I 

I think the last time I uploaded the wrong photo! I  switched the posts! (It should be the first) So that's the reason I'm uploading this photo.

This sculpture is amazing! I love the shape and the color, it looks like a balloom, so who can imagine it's made for steel?? U know...it appears to be glass!!!!

The red square

For me, this was the most interesting art of the day because it's a simple and beautiful red landmark in the heart of New York. And reminds me that there is no necessary to do something huge and creative to catch the attention of the people. 

The Freedom Tower

Last Friday, we got to see one of the tallest buildings in the world, the Freedom Tower. We walked around the area a lot, but this building was, by far, one of the most beautiful I have ever laid eyes on. Even though the reason why that building exists is rather tragic, it's good to know at least something so beautiful was born from it.

Public Art by Danh Vo

At City Hall Park you can observe some of the public art by the artist Danh Vo who recreated the Statue of Liberty in cooper material, nevertheless he never intend to assemble the pieces of the statue, this public art is call We the People as the first words of the constitution of United States of America.

Around city hall park

This park is surrounded by beautiful government buildings. 

Also inside the park you can find some copies of parts of the statue of liberty.

Frank Gehry building

Frank Gehry Building

One of the building that I liked more about our Friday tour was the Frank Gehry building. It was so amazing to visit that building because in my listening class we were talking about his architecture, and how his designs are so innovative, He uses different angles that make that his building be so recognized. It's a very tall apartment building and it has a great look.

City Hall Park Tour

City Hall Park Tour 

In this tour we can appreciated in so many different ways the New York City, we be able to saw the pieces of the statue of liberty, that made me wonder about the real meaning about it because all the times i though about it was just a nice island and nice pictures but i never thought about the winning and the liberty that represent for North American people. 

After this we saw the amazing partwei of NYC, this weird building made by a famous artist is incredible, later we explore the art that manhattan has in the streets and it was choking because being in the middle of all this tallest buildings make you feel like a little bit lost, but  the art that we were able to saw made me feel like there is people that still care about other people.

And last but not least we can saw a incredible view of buildings that remains me the incredible that NYC is. 

Shadows and Flags in Nevelson Plaza

This week we visited Lower Manhattan, a place that combines the oldest buildings with interesting modern buildings and pieces of public art, one of the places that got my attention was the Nevelson plaza. This space is located on Maiden Laine and Liberty Street, and it´s one of the first to honor an artist woman in New York City. The artist is Louise Nevelson, she designed for this plaza a serie of sculptures that she called “Shadows and Flags”. These sculptures, made of steel and painted in black, seems to be floating like flags due their height and sunlight creates shadows that gives them a sense of dynamism and movement, and contrast whit the buildings of the whole area.

What are we?

Little pieces,

simple, shapeless, taken for granted. 

You see them from afar and you ask,

why are they even there?

Little people, 

deformed figures and grinning faces,

piled up together,

under a thousand bright lights. 

What are we?

Why are we even here?

No need to ask, 

we're nothing on our own,

we're part of something bigger,

we have always been. 

The Pieces of the Statue of Liberty

The Pieces of the Statue of Liberty

Seen the pieces of the Statue of Liberty located at City Hall Park were amazing, the park is more interesting than I thought because its history and, as we can see there, the color of the pieces is the original color of th copper; not like the green color of the statue. 

Also is very inetresting see those pieces in the park because we can admire them near an it allows imagine how big is the statue!!!

The neighborhood is beautiful because the blend of differente styles, new and modern buildings and many others colonial and gothic.

A poem ll National September 11 Memorial

When I see the Memorial,
I see all the tears of the World.
I see an empty heart
and I stay without a word...

Rivers and a hard cry
from the sky and beyond
twerking lips looking for a song
and finding nothing than a bound.

Pain and sadness...
They are not good words,
but are the only ones that I can see
drowning and drowning through the spring.

Hi, class,

Someone asked me about Brooklyn Flea.  Unfortunately, in the winter it goes indoors and we won't see it at Brooklyn Bridge Park on Friday, Dec. 5.  In any case, it's only on Saturday and Sunday. and this year at 1000 Dean Street, Brooklyn.  If you want to see what young entrepreneurs are making and selling in Brooklyn, this is a fun event and a good place to shop for the holidays.

See you in two weeks.
Sofia

Reminder: 11:00 am, City Hall Park, Broadway & Murray (East side)

Good morning, everyone,

Thanks for all the great posts; don't forget to comment on each other's posts as well.
Today is going to be cold; be sure to dress warmly as we will be touring for 3 hours!

See you!
Sofia

The american museum of natural history 

This building has a lot of collections and databases about anthropology, astrophysics, biology, Earth and planetary sciences, and paleontology. In this museum works more than 200 scientists who carry out in diferente expeditions around the world doing researchs. The American Museum of Natural History is one of the world’s preeminent scientific and cultural institutions. Since its founding in 1869, the Museum has advanced its global mission to discover, interpret, and disseminate information about human cultures, the natural world, and the universe through a wide-ranging program of scientific research, education, and exhibition. 

Strawberry Fields

John Lennon was killed when he was going trough his apartment in Dakota Building, in the edge of Central Park when I was 9 years old.
When I were young I use to lisent to her music as a Beatle and the music he make in the late days of his life. I grow being his admirer.

That´s why I was looking for a picture in Strawberry Fields, near the small design over the park, the "famus" mosaic composition, the sign that resume all his life: Imagine.

Astor Place Tour

Last Friday, we got the chance to walk around Astor Place and learn interesting history about it. My favorite part, by far, was just walking next to a "random" K-Mart and minutes later, realizing there had been a big riot years ago on that place.

But really, we just learnt about the history of certain buildings, like the Cooper Union University, which had been free until last year, We even looked at a massive building that had extremely expensive apartments. All in all, I think I can speak for everyone by saying that Astor Place has amazing buildings, which are art themselves. Now, that's just in Astor Place alone. New York is a very vast place full of art, which we are still exploring.

Astor Place Neighborhood

I would like to comment about the contrasts that Astor Place Neighborhood has.
I like old buildings but also I like the contrast that makes modern buildings that are in this area.

Discovered New York

The last friday we went to discovered more about New york like the history of the k-mart that is in front of Astor station, also we visit a place who have a bigger Rabbit made of baloon created by Jef Koons in 2005-2010 that is a good example of things that you can see in the city. Finally we visit the company of Fb in NY too.

Balloon Rabbit by Jeff Koons

The Balloon Rabbit was an amazing sculpture. When I saw it from outside I didn't know what was it, but in inside everything took form. It was designed by Jeff Koons. It has ubiquity at Astor Place in the IBM's building.

I like it so much because of their shinny colors, it’s so original and the outside look is so nice.

Art over Astor Place

I really liked this class, because we had the opportunity  to see at some buildings that are protected by the landmark society. My favorite one was the wall of the church that is outside of the nyc dpts. and also the sculpture of the balloon dog. i´d never thought  that i will had the opportunity to see that sculpture in real life.

i hope that next time is not that cold!

The surroundings of the St. John’s university at Manhattan

The surroundings of the St.  John’s university at Manhattan

It was an amazing experience to discover all these new places that were so close to us. For example I didn’t knew that the building that we have backdoors has a great, red colored sculpture of rabbit, or even that the K mart building next to the campus was designed by one of the most influent architects of the time Frank Gehry.

One of the funniest and more interesting things that I saw was the Facebook building. The fact that they wanted to prevail incognitos was funy for me. Another fact that I especially liked was   that not more than 200 steps we had a brand new building which was a completely free university for architects and engineers.

Knowing the surrounding area was a great activity that showed me that you can find a new and interesting place in front, and you weren’t aware of.

 

It was very interesting knowing about Ann’s church. It's located on New York University Dormitory.  Protests by the society provoked that New York University promised to respect the church in the dorm's design, but at the end, the church was demolished, except for the facade which remains in front of the Founders Hall dormitory.

 

 

DISCOVERING THE MODERN SIDE OF MANHATTAN

 

This brand new building was built in 2004, here are located departments that have one of the most beautiful views of Lafayette St.; this building has a total of 39 residences. All of the residences has a glass excellent view to The Copper Union and Lafayette St. At the first floor there's the Chase Bank; where the customers can withdraw money whenever time they need. The architecture of this building is one of the most beautiful and modern in all these area. In my personal opinion I loved how the building make a modern contribution to this area that has a lot of historical buildings.

Interesting Landmarks in NYC

Last Friday we walk around the beautiful neighborhood of Astor Place, we discover a lot of interesting places that are considered landmarks and public art.

It got my attention the NYU Dormitory, these building was built in were it used to be St. Anne’s Church. I think this is a very interesting place because you can see the contrast between the old and the new buildings. I guess that I have a classic taste; I love the little piece of church that still remains.

As foreign students we had the amazing opportunity to see some of the Landmarks in New York City, this balloon Rabbit  created by Jeff Koons  in 2005-2010 is an example of the art that you can see in this huge city. These rabbit is made of high chromium stainless steel with transparent color coating in red and the sizes are 168 x 104 x 81 inches.

 

Landmarks in NYC

The art in New York is in every place we see around Astor Place, The most interesting about this photo is the history behind this building. Teacher Sofia told us several landmarks near the school that absolutely define New York. I can't wait for the next Friday to know more about this BIG CITY!

Simple Urban Art

Art Art everywhere

this is a mosaic trail from 1988 by Jim Powers.

Is an urban art that goes on the lightposts.

Is not like those fancy sculptures but is a great landmark for NYC, specially couse the neighborhood that are one is one that the hippies used to live.

The meeting with NYC!

Walking in the NY's streets is like an adventure! You can see many different people everywhere from whole the world; too much languages as you can imagine. Each person is walking so fast and talking with himself. But what about the buildings?

As the statement say: "time is money", I think that's the reason why the people is living in his lonely crazy minded-world and nobody stops to watch the places where they are. Those buildings have more  history than we could know. The tourist just take pictures but do not ask or investigate more of these places.

Last class, when we visited the Astor Place neighborhood, we knew new and interesting information of the buildings, also I must to say that I loved the red sculpture and the traces of the church.

And now I'm sure there's a lot of places we must go and lear about them.

Post by Thursday night for each week

Dear class,

Good work on the postings so far!  We need to hear from the rest of you.  If you did not receive an invitation to join the blog, please send Aaron an email at royera@stjohns.edu.
In addition to your post, part of the blogging each week is for you to comment on at least one classmate's post.  You can react to the posting, ask a question about it, etc.

Thanks,
Sofia

I'm little. I'm tiny.
Surrounded by giants who silently stare at me.
I'm fragile but I had forgotten about it.
I'm just a random unknown being.
I cannot do anything to change that and I don't care.
I just want to make somebody smile.
I want to make somebody dream,
I want their dreams to grow like a skyscraper.
I want to make them believe everything is possible.
But first I need to believe in myself.
Now I feel I'm one step closer.
Someday I'll look at the sunset through one of those windows,
I just have to believe. Get in action. Shine.
It might take time, but it'll be worth it.
Just wait and see,
wait and see what I can do.
You won't believe it.

A poem about Town Real Estate.

The snow is falling

So is my soul,

Breaking the mirrors

Of the visitors.

You only see my reflection,

But not my tears…

Is it because of the glasses?

Or because of the street?

However, I am going to keep walking,

Missing out the cracks in the pavement,

Missing your sight

Missing you all the time.

Flatbush Artists Open Studios

Hi, class,

Two of you said that you were staying near the Cortelyou Station.  There is a Flatbush Artists' Open Studio this weekend, which is fun, in the neighborhood.  You get to see art and people's homes at the same time. If you are interested here is the information.

Sofia

NYC art

           Every time that i think in public art came to my mind  like a sculpture, a big piece of art in the middle of the street o something that needs to be huge, but not it isn't as the way I thought it was, walking around the area we find so many little details that also are considered public art. 

 So, public art is everything that you can appreciate in streets with the objective to express something, for example; the mosaic man.

This kind of art is not as complicated as others, but still being art, besides its amazing the way that his trying to express himself in the streets, showing the people colors and makes them feel different just for a second, and taking in count that NY is a city that everybody is bustle that kind of things give you an other view of the city and in that moment you can understand the identity of New York. 

And ones you have understand that you change the way to visit the city and you stop to appreciate the little things instead to be running and being just impressed about the skyscrapers.

Hello, Group 1,

Welcome to New York City!  I look forward to joining you on our Friday English in New York City course.  We will meet at St. John's at 11:00 am tomorrow and later take a walking tour of the immediate area.  Dress warmly;  it will be cold tomorrow.

Regards,
Sofia Sequenzia
Instructor