Past Event: Another City: New Meanings in New York's Public Spaces
Socially distanced lines. Masked protests in the streets. Parking-space dining. These are some of the striking scenes that have emerged in 2020, indelibly impacting the landscape of New York, and creating "Another City."
Moderated by New Yorker writer Vinson Cunningham, join our four-part virtual symposium featuring intimate discussions with leading writers and observers of the New York scene. Together, we'll explore how the unprecedented events of 2020—a global pandemic, an ensuing economic collapse, a righteous anti-racist uprising—have impacted the city as well as our ideas about the urban landscape. Paying close attention to the visual representations of the pandemic and protests, these lively, in-depth conversations will consider how some of the city's iconic spaces have been transformed, experienced, and documented during this moment. From sites like City Hall, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Barclays Center filled with protestors, to the eerily empty streets of Midtown and the transformed rituals of daily life across the five boroughs, Cunningham and his guests will consider how this unpredictable new cityscape connects to our collective urban past -- and points to a possible future.
Each session of the symposium explores a new topic with guest speakers offering insights from a variety of perspectives, a curated list of readings and visual links, and time for participant Q & A. Space is limited—reserve early!
Wednesday, October 14: Protest City
with architect Mabel Wilson and photographer Mark Clennon
Wednesday, October 21: Empty City
with essayist Garnette Cadogan and writer and critic Luc Sante
Wednesday, October 28: Everyday City
with architect and urbanist Susan Chin and architecture critic Kate Wagner
Wednesday, November 11: Celebratory City
with photographer Ricky Flores and NY Times columnist Ginia Bellafante
All sessions take place on Zoom Webinar and registrants will receive a link to join in advance.
Save when you purchase tickets to the entire series! If you are interested in purchasing tickets to the entire series after 10/14, please email programs@mcny.org.
Entire Series (four sessions):
$90 General Admission
$80 Seniors, Students, and Educators*
$70 Museum Members
Single Session:
$25 General Admission
$20 Museum Members
Recordings of each conversation will be sent following the events to registrants.
*Please note that there is no Senior, Student, Educator price for single sessions.
Protest City
Consider how moments of protest and social unrest have remade New York City's public spaces—and how, in turn, public space has shaped the movements that have helped transform our world with architect Mabel Wilson, photographer Mark Clennon, and New Yorker writer Vinson Cunningham.
Empty City
Writers Garnette Cadogan, Luc Sante, and Vinson Cunningham discuss the impression that emptiness has left on the city in the past, and consider representations of this moment and how they influence how we think about public space.
Everyday City
Consider 2020's transformation of everyday life from SoHo to 125th Street, Fifth Avenue to Fordham Road, to find out what our new street life might yield. With architect Susan Chin, critic Kate Wagner and New Yorker writer Vinson Cunningham.
Celebratory City
How do parades and public celebrations mark the "arrival" of previously marginal groups, while keeping open the possibility of more confrontational political action in the future? With photographer Ricky Flores, journalist Ginia Bellafante, and New Yorker writer Vinson Cunningham.
Related Exhibition - July 23, 2020 - May 9, 2021
New York Responds
Partners
Special thanks to the AIA NY, Design Trust for Public Space, and The Municipal Art Society.
