The Highline at Night

I’ve only ever been to the Highline at night. I was there the evening it opened… by accident, (I suppose these things just call to me, and really aren’t ever any sort of a coincidence). 

Please enjoy these photos I took months ago at the Highline, that for some reason or another, I have not shared yet.

One of the entrances to the Highline at night. Photo by Cat Agonis

 

View of many layers of buildings from the Highline. Photo by Cat Agonis

Entrance to the Highline. Photo by Cat Agonis

The Highline on Gansevoort Street. Photo by Cat Agonis.

C.A.

The Panorama of the City of New York

I never thought I would say this but Robert Moses really wow’d me… in a good way. About a week ago I went to visit the “Panorama of the City of New York” at the Queens Museum of Art. I had heard rumors that this ongoing exhibit at QMA was a model created in the exact image of the entire city of New York. Impossible, I thought. How could that be true? How could Robert Moses find the time to dedicate 3 years and 100 people to rebuilding a mini- New York City when he was already so busy turning the already existing one into a car culture?

Well believe it. I saw it with my own eyes… and I took pictures! The Panorama of the City of New York DOES exist, and it is wonderful. My friend and I spent over an hour and a half studying the variations in districts, boroughs, architecture and park structure. Here are some interesting facts about the Panorama of the City of New York:

– It was built for the 1964- 65 World’s Fair

– It was intended to help with city planning prior to be exhibited at the fair

– It’s 9335 square feet!

– It includes EVERY SINGLE BUILDING in the entirety of New York City built before 1992 (resulting in a total of 895,000)

– The Panorama took 3 years and 100 people to build

– Raymond Lester Associates were an original hand in the making of the Panorama, and Lester updated it again in 1992 changing over 60,000 structures!

Now for the pictures of the Panorama of the City of New York:

 

This is a view of Manhattan looking South on the "Panorama of the City of New York." Constructed for the 1964 World's Fair by Robert Moses and Raymod Lester. Updated by Lester in 1992

 

View of Midtown Manhattan in the "Panorama of the City of New York." Constructed by Raymond Lester and Robert Moses in 1964. Now on view at the Queens Museum of Art.

 

Prospect Park in the "Panorama of the City of New York." Ongoing exhibition at the Queens Museum of Art constructed by Robert Moses and Raymond Lester for the 1964 World's Fair.

 

A view of beautiful Brooklyn in the "Panorama of the City of New York." Can be seen indefinatley at the Queens Museum of Art

 

Queens and Manhattan in Robert Moses' and Raymond Lester's "Panorama of the City of New York."

 

Brooklyn in the "Panorama of the City of New York." Constructed by Richard Haymond and Robert Moses for the 1964 World's Fair. Now showing at the Queens Museum of Art

The Queens Museum of Art will have the Panorama of the City of New York as a constant exhibit. 

QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART INFO:

Museum Summer Hours
Wednesday – Sunday: noon – 6 pm
Friday: noon – 8 pm

Location
New York City Building
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens NY 11368
TEL: 718 592 9700

Admission
Admission is by suggested donation. Adults: $5 
Senior and Children: $2.50 
Members and Children
under five: Free

WWW.QUEENSMUSEUM.ORG

C.A.

Review of the Lars Elling “Fictions” exhibit at the Nicholas Robinson Gallery

Wow. If I had $24,000 I know where it would go… and that would be to the Lars Elling painting”Pavane for the Playing Dead’ currently being sold at the Nicholas Robinson Gallery. This exhibit, which has been extended, is no small success. Half of their collection has been sold since May and with good reason. Lars Elling’s paintings are incredibly vivid and really resonate.

The artist himself, is a published playwrite, and you can see the way drama plays a role in his paintings. It seems as if every painting is a the story of an unforgettable (good or bad) memory that took place in a dreamlike location revisiting in the form of nostalgia. The Nicholas Robinson Gallery did an exceptional job currating their complete top floor with Lars Elling’s paintings. They have the power to fill the void and starkness of a white empty space with their undeniable presence. Here is a look at some of Lars Elling’s work, including my favorite, “Pavane for the Playing Dead” currently on show at the Nicholas Robinson Gallery:

 

"Night and Day" painting by Lars Elling. Sold already at the Nicholas Robinson Gallery

 

Lars Elling's Camera Lucida, currently on show at the Nicholas Robinson Gallery.

My favorite painting of Lars Ellings' show at the Nicholas Robinson Gallery in Chelsea, "Pavane for the Playing Dead"

 

Another vivid painting by Lars Elling at the Nicholas Robinson Gallery.

 

While these photos let you look at the subject, please to try to make it to the exhibit before it closes! The flattened, digital pixels do not captivate the texture, and the way the paintings change a room on the screen!

The Nicholas Robinson Gallery is located on 535 West 20th Street in Chelsea, New York. For more info visit their website at http://www.nrgallery.com/ 

C.A.

Coney Island’s Siren Festival; How it hit me.

So Saturday was Coney Island’s Siren Festival. The Village Voice has been promoting the shit out of this thing. I think it’s their little baby every summer. And why wouldn’t you want to let it be known to New York that you were responsible for an all day free festival featuring hip bands like the Raveonettes and Built to Spill in Coney Island? Reason to brag, right?

I suppose so. I did have fun at Siren Festival. Believe me. And how couldn’t I? I got to watch Grand Duchy play on a beautiful day with the background of the Cyclone… all for free. But I found as time ran on I got tired of running back and forth, zig- zagging in and out of the masses of people who didn’t care about the festival at all from stage 1 to stage to to catch the band I wanted to see. By 6 p.m. I was exhausted, and I had only been there a couple of hours. I said adios to my friends pretending like I was going home and indulged in the Coney Island Freak show.

 

View of stage 2 at the Village Voice's 2009 Siren Festival in Coney Island

This scene and the knowledge that I was at a free festival made me think I was at a Grateful Dead show.

 

View of Stage 1 in front of the Cyclone, and the grand Grand Duchy's performance.

 

I left the Raveonettes to go see the MC for the freakshow bargin with the crowd. He lowered admission prices to $3.

Yes, I actually did pay 50 cents to see the Giant Rat, which in reality... is a gofer.

 

After the gofer- incident I knew better then to pay to see the Giant Snake.

 

I must admit I was tempted to see the Headless Woman, but I stayed strong and saved my 50 cents for a much- needed Capri Sun.