Saturday, November 16, 2024: Sketch Court Square and the Pepto Bismol Man

 

Sketch Court Square and the Pepto Bismol Man

For Saturday, November 16, 2024.  The warmest day this week is Saturday, and I'm hoping we can spend the day outdoors sketching.  The Court Square Park and Long Island City Courthouse area is an easy trip.  PS1 is four blocks away, if sketching indoors is more attractive.  Although there's lots to sketch, I'm mentioning three views in particular.

The Long Island City Courthouse was built between 1872 and 1876. Built of brick and granite in the French Second Empire style, it became one of the most important buildings in Queens.  Notable trials have taken place in this courthouse. It was here that the bank robber Willie Sutton is said to have answered the question, "Why do you rob banks?" with his famous answer "because that's where the money is." 

Across the street at One Court Square is a mini forest of birch trees, . . . yes, a mini forest.  The first time we went there to sketch, Svetlana told me the trees reminded her of her home in Russia.

Lastly there is the  Pepto Bismol Man, or at least that's what I call the friendly bubble gum pink sculpture.  I looked it up.  It's really called The Sunbather.  When it was installed in 2016 it was called an "instant icon for the Long Island City neighborhood,"  Others described it as “Gumby's grandmother” and “pink poop.”  It's definitely sketchable.  And there's lots more to sketch in this small concentrated area. 

The Pepto Bismol Man

DETAILS

WHAT:  We’re sketching the LIC Court Square Park and the surrounding area

WHEN:   Saturday, November 9, 2024 starting at 11 AM, sketching until 3 PM

WHERE: We’ll  meet by the fountain at Court Square & Jackson Ave.

HOW:  

• Take the G train to Court Square
• or the 7 train Court Square
• E train to Court Square / 23 Street.
• M train to Court Square / 23 Street.
• E, M or R train to Queens Plaza and walk five minutes

LUNCH:   12:30 - We will dine al fresco.  Location to be determined, but probably in Court Square Park. Bring your own lunch or rely on the many stores in the area. 

AFTERNOON:  1:30 Back to sketching

SHOW and TELL:   At 3 PM - location to be determined, probably our lunch spot.  This is the social part of our day when we'll share our artwork and talk about art supplies.

NOTE:  

• Bring a folding chair or stool if you have one - it provides more sketching choices.

​

If you can’t find us

call or text Mark at 973-809-9128

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

THURSDAY, November 14, 2024: Westchester Sketchers at the New Dawn Foundation, New Rochelle

 

"The New Dawn Foundation is a hidden gem so close to New York City, yet so calm and serene with old-world elegance that is hard to find." -- Anonymous Guest

The New Dawn Foundation is located in “The White House,” which is also known as The Oaks. It was built in 1900 and served as a school for girls before being privately purchased in 1919 by Charles and Magdalene Klingenstein. The Klingensteins often invited nurses and nursing students from Mount Sinai to come to The Oaks for rest and relaxation.  In 2008 the property was donated to the New Dawn Foundation. 

The historic estate house is located on the exclusive waterfront peninsula of Davenport Neck in New Rochelle, NY.  Today this beautiful haven in Westchester overlooking the Long Island Sound offers the space for healing, growth, and general respite from the pressures and challenges of everyday life.  

DETAILS:

When: Thursday, November 14, 2024

Location: The New Dawn Foundation

590 Davenport Avenue, New Rochelle 10805 

http://www.thenewdawnfoundation.org/ 

Phone: (914) 6328084

Time: 10:00 AM 

Directions by Car: 

http://www.thenewdawnfoundation.org/directions.html

NOTE: The New Dawn Foundation is easy to get to but you could pass it by as the entrance is small. Most directions will tell you to go to Pelham Road.  If you come to Pelham Road from North Ave., make a right onto Pelham Road, then make a left at Church Street (Trinity Elementary School is on the corner).  Drive down to light and make a right onto Davenport Ave.  Take this road down past the beach and catering halls.  After the Greentree Club, you will see a VERY SMALL entrance on the left.  (There is a boat yard on the right).  It will say New Dawn Foundation and also "The Oaks" which was the former name of the estate.  Drive slowly down the very curved and narrow road.  There will be a fork.  Go to the left where there is a small white mansion.  Marianne and Cathy will be there to guide your parking.

If you are coming from Weyman Ave., make a left onto Pelham Road and take a right on Church Street by the elementary school and follow the above directions.

Transportation from NYC: Take the Metro-North New Haven Line to the New Rochelle Station.  The 9:08 AM off-peak train from Grand Central arrives in New Rochelle at 9:41 AM.  Call Marianne (914-355-6507) to arrange for pick-up and ride to the Foundation.

Lunch: Bring your own lunch/snack/water.  We'll be lunching together.

Show & Tell: After lunch, we'll share stories and sketches during this social part of our day.

PLUS an optional activity: Have some fun helping Marianne create some seasonal greeting cards for the Foundation to send to their members.

Please RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org
 
Looking for us? Call Cathy at 914-625-0766 or Marianne at 914-355-6507


NOTES:

• We plan to be sketching inside the mansion.
• If it is a nice and comfortable day, you can sketch outside so you might want to bring your stool.
• Restrooms are available in the mansion.

Wednesday November 13, 2024 Weekday Sketchers at Bryant Park Holiday Market

 Weekday Sketchers at Bryant Park 

Holiday Market

Maybe its a wishful attempt at holding on to this warm weather just for one more sketch event, or maybe it is a fool's attempt to stave off winter, but let's try for one more outdoor event before we have to move indoors. 

Given the strange mashup of this unusual warm weather and the impending holiday season, let's go to Bryant Park to capture the Holiday Market while it is (hopefully) warm enough to sketch outdoors.  The charming shops with their colorful displays and twinkling lights will make great material for sketching. And lots of people milling about, ice skating and enjoying the scene will make great studies for out sketchbooks. 

If the weather turns too chilly to be outdoors, the observation area by the ice skating rink should provide a warm spot to work in.  And of course there is always the NY Public Library to tuck into for more sketching. 

Thanks to Meryl Greenblatt for this suggestion!

DATE: WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2024

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION: BRYANT PARK

                       We will meet at the entrance on 6th Avenue and 41st Street near the fountain.

TRANSPORTATION:  B D, F, M TO BRYANT PARK/42ND ST. or 7 train to 5th Avenue

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@NYCurbansketchers.org
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• Bathrooms and water are available in the park and the library
• Food service is available at nearby vendors
• Bring a stool for best sight lines but remember it will be crowded
• Please be mindful of the vendors booths and don't block access to the shops

SATURDAY 11/9 : Sketch and Tour St. Nicholas Church

 

Thanks to Mary Pol for suggesting and organizing this event

St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine is a church and shrine at the World Trade Center. This beautiful new church replaced the original church of the same name that was destroyed during the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.  It was the only house of worship that was destroyed.

The new St. Nicholas Church was designed by the world-renowned Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.  Its architecture draws from Byzantine influences, including the Church of the Savoir and the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul as well as the Parthenon in Athens.

In addition to serving as a Greek Orthodox parish, St. Nicholas acts as a “House of Prayer for all people” and functions as a national shrine and community center. 

On Saturday, Nov 9 th at 10:30 am Dimitrios Katsiklis, Master Chanter will offer New York City Urban Sketchers a tour of the church. The tour is approximately 20-25 minutes long and will give us the opportunity to learn more about the magnificent iconography and rich history that connects the past to the present.

DETAILS

​WHAT:  We’re sketching the new  St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine

​W​HERE: We’ll  meet at the entrance to the ​c​hurch, in​ the World Trade Center​ - 130 Liberty St​.

​WHEN:  At 10:00 AM.  Our private tour with Dimitrios Katsiklis, Master Chanter will begin at 10:30.  It will only be given once.

LUNCH:   12:00 PM - ​Mary has suggested two lunch locations:  

• Pi Bakery​ 35 Cedar Street, NY, 10005​ Regina Katopodis, the owner can be reached at 917-254-1016.
• Skinos” Restaurant​, 123 Washington St, New York, NY 10006

.​AFTERNOON:  We will sketch the church and the surrounding area of the World Trade Center.

SHOW and TELL:   At 3 PM - location to be determined​.

NOTE:  

• Bring a folding chair or stool if you have one - it provides more sketching choices.

If you can’t find us

call or text Mark at 973-809-9128

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

FRIDAY, November 8, 2024: Westchester Sketchers at the Hudson River Museum, Yonkers

 

The Hudson River Museum is a preeminent cultural institution in Westchester County and the New York metropolitan area. Situated on the banks of the Hudson River in Yonkers, New York, the HRM’s mission is to engage, inspire, and connect diverse communities through the power of the arts, sciences, and history.

Current exhibitions include:

No Bodies: Clothing as Disruptor

Through bodiless artworks that reimagine and transform clothing, No Bodies offers a multitude of societal portraits and asks us to reconsider clothing as not merely attire but a dynamic expression of both personal and collective identities

Clay Conversations: Ceramics from the Gilded to the Digital Age

Juxtaposing selections from the HRM’s Chinese porcelain collection with the work of seven New York–based artists, Clay Conversations spotlights how contemporary ceramicists reference and critique the medium’s longstanding ties to themes of exclusivity and exoticism.

Optional: Highlights of Glenview: Historic House Tour at 1 PM 

Glenview is an 1877 Gilded Age home on the National Register of Historic Places, designed by architect Charles W. Clinton. The home reflects the lifestyle of its former residents, the Trevor family, and features fine woodworking, furnishings, decorative objects, paintings, and sculptures. Enjoy a 45-minute guided tour of historic Glenview’s six fully restored period rooms. Advance tickets are strongly encouraged.

DETAILS: 

DATE: FRIDAY, November 8, 2024

LOCATION: Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Ave. Yonkers, NY (914) 963-4550

DIRECTIONS: https://www.hrm.org/plan-your-visit/

From NYC: Take the Metro-North Railroad’s Hudson Line local train to Glenwood Station. Walk one block east on Glenwood Avenue, and then turn left onto Ravine Avenue. At the end of Ravine Avenue, enter Trevor Park. Follow the path to the main entrance of the Museum.

START TIME: 12:00 PM (Opening time)

LUNCH: Since the Museum opens at Noon, we won’t have a scheduled time for lunch.  Please bring your own lunch/snack, or purchase something from the Museum Shop.

SHOW and TELL: 2:30 PM Cafe tables n the lobby. This is the social portion of our day when we will share our drawings, techniques, and stories. It is a time not to be missed.

NOTES:

• Admission: $13 for Adults, $9 for Seniors. Free for members. Tickets are available for purchase online or at (914) 963-4550 during business hours. Tickets are non-refundable.  Reservations are accepted by credit card only.
• Museum passes to the HRM are available at the Greenburgh Public Library and other Westchester libraries with your library card.
• Tickets for Glenview tours and planetarium shows are an additional purchase and are not included in general admission.  Adults +$7 each; Seniors +$6 each.
• Stools will be available for our use.
•  DRY MATERIALS ONLY (in the Galleries). Wet materials may be used in the classroom.

RSVP to Cathy Gutterman at westchester@nycurbansketchers.org

Looking for us? Contact: Cathy at (914) 625-0766.

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

November 6, 2024 Weekday Sketchers at Fordham University Lincoln Center

Weekday Sketchers at Fordham University's

Robert Moses Plaza 

Fordham University Plaza

Strange as it is to have warm weather in early November, let's use it to our advantage and keep sketching outdoors as long as we can!

This week we will be at a raised plaza, which is part of Fordham University next to Lincoln Center, that offers us cityscapes, statuary and a beautiful lawn up above the hustle and bustle of the city.  Join us for a relaxing day of drawing in this peaceful setting.  Want a bit more?  Cross the street to sketch the plaza in front of the opera house or the wonderful Henry Moore statues in the reflection pool. 

Thanks to Meryl Greenblatt for suggesting this location!

DATE:  Wednesday November 6, 2024

STARTING TIME: 10:30 AM

LOCATION:  ROBERT MOSES PLAZA

                            Columbus Ave between 60th and 62nd Streets 

    Staircases to the plaza on Columbus Ave near 60th St. or on 62nd Street halfway down the block. 

TRANSPORTATION: 1 TRAIN TO 66TH STREET/ LINCOLN CENTER

Lincoln Center Reflecting Pool 

NOTES

• Please RSVP directly to Raylie Dunkel at President@NYCUrbansketchers.org
• Looking for us? Call or text Raylie at 201-273-0445
• Water and bathrooms available nearby
• No food service on the plaza but plenty of choices nearby
• Lots of benches and lawn to sit on but a stool offers more site line choices

                        

SATURDAY 11/2/24 : Sketch the Giant Pigeon

 

The Giant Pigeon

Event suggested and led by Danna Feintuch

There is a GIANT pigeon perched on the Highline, cooing to us to come and sketch it.

Visitors are flocking to New York City's famed High Line to see its latest art installation. The 16-foot-tall pigeon sculpture has the city in a flutter. Artist Iván Argote's sculpture titled "Dinosaur" depicts an enormous pigeon looking out over New York's 10th Avenue.

In July, The NYC High Line announced that the massive, hyper-realistic bird would be installed above the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Street. The larger-than-life-sized pigeon sits on a concrete plinth that mirrors New York City buildings and sidewalks that the birds call home.

DETAILS:

WHAT:  We will be sketching the Giant Pigeon on the Highline

WHEN:   We’ll be there from  10:00 AM until 3 PM on November 2, 2024

WHERE:  On the Highline at the intersection of 10th Avenue and 30th Street.

LUNCH:  12:00 Noon.  ​Near the statue.​  Bring your own food or rely on nearby vendors, stores and restaurants.

AFTERNOON:  1:00 PM Back to sketching

SHOW and TELL:   3:00 PM.  Location to be determined​.  We’ll share our drawings, tell art stories and discuss our art supplies.  (I’m just guessing about the second two items, but we’ll definitely do the first.)

NOTE:

-  Bring a stool - it gives you so many more options.  

Can't find us?  

Call or Text Danna - 646-773-6820

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