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New York Art & Photography – One Place In Art – New York Through the Eyes of our Artists

August 23rd, 2010 Admin 2 comments

The One Place blog series is a collection of art that highlights a certain part of this planet we all call home. Whether it’s a city, state, country or maybe entire continent, the objective is to showcase the place through images and art. So, even if you can’t ever travel there, at least you can enjoy the scenery as depicted by artists and photographers who have. This place:

New York City

New York New York by Hitesh Sawlani

The Big Apple, the City That Never Sleeps and the Empire State are three of the most popular nicknames for the small Northeastern city in the state of the same name. New York is and always had been the most exciting of all cities within the US. Fashion, theatre, global commerce, finance, media, and art are all associated with the city and its rich history is one reason it attracts so many to visit and live there.

Much of the city has become famous. Time Square is known as “The Crossroads of the World” and is one of the world’s busiest pedestrian intersections. Overlooking the square is the Broadway theatre district. Wall street is home to the New York Stock Exchange – the world’s largest stock exchange – in Lower Manhattan. New York City competes with London as the financial capital of the world. The Empire State is home to the Statue of Liberty – a gift from France – which stands as a symbol of freedom as well as a welcome mat to the many immigrants who have continued to come by way of New York to the United States. Many of the newcomers chose to stay in the city which accounts for the immense diversity.

Statue of Liberty by Donald Swartz

History

The history of this great city and state is fascinating.

New York was inhabited by the Algonquin, Iroquois, and Native American groups at the time Dutch and French nationals moved into the region in the early 17th century. In 1609, the region was first claimed by Henry Hudson for the Dutch, and built Fort Orange near the site of the present-day capital of Albany in 1614. The Dutch eventually settled the Albany, Hudson River Valley, and Manhattan areas, establishing the colony of New Netherland. The British took over the colony by annexation in 1664.

The borders of the British colony, the Province of New York, were roughly similar to those of the present-day state. About one third of all of the battles of the Revolutionary War took place in New York. New York became an independent state on July 9, 1776, and enacted its constitution in 1777. The state ratified the United States Constitution on July 26, 1788 to become the 11th state.

Today New York is the most densely populated city in the US. A 2009 census estimated that there are 8.4 million people living within the 5 boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. Its metropolitan area’s population is also the nation’s largest, estimated at 19.1 million people.

Entertainment

The sights and sounds of New York City are abundant.

New York has served as the catalyst for many things. It was at the heart of Jazz in the 1940s and abstract impressionism in the 1950s. It was where Warhol set up shop with the Factory and where such influential bands as the Velvet Underground, the New York Dolls, the Ramones and Blondie. It continues to serve as the hub for much of the arts, music and entertainment industries. In fact, the city is the second largest center for the film in the United States – Hollywood being the first.

Art is what you can get away with by Andy Warhol

NYC is home to more than 2000 arts and culture organizations and has over 500 galleries ranging in size to small and independent to the world renowned Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Lincoln Center is the largest performing arts center in the US and is home to twelve art organizations including: the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Central Park is possibly one of the most famous parks in the world. During the summer month, it hosts 1,200 free concerts, dance, and theater events across all five boroughs.

Central Park by Cynthia Sanders

New York City rivals Paris in the fashion industry. While New York designers concentrate on Ready-to-Wear and not Couture, many of the world’s most famous fashion designers are either from or have set up shop in the city that never sleeps. Calvin Klein, Donna Karen, and Isaac Mizrahi are three designers who have all become a part of pop culture. The city is also home to Vogue, the most famous fashion glossy in the world. The magazine is published in 18 countries including, China, Germany, France, India and Russia. New York Fashion Week is a semi-annual is held in February and September each year. The seven day event is where American designers show their fall/winter and spring/summer collections to fashion journalist, buyers of major department stores and celebrities.

70s vogue by Ali McCoy

Sports

NYC is a huge sports town and they have seen 43 championships in their four leagues. The most famous of these teams is the New York Yankees who have seen 27 World Series Championships and 40 American League Pennants. Some of the most famous players to ever play baseball have been Yankees including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle. The city hosts two Football Teams; the New York Jets and the New York Giants. Combined, the teams have won 4 Superbowls. NYC is also home to the world famous New York Knicks basketball team whose home court is Madison Square Garden.

Babe Ruth by Bettmann-Corbis

New York is truly an exciting city with much to see. From its historical buildings to its culture and history, it lives up to its reputation and then some.