Weekday Sketchers Capture the Sculptures in Lower Manhattan

Joie de Vivre in Zucotti Park 

We rush, rush, rush around this incredible city we live in and hardly take notice of the sculptures on our streets, plazas and parks.   This week we will slow down and really take notice of the abundance of sculptures in the financial district: Zucotti Park, Chase Plaza, Nevelson Plaza, Bowling Green.   Join us as we capture these giants in our midst.  

This selection of sites isn't a complete exploration of the sculptures in lower Manhattan.  You are welcome to go where you please and work on others not mentioned here.  Battery Park is a rich source of material as is Brookfield Place.  Trinity Church and Oculus are other alternatives. 

And of course there is alway Lady Liberty in the Harbor that can be viewed from multiple places along the riverfront. 

DATE: WEDNESDAY May 17, 2023

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

MEETING LOCATION:  ZUCOTTI PARK

 We will meet at the corner of Broadway and Liberty St, near the large red sculpture called Zoie de Vivre (see picture above).  Check the map below for other sketch locations

TRANSPORTATION:  N, R, W to Cortland St, 4. 5 to Fulton Street

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at Rayliedunkel1@gmail.com
• Looking for us? Call or Text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• Bring a stool
• Food, water and bathrooms are located in various buildings in the area
• For information about these sculptures and others, click here: http://www.blueofthesky.com/publicart/index.htm

You are welcome to explore these sculptures or any others in the area

Site 1: Zucotti Park: 

            Joie de Vivre by di Suvero 

            Red Cube by Noguchi 

            Double Check by Seward Johnson

            Steel Rose by Genzken

Site 2: Chase Plaza

            Four Trees by Dubuffet

            Sunken Garden by Noguchi

Site 3: Nevelson Plaza

                    Don Quixote and others by Louise Nevelson

Site 4: Bowling Green Park

        Charging Bull by di Modica

​SATURDAY: Sketch the Conservatory Gardens

 

​SATURDAY:  Sketch the Conservatory Gardens

The Conservatory Garden in Central Park has shaded alleys, beautiful flowers, water features and statuary...  a perfect sketch site.  Join us Saturday for a day of sketching in the only formal gardens in Central Park.  

Enter between 104th and 105th Street through the beautiful gates and you will find three different gardens, an English garden, a French garden and an Italian garden, each with its own special features and beauty.

DETAILS:

What:   We’ll be sketching the Conservatory Garden​s​ in Central Park, which are located off Fifth Avenue between 103rd and 106th Streets

When:  SATURDAY, May 13, 2023 starting at 10 AM

Where:  Meet at the center garden​s​​ located off Fifth Avenue between 103rd and 106th Streets​​

How:  Subway:

Take the #6 train to the 103rd Street stop. It’s about a two and half block walk to the park

Lunch:  12:00 Noon - We'll eat in the garden or nearby if picnicking isn't permitted in the Garden.  Bring your own or chance buying from vendors in the park.

Afternoon:   1:00 back to sketching

Show and Tell:   3:00 PM - Location to be determined (probably our lunch spot).  We’ll share our drawings, and talk about the things artists talk about when they get together.

​The entrance to the Conservatory Gardens​ where we'll meet

NOTES:

-    Bring a stool if you have one.  Although the park has benches they often are not located with the perfect view.

-    The current weather forecast for Saturday is “iffy”  with a 50% chance of rain.  Since Sunday is Mother’s Day,  let’s hope for a good sketching day for Saturday.  If the forecast gets worse we’ll cancel, but so far - all systems are “Go”!

click to enlarge

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 Urban Sketchers at Montclair Iris Garden Thursday May 18, 2023

The Presby Memorial Iris Garden in Montclair is referred to as the "Rainbow on the Hill"....and that it is!  With thousands of bearded irises in bloom, this is truly spectacular scene to  capture in a sketchbook. 

Join us for a day of sketching only available for a few weeks in the spring. Bring a stool and your brightest watercolors to get the best views and brightest colors onto your paper. 

For more information about the gardens and driving directions, visit the web site: https://www.presbyirisgardens.org

Sketching Tip:  the iris looks like a complicated flower but it is really easy to draw once you know that there are only 6 petals on every flower.  Three are curved down and three are curved up.  The little "beards" run along the midline of the downward curved petals.   That's it!  Add a green stem and some unopened buds and you've done it!

DATE:  THURSDAY MAY 18, 2023

               

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: PRESBY MEMORIAL IRIS GARDN

                      474 UPPER MOUNTAIN ROAD, MONTCLAIR NJ

DIRECTIONS: Please visit the web site for directions by car and public transit: https://www.presbyirisgardens.org 

NOTE:  This location is very easy to get to by public transit via NJ Transit

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at Rayliedunkel1@gmail.com
• Looking for us? Call or text  Raylie Dunkel at 201-273-0445
• Bring a stool and lunch. There are no food services 
• There are bathrooms on site
• There is no parking on site. You must park on the street along side the garden. 
• Please visit the web site https://www.presbyirisgardens.org for and read the page on Garden Etiquette 
• We will break for lunch at the tables at the top of the hill
• this is the start of the NJ group meeting twice a month.  
  Watch for info on the 5/25 joint session with the Westchester Group in Nyack NY

Second Workshop Added - SeeTheLines: Shape and Sharpen New York City - May 27th

Alan Ramiro’s first Workshop on Saturday morning, May 27th has sold out.

Another Workshop with Alan has been added on Saturday afternoon, May 27th. 

The workshop runs from 2 to 5pm. 

See the link below for more information and registration on Eventbrite.com:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/afternoon-seethelines-shape-and-sharpen-new-york-city-with-alan-ramiro-tickets-632660543717?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb#search

THURSDAY: Westchester Sketchers at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle

 

This 105-acre island property is connected to New Rochelle by a drawbridge built in the 1920s. After Playland, Glen Island is the second most widely used park in the County Parks system. One of Westchester’s unique jewels, it was initially developed as a summer resort by John H. Starin. The original design exhibited the five cultures of the western world on individual islands linked together with piers and causeways. Today the islands have been merged with substantial fill areas totaling 130 acres and providing a beautiful crescent-shaped beach with access to the Long Island Sound.

Cannons, sculptures, and castles with coursed rubble stone, arched openings, and round towers still remain from the days of John Starin’s resort. The castles, reminiscent of those in Germany's Rhineland, were constructed on their present site in the late 19th century for use as a beer garden and restaurant.

     

The bathhouse was originally built in a Neo-Georgian style with a cupola marking the center of the front façade. A courtyard looks out to the beach and is completed by a colonnade. The bridge, bridge house, seawall, and castles are all eligible for listing on the Register of Historic Places.

DETAILS:
When: Thursday, May 11, 2023

Location: Glen Island Park, Weyman Avenue, New Rochelle 10805 

https://parks.westchestergov.com/glen-island-park Phone: (914) 813-6720 or 6721

Time: 10:00 AM We'll meet in front of the castle located to the right as you enter the parking lot.

Directions: https://www.mapquest.com/us/new-york/glen-island-park-265288484

Transportation from NYC: Metro-North New Haven Line to New Rochelle Station.
The 9:08 AM off-peak train from Grand Central arrives in New Rochelle at 9:48 AM.
Please call Marianne (914-355-6507) to arrange for pick-up and ride to Glen Island.

Lunch: Bring your own lunch/snack/water. We'll be picnicking together.
Show & Tell: After lunch, we'll share stories and sketches during the social part of our day.

NOTES:
- It can be breezy by the water - you may want to bring a light jacket.
- There are lots of picnic tables, but a stool can offer more options.

- It's before Memorial Day, so there should be no fee for parking or a park pass. 

- Restrooms are located in the Office building located on the right as you enter the Park.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman cathygutterman@verizon.net
 
Looking for us? Call Cathy at 914-625-0766 or Marianne at 914-355-6507

There are no fees or attendance taken. 

All drawing skill levels are welcome

​SUNDAY: Sketch the Swimmers on Park Avenue

 

Event suggested by Shawne Cooper​

SUNDAY, not Saturday.  On SUNDAY join us to sketch swimmer sculptures on Park Avenue.  There are nine of them on display between East 39th St and 34th.  They’re located on the median in the center of the Avenue.

The swimwear-clad sculptures are a good sample of a lifetime’s work by New York-based artist Carole Feuerman.  She describes the hyper realistic sculptures as “Sea Idylls”.  Of course the sculptures are not about swimwear, nor about swimming.  The statue at E37 St  is called “Justice”.  It shows a woman in a bathing suit sitting on top of a chrome sphere that reflects the viewer, the street, the city and even the world​.​

Our meeting place 101 Park Avenue

DETAILS:

What:   We’ll be sketching the “Sea Idylls”sculptures on Park Avenue between E39th and E34th Streets.

When:  SUNDAY, May 7, 2023 starting at 11 AM

Where:  Meet at the public plaza at 101 Park Avenue and 40th St at 11 AM.  From there we will be moving south.  The sculptures are located from 39th St to 34 St.  You are free to sketch whatever view appeals

How:  Subway:

Take the train to Grand Central Terminal

Lunch:  12:30 PM - Let’s meet back at 101 Park Ave (corner of E40th).  Bring your own or purchase from the street vendors or stores.

Afternoon:   1:15 back to sketching

Show and Tell:   3:00 PM - back at 101 Park Ave (corner of E40th)., to share our drawings, and talk about art things.

NOTES:

-    Bring a stool if you have one.  This is pure street sketching.  There are no benches

-    The current weather forecast for Sunday looks very promising.  

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 Workshop - May 27th - Shape and Sharpen NYC with Alan Ramiro

Seethelines: Shape and Sharpen New York City with Alán Ramiro

On Saturday, May 27th, Alán Ramiro is returning to give another exciting workshop. This will be a monochrome workshop using primarily a water brush filled with diluted ink and a fude nib fountain pen. Monochrome sketching requires you to focus on essential elements. 

To check out all the details and to register - click here:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seethelines-shape-and-sharpen-new-york-city-with-alan-ramiro-tickets-618151847817?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=escb