New York City

[sunilo]

I haven't participated in a SketchCrawl yet, but I thought we could get the NYC board going. Does anybody have suggestions for good indoor locations, as to avoid frozen watercolor brushes?

I'd suggest Grand Central and the Met. It would give us a variety of subject matter and it shouldn't be too difficult to visit both locations in the same day.

Any other ideas?

—Sunil

[Alisong]

Hi Sunilo ~

I was only on one Sketchcrawl over a year ago,
and I'd like to do it again.

But I usually work weekends.
January 10, 2009 is currently available for me.
If it turns out that I can go, I think your ideas sound perfect.
What I envision is meeting at one place (Grand Central),
drawing together in the main room and elsewhere,
and playing the day as it comes.
Like, whenever we want to move on, we could either go to the Met
or a place to eat (drink) on the way to the Met and after the Met.
And we could draw on the bus/walk/however we get there.
And we could draw in the restaurant/bar whereever we go.

I hope you'll keep me in the loop.

Alison
optidust@gmail.com

[inulaura]

Hey! I'd love to participate!!

I think Grand Central would be a nice idea

[JoeBluhm]

I would definitely be game for this... it really sounds fun, and I can try to get a few friends to join in. (you so nicely started the NYC topic in my birthday!)

So Grand Central starting point sounds really fun. What time would we start, afternoon? ...before noon?

[sumacm]

Grand Central sounds great to me, too. Perhaps we could all meet at 11 AM, at the round information desk in the center of the main hall? Open to other suggestions as well...

[DeeKaylr]

Hi, I'm new to this but I'd like to try it out. I've done journaling mostly including some drawing with it. Have plans at GCT, 11 am, been finalized?

[kmillustration]

I was setting up a sketchcrawl for Sarasota but a couple friends and I decided to go to NY the 6-11. Seeing that we can't make it there we thought it could be cool to tag along in NY. So here's a possible additional two if not three people. :] See you guys there, so is the consensus Grand Central @ 11? That seems reasonable if not a little earlier.

For those of you who are interested there is also going to be a James Jean show the same night (10th), at the Jonathan Levine Gallery, it starts at 7. I know I'll be there with at least three friends.

I"m sad I have to miss ours but I'm excited about NY!

[sunilo]

I'm glad so many people are interested in the crawl! Of course the Sarasota crew and anybody else is welcome to participate.

So....

January 10, 2009

Meet at the big clock/information booth in the center of the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal

Start time: 11:00 AM
End time: When it hurts too much to draw anymore?

I assume we'll spend at least a couple hours in GCT, so if you're late you can probably just wander around until you run into somebody with a sketchbook.

How do people feel about heading up to the Met later in the day? Admission is suggested, so you can pay whatever you want. They have a pencils only sketching policy.
http://www.met.org/visit/tips/

Of course we can just see how we feel on the 10th!

Best,
Sunil

[sumacm]

Sounds great to me! Hope everyone has a great holiday & new year; looking forward to meeting up with the NYC Sketchcrawl contingent at GCT in January!!

-Suma
http://www.sumacm.blogspot.com

[Thorsx]

For the folks going to sketch at Grand Central Station, some food for thought...

A man sat at a metro station and started to play the
violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for
about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was
calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of
them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle aged man noticed there was a musician
playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then
hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman
threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him,
but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he
was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother
tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist.
Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning
his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other
children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed
for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal
pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over,
no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best
musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever
written with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a
theater in Boston and the seats average $100.00 each.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station
was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment
about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in
a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive
beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an
unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best
musicians in the world playing some of the best music ever written, how
many other things are we missing?

[kmillustration]

that was very interesting, thanks for posting. :]

[JonS]

Sounds like fun.... I'm going to the James Jean show later that night and a sketchcrawl would be great for even more inspiration! Haven't been to one in ages, count me in

[ted carter]

Grand Central sounds good, but are you guys still meeting there? I'll be staying close to Hotel Central Park.

[sumacm]

Believe so, yes -- I'm still planning to be at Grand Central clock/info desk, main hall at 11. Will try to bring a little Sketchcrawl sign or something so that people can all gather up...

[sunilo]

I'll be there at 11. I also recruited a few others who aren't on the forum. If you don't see anybody with a sign just wave aimlessly and somebody will probably identify you.