During one of our lunch breaks this week we came across a whale! Internationally recognized for his work involving the “design and fabrication of ephemeral textile architecture and living environments,” Mathias Gmachl has taken over the Garment District with his fifty-five-foot art installation. “Echoes – A Voice from Uncharted Waters” features a brilliant steel whale whose cries wash ashore as we celebrate NYC Climate Week. The exhibit urges us to ponder nature's harmony and the future of our planet. It juxtaposes underwater tranquility with the jarring noise of human impact, presenting a powerful metaphor for the delicate balance we face. “Echoes” is an exhibit that embodies our role in a sustainable future, illustrating how art can inspire individuals and remind us of the responsibility we have towards our planet.

Arcadia Earth is a new immersive experimental artspace in Greenwich Village that uses augmented reality to take visitors on a journey through planet earth to educate them about climate change and environmental issues. Opening in time for Climate Week NYC (which is from September 23rd through September 29th), the exhibit encourages visitors to make small lifestyle changes that can have a huge impact. Using your own iPhone (or a provided iPad), visitors take a multi-sensorial journey through underwater worlds, fantasy lands, and art installations. A highlight for us was “The Rainbow Cave” by artist Basia Goszczynska. Made out of 44,000 salvaged plastic bags (the number used in New York State every sixty seconds), the “cave” celebrates the recent NY State ban on plastic bags, and is a powerful reminder to bring your own tote bag!