Archive for the ‘Surreal Cities’ Category

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The Highline at Night

October 28, 2009

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

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

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

Entrance to the Highline. Photo by Cat Agonis

Entrance to the Highline. Photo by Cat Agonis

The entrance to the Highline on Gansevoort Street. Photo by Cat Agonis.

The Highline on Gansevoort Street. Photo by Cat Agonis.

C.A.

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The Panorama of the City of New York

July 28, 2009

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

 

The Bronx 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

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.

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New York’s Summer of Weird Clouds

July 15, 2009

 

Bushwick does dramatic clouds.

Bushwick does dramatic clouds.

 

And earlier that same day...

And earlier that same day...

Has anyone else noticed that along with the weather being so weird in New York this summer… so have the clouds? Take a look at these two pictures I took in Bushwick in the same area on the same day. I have been absolutely fascinated with this summer’s weather. Especially the clouds, so if anyone has any pictures please share!

 

C.A.

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Zeppelins and the Empire City

November 17, 2008
This Saturday while paying a visit to New York’s favorite bookstore Strand Books, I found a book about the history of the Hindenburg for $1. After looking through the pictures in the book I became oddly fascinated with images of Zeppelins floating eerily above Manhattan.

Later that afternoon I went to the MoMA to see the “Dreamland” exhibit. While I was impressed but not amazed by the exhibit there was one phenomenal piece titled “Caught in the Act” by Madelon Vriesendorp. “Caught in the Act” (Flagrant Delit) is an animation using iconic images of New York City in a dark and fantastic way. In the end of the animation they showed the famous footage of the Hindenbug crashing. What a coincidence!

Later that evening I searched images and footage of Zeppelins and Manhattan.

An awesomely surreal depiction of the Hindenburg doing a Manhattan tour! And photos I found of different Zeppelins in New York online:

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C. A.