“Unframed” By JR

Photos by Andrew Markey

Ellis Island, the famed entry point for millions of nineteenth-century American immigrants, is offering an exhibit that welcomes visitors to a part of the island that was abandoned and closed to the public for over fifty years. “Unframed – Ellis Island” by French street artist JR guides visitors on a hard hat tour through the long-abandoned Ellis Island Immigrant Hospital.

“Unframed” brings to life the real people who passed through the immigrant hospital a hundred years ago. For the installation, JR combed through archival photos that were taken in the hospital a century ago. From there, he installed the photos onto the structure of the hospital itself, floating doctors over the surgical theater, crowding immigrants onto the walls of the waiting room, and placing nurses along the halls. The installation breathes eerie life into those who once passed through the hospital’s halls, searching for a new life in America.

Welcome Summer

Photo by Kathleen D

As May comes to a close, the sun is officially rising on the summer season.  We are kicking off summer by visiting the beautiful beaches on Long Island. Robert Moses State Park is a particular favorite with Long Island locals, offering glorious sunrises and sunsets over the Atlantic Ocean.

We had to share this picture a surfer friend captured in the early morning of the sun peeking out behind the iconic water tower. We are so ready for you, summer!

“On Growth” by Kapwani Kiwanga

“On Growth” by Canadian artist Kapwani Kiwanga is one of the latest additions to the public art on display on the High Line. The colorful sculpture uses architecture and horticulture to create artwork inspired by marginalized or forgotten histories.

Known for her work that explores gender, colonialism, and the African diaspora, Kiwanga drew inspiration for this sculpture from Wardian cases, early versions of terrariums, which were used in the late nineteenth century to transport plants from around the world to Europe. “On Growth” depicts a fern enclosed in an intricately crafted case that glimmers with dichroic glass.  Depending on where you stand, the special glass plays with the light that passes through, transforming its colors and tones. The installation will be on display on the high line until October.

“Bloomtanica” By Jeff Leatham

We are capping off our multi-week dive into mother nature’s spring floral celebrations by exploring the newest blossoming exhibition in New York City, “BLOOMTANICA.” Designed by floral artist Jeff Leatham, the experiential art installation housed at Genesis House in the Meatpacking district and takes visitors on a journey through the flowers.

Drawing upon his decades of experience creating floral art designs, Leatham was inspired by traditional Korean gardens, and used a combination of dried flowers and digital installations to create an immersive experience for guests. The exhibition is only open until June 9th, so be sure to explore this floral oasis while it is still open.

Tulip Mania

Impressed by the NY flowers last week, London decided to up the ante - plus the sun came!  We captured even more flowers in bloom on a glorious afternoon in St. John’s Wood.