Union Avenue, Peekskill NY 10566 Phone: 914-736-0473

DIRECTIONS: https://peekskillmuseum.org/visit/
FROM Grand Central Terminal, NYC: Take the Metro-North Hudson Line to the Peekskill station. It is a short taxi ride to the Museum in town.

SHOW and Tell: 3 PM. Due to the later start time, we will not break for lunch.

NOTES:

• Hours: Saturday 1-4 PM
• Admission: $5.00
• Drawing stools are permitted.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at cathygutterman@verizon.net

Looking for us? 

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

SATURDAY: Sketch the Transit Museum

A Trip Into the Past

This sketch event is being hosted by Danna Feintuch.  

If  you're a native New Yorker this could be like stepping into a time machine.  For everyone else it will be like being on a movie set.  This museum is a NYC hidden gem.  The entrance to the museum  (see photo below) looks like any normal subway entrance.

The Transit Museum is housed in a historic 1936 IND subway station in  Downtown Brooklyn.  You can find the entrance at the corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn  Street. The subway entrance stairs lead down to the mezzanine and platform.

The Entrance to the Museum

DETAILS
What:   We’ll be sketching at The Transit Museum on Saturday, March 4, 2023

Where:   The Transit Museum is located at 99 Schermerhorn Street, at the corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn
 
When:  Saturday at  10 AM.  Running late?  Don't worry - come anyway, we'll be there.
         

Admission:  Adults $10 

                              Children 2 – 17 years of age $5 

                              Senior Citizens (62+): $5

How:

-   By Subway:  

•  2,3,4, to Borough Hall Station

•  R to Court Street Station

•  A, C, G to Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street Station

•  A, C, F, R to Jay Street/MetroTech Station

-  By Car

• Take your chances with street parking

Lunch:  12:00  PM.  There are several food options on Court Street nearby.  The museum does not have a cafeteria.

Afternoon:  1:00 PM  Back to sketching

Show and Tell:  3:00 PM - This is the social part of our day where we will share drawings and good stories.  Location to be determined during our lunch break.

NOTE:
 
-     Bring a stool, it gives you more options, but be careful not to impede traffic

​

Can't find us?  

Call or Text DANNA - 646-773-6820

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

 

Weekday Sketchers at Museum of the City of New York Thursday

Join us this week as we travel up Museum Mile to the Museum of the City of New York. If you haven't been to this small but enticing museum, now is your chance to engage in the New York State of Mind! 

Besides the ongoing permanent exhibits, there are two temporary exhibits: one on food and one on religion, taken from the perspective of how we experience each in this multifaceted city. 

For more information about the museum and the exhibitions, both temporary and permanent, click here: https://www.mcny.org

DATE: THURSDAY MARCH 2. 2023

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK

                        1220 Fifth Ave at 103 Street

TRANSPORTATION: 

• 6 to 103 Street Station then walk 3 blocks west
• 2, 3 to 110 Street/Central Park North, then walk one block east to 5th ave and then south to the museum.

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at Rayliedunkel1@gmail.com
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• There is an entrance free for the museum:  $20 for Adults, $14 for Seniors. The museum accepts American Alliance of Museum membership for 2 people. 
• Bathrooms and water are available
• Amy's Bread runs a small cafe on the second floor with a limited menu
• Bring a stool
• Be prepared to work in dry materials

We're Off to Philly

 WE’RE OFF TO PHILLY

Sunday, June 4, 2023, to Wednesday, June 7, 2023

 

Come to Philadelphia with us and join in the fun!  

Enjoy the camaraderie with your fellow NYC Urban Sketchers and discover all the historic and art sites just waiting to be sketched.

 

Preliminary Schedule:

Sunday, June 4 – PM Sketch in Independence National Historic Park.  In case of rain, sketch at the nearby Museum of the American Revolution.

 

Monday, June 5 – AM Sketch at the Reading Terminal Market (optional).  PM or all day, sketch at the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Art.

 

Tuesday, June 6 - Sketch at the Benjamin Franklin Museum in Independence National Historic Park. Try to capture the Betsy Ross House while you are there.  ​OR Head over to the Franklin Institute for the Disney 100: The Exhibition.

 

Wednesday, June 7, AM only - Explore the Delaware River Waterfront area by our hotel, Elfreths Alley, a lovely residential historic street, and the Independence Seaport Museum.

 

Lodging - The Holiday Inn Express at Penn's Landing, 100 North Christopher Columbus Boulevard is holding rooms for us at a discounted rate until April 4.  To register, call them at (215) 627-7900 and use the code NY ART GROUP to get the rate of $145 to $149 per night.  Come for one day visit or overnight.  It’s up to you.

 

Additional Information: There is so much to see and do in Philadelphia.  Here are some other suggestions depending on your schedule:

• Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens on South Street, a fun gallery of mural art.  Advance tickets are needed.  South Street also features many cute stores and eateries.
• Bartram's Garden - beautiful Riverside gardens featuring a nursery and community farm.
• U Penn Boathouse on the Schuylkill River, about 1/4 mile away from the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Arts.
• Fairmount Water Works with its Greek Revival Architecture is also very close to the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Art.
• Geno’s Steaks, a real Philly Steak eatery, is sketchable too (need a car for this).

 

Interested? Contact Marianne Milzoff at mmilzoff@optimum.net.

SATURDAY: Sketch Penn Station

I walked through Penn Station from 7th Avenue through to the Moynihan Train Hall at 9th Avenue.  I could scarcely recognize the place.  A lot of the old stuff is still there but it’s certainly changed.  

What made the old Penn Station ugly, in my opinion, was the cramped feeling from the low ceilings.  It was a place to pass through.  The new Penn Station has huge interior vistas.    So be sure to bring your huge interior vista pencils for what should be a great day of sketching.

Enter here W33 and 7th Ave

We'll meet at the bottom of the escalator​

​

DETAILS

What:   We’ll be sketching at Penn Station on Saturday, February 25, 2023

Where:   Enter the station from West 33rd St. and 7th Ave.  The photos above show the entrance and the location by the escalators where we are meeting.

 

When:  Meet at 10 AM.  

How:

-   By Subway:  

• There are many subways nearby, it’s a major transportation stop  

-  By Car

• Take your chances with street parking

Lunch:  12:00  PM.  There are loads of places where you can eat or purchase food.  You can also bring your own.

Afternoon:  1:00 PM  Back to sketching

Show and Tell:  3:00 PM - This is the social part of our day where we will share drawings and good stories.  Location to be determined during our lunch break.

NOTE:

 

-     Bring a stool, it gives you more options, but be careful not to block traffic

Can't find us?  

Call or Text Mark - 973-809-9128

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

THURSDAY: Westchester Sketchers at the Rye Arts Center for the Artists of the Night Exhibit

GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR INNER GOTHIC CHILD

The Gothic movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries was attentive to the dark side of human nature and the chaos of irrationality.  This week we will tune into this energy by visiting the latest exhibition of the Rye Arts Center, "Artists of the Night: Gothic Literature Scenes, Songs, & Stories."    

The Rye Arts Center Gallery is proud to announce its unprecedented exhibit featuring more firsts in one event than ever offered before.  Quintessential, Gothic Literature-inspired art by globally acclaimed masters — the rarely displayed art of Edward Gorey, a collection of iconic illustrations by Charles Addams, the legendary work of Greg Hildebrandt, the never-before-seen “Dr. Jekyll and Me” masterpiece by Beatrice Coron created especially for this exhibit, a debut!  

So, don't get left in the dark!  Let's have some fun as we draw images to invoke the literature of Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, and the like.  Bring a bit of the Gothic with you if you like, perhaps wear black lace, nail polish, or veils.

   

DETAILS:

  
DATE: THURSDAY, February 23, 2023

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 Rye station. Please contact Marianne Milzoff at mmilzoff@optimum.net to arrange transportation from the station.

SHOW and Tell: 12:30 PM in the Center's back room. Bring your lunch or purchase it on nearby Purchase Street.  Following that you may stay longer. The Center closes at 5 pm.

NOTES: 

• Our Host, Vicky Blank, Operations and Program Manager has been most welcoming. 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 cathygutterman@verizon.net

Looking for us? 

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

 Weekday Sketchers at Renee and Chaim Gross Foundation Wednesday

Chaim Gross Foundation

Behind a fence just south of Washington Square Park is one of NYC's hidden treasures, The Mimi and Chaim Gross Foundation.Join us this week as we explore the workshop, studio, and living quarters of this mid century artist and sculptor.  

Studio and Workshop

Chaim Gross was an immigrant who fled war-torn Europe in the 1920s and eventually came to study and work in NYC when it was a the thriving center of mid century art: artists, actors and writers were working to push boundaries in every art form.  Gross's works were no exception.  

To learn more about Chaim Gross and the Foundation, click here: https://www.rcgrossfoundation.org

Following a common practice in the art world, artists traded their works with other of their contemporaries, resulting in incredible personal collections.  You can view Gross's collection which hangs in their apartment and the stairwell of the building.  Gross also was an avid collector of African artifacts and art which is also on display in this apartment. 

PLEASE NOTE:  Due to the rather small space, we will be limited to 15 participants.  YOU MUST RSVP to Raylie Dunkel at Rayliedunkel1@gmail.com to reserve your space.  There will be a waiting list as well, so if you find you can't come, you must let Raylie know so that another member can take you place.  There is no entrance fee but donations to the foundation are welcomed.

DATE: WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2023

STARTING TIME: 11:00 AM

LOCATION: 548 LAGUARDIA PLACE

TRANSPORTATION: A, C, E, B, D, F, M t West 4th Street Washington Square, N, R, W, to 8th Street See map below for walking directions 

NOTES

• YOU MUST RSVP directly to Rayliedunkel1@gmail.com to reserve your place
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• Water and bathrooms are available
• Bring a stool.
• Be prepared to work in dry materials
• We will break for lunch outside the Foundation

New Jersey Sketchers at Hudson County Courthouse

Join us this month to explore an architectural treasure that was almost "history" in its own right.  Fortunately this building didn't fall to the Robert Moses mentality of demolishing old buildings to make way for parking garages.   Vacant and in terrible condition, local residents banded together to save this incredible building. By raising funds to renovate the building and save the historic murals, the community performed a service to us all.  Ironically the modern building erected next to it in the 1950s to replace this "old hulk" is now in such disrepair that IT is being torn down and replaced with yet another newer courthouse. 

Inside or out, this building will provide multiple sketch sites: the marble exterior, the beautiful skylight, the murals on every wall and the special Howard Pyle murals in the Governor's Room.

For information about the building's history and architecture, click here: https://evergreene.com/projects/hudson-county-courthouse/

DATE: THURSDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2023

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: HUDSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE

                        595 NEWARK AVENUE, JERSEY CITY NJ

TRANSPORTATION: 

                BY CAR: Please check a map program for direction. There is limited street parking. Local garages are available. 

                Public Transportation:  PATH train to Journal Square. See map below for walking directions from the PATH Station

                From NYC: Take any subway to the PATH. Take the train to either Journal Square or Newark

NOTES

• RSVP directly to either Raylie Dunkel at Rayliedunkel1@gmail.com or Margaret Casagrande at margaret.casagrande@gmail.com
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445 or Margaret at 646-515-9913
• Bring a stool
• Water and bathrooms are available in the building
• This is a public building. There is no entrance fee
• This is a working courthouse. Trails are in session and offices are occupied. Please be aware of the foot traffic in the building.  Do not block entrances to offices or courtrooms. Courtrooms are generally open to the public but ask permission before entering.
• We will break for lunch and our show and tell outside the building

Howard Pyle Murals

  

 

WINTERTALK - Back to the Garden

 

NYC Urban Sketchers WINTERTALK

Lois Bender’s

“Back to the Garden”

​​

Imagine walking through a garden, the scent of fresh blooms and the sound of rustling leaves filling your senses. As you stroll along the paths, you can't help but feel a sense of peace and tranquility. It's no wonder that gardens have been revered throughout history as paradises on earth.

Join me on a journey "Back to the Garden," inspired by the iconic lyrics of Joni Mitchell's "Woodstock" song. Together, we'll explore the history of garden styles, from the ancient Persian Paradise Garden to the grandeur of Baroque gardens in Europe, and even modern contemporary gardens.

As we explore the beauty and diversity of gardens around the world, we'll discuss what inspires us as urban sketchers. From the majesty of France's Jardin du Luxembourg to the vibrant colors of Morocco's Majorelle, and even the serene beauty of San Francisco's Filoli Gardens, each garden tells a unique story.

Joni Mitchell's call to return to nature in the midst of the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s resonates with us even today, as we face yet another war in Ukraine. In times of turmoil, it's important to remember the healing power of gardens and the role they play in our lives.

So, let's go "Back to the Garden" and celebrate the beauty and wonder of these natural sanctuaries. It's time to rekindle our connection with nature and find solace in its peaceful embrace.​"​

There is no cost - we​ do this because we enjoy getting together to talk about art. ​ ​

Join us ​on Zoom ​for an interesting virtual ​talk - Tuesday at 7:30 PM -  February 21st. 
Reserve your seat by clicking here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wintertalk-back-to-the-garden-tickets-548102739047

​

(Your Zoom login info will be sent on the day of the talk via email)​

SATURDAY: Sketch the Museum of Natural History

Now that the holiday rush is over, our museums have returned to their usual bustling state. Among all the city museums, the Natural History museum is one of my favorite places to sketch. There is so much to see, and since it's family-oriented, there's lots of people sketching too.

This Saturday, there are several special events including a Sharks exhibit, Worlds Beyond Earth exhibit, a film about the Serengeti, and an exhibit featuring Extinct and Endangered creatures.

Akeley Hall of African Mammals.

DETAILS

WHEN: This Saturday, February 18, 2023 starting at 10:00 AM.

WHERE: The American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park West.  

SUGGESTION:   Enter the museum from the 81st entrance instead of the main entrance on Central Park West.  It's less cr
owded, and has shorter lines .

MEET AT:   Upon arriving we will meet by the cafeteria, which is the lower level by the subway entrance.  If you're late we will have scattered - meet us for lunch.  Anyone you see sketching in the museum is likely to be with our group and friendly.

HOW:
By Subway
Subway: 

Take the C to 81st Street or 
The 1 train stops at Broadway and West 79th Street, a two block walk to the museum

ADMISSION
The American Museum of Natural History has a suggested admission price. This pay-what-you-wish option is only available on-site at the ticket counters

-  Adults $23
-  Students $18
-  Seniors (65+) $18


LUNCH:  12:00  Noon - There is a Cafe in the museum on the lower level. Sit towards the back.  If you're there first sit in an area with open available seating - so we can eat together. The food is good but on the expensive side.  Bring your own food if you like.  We've done that many times.

AFTERNOON:  1:15 PM - Back to sketching at the museum

SHOW and TELL:  3 PM. At our lunch spot in the lower level cafeteria. Show and Tell is the social part of the day where we share our day's drawings and tell cool art stories.  We might even talk about art supplies 



NOTES:
-  Bring a stool if you have one.  It increases your options and the museum doesn't mind, but you can't block the walking paths.
-  Mostly the guards are friendly and happy to see us sketching, but always be courteous and friendly. 

If you can’t find us

call or text Mark at 973-809-9128

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