Beginning at the Whitney, we walked the Highline until we hit the Vessel. Growing up in NYC brings a different perspective for sure. This area was basically empty and ghost blocks most of my life.
The Whitney has great views of the city, on the top floor overlooking the highline. The new Whitney Museum was designed by Renzo Piano. The building itself wasn’t impressive from the outside to me, maybe because Manhattan has an overwhelming amount of options in shape, design and size. However once inside you can see the multiuse of the space. There are outside decks and greenery areas, and although I’m sure the exhibits are impressive, I can’t speak for them since we didn’t have a chance to see them! The history of the Whitney Museum was very intriguing since it was originally created by a woman called Gertude Vanderbilt Whitney in 1914 as an art gallery in Greenwich Village. She saw American artist were having trouble exhibiting and selling their art. There in Greenwhich Village she decided to exhibit living American artists who were being disregarded by the traditional academies and she collected more than 500 piece by 1929. After a failed attempt of the MOMA to accept pieces of art given as gifts by her, she decided to open the Whitney Museum of American Art in 1931 on West Eighth Street near Fifth avenue. Fast Forward to 2015 where the Whitney last relocated to where it is now, the Meat Packing. This new building took five years to design and cost four hundred and twenty-two million dollars. Below are views from the fifth floor.
Following that we walked through the Highline walking tour all the way down to the Vessel. The walk is a nice cross of architecture, nature and fresh air. Although there are tons of people walking by, there are places to sit, vendors to pick up a snack or new bracelet from and art scattered thoroughly.
These below are some of the pieces that caught my attention.
The above picture captures a wall mural by one of my favorite street artists, Kobra. This mural captures Mother Theresa facing Ghadi. Kobra is a Brazilian Street artist who uses his art as a form of activism to promote world peace and unity.
Above this is the famous LOVE which is pop art by Robert Indiana, but the beauty for me were these balconies that reminded me of the Jetsons cartoon for some reason. This building really made me smile because it’s futuristic and just very different in design than the others.
After making this walk on a gloomy day and capturing mental pictures around me, we finally arrive at “The Vessel”. Arriving at the Vessel, it felt familiar, and the coating on it was, because it was mirrored, it reminded me of the Bean in Chicago. We walked up all the way to the top and although sure it was an experience, it wasn’t very purposeful. I went back down thinking, what a marketing genius move. Millennials spend money on experience and conveniently there is a massive mall with shops, restaurants and much more. Of course it wouldn’t be American if we didn’t have an opportunity to buy something you probably don’t need once you’re done with your selfie 😉
See you next week, I’ll surprise you with where!
Xoxo,
P
https://whitney.org/about