Nothing like a thousand protesters marching past my corner on Madison Avenue at 3pm yesterday, filling my street with chants and honking cars, pumping their fists, carrying signs and shouting slogans, to make my 7pm pot banging feel a little token.
Some of our correspondents joined them - here is a photo from Brooklyn taken by our indomitable columnist, Zazu Swistel:
As a citizen, a father, a human being, I am saddened by the senseless violence coming from those tasked with protecting us. I am in despair that it is still happening, and that history tells us there is no guarantee it will pass. I stand in solidarity with those protesting for justice and reform.
But what does NYRA have to do with it? To pick up part of a question thoughtfully posed yesterday by Julia Gamolina, the Editor in Chief of Madame Architect, what does the murder of George Floyd have to do with architecture?
There are many answers, but I will say that ever since the onset of the pandemic, I have had two axioms, two ideals, running through my head: The health of one is the health of all, and the housing of one is the housing of all. Today, I would venture to add: The safety of one is the safety of all, and the justice of one is the justice of all.
But ideals are not realized simply by stating them. They need to be wrestled out of the world in which we live. Each of us has a role to play. For NYRA, the role of our writers is to review. To take ideals and test them against reality. To tell stories. So help us tell this story, that by telling it we can shape it, and help bring the world that is a little closer to the world as it should be.
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- Nicolas Kemper, Publisher
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In the Review.
This Thursday we have our Issue No. 12 distribution event.
The issue.
Issue No. 12 (guest edited by Phillip Denny & Carolyn Bailey)
With the city on pause, writers took stock of New York’s architecture culture by reviewing some of its formative institutions, publications, exhibitions, and buildings. These “Untimely Reviews” mobilize criticism toward questions that are simultaneously historical in nature and contemporary nonetheless. If New York’s architecture scene is an ongoing project, then where have we been, and where should we go next?
Featuring:
Liz Diller, Gina Ciancone, Marrikka Trotter, Frida Vogel with John Nichols, Katie Okamoto, Hanan Kataw, Chris Gardner, Ben Dooley, Matthew Allen, Dora Epstein Jones
To receive your copy by post, subscribe: nyra.nyc/subscribe
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The event.
Billie Tsien reviews Carnegie Hall
Tod Williams reviews the Museum of Arts & Design
Leopoldo Villardi reviews Two Park Avenue
Moderated by Carolyn Bailey
Following our publication's rule, "No Propaganda," Billie Tsien, Tod Williams, and Leopoldo Villardi are joining The New York Review of Architecture to review buildings that are not their own. The reviews serve as jumping off points into larger topics—Billie Tsien and Tod Williams lived for 35 years in the tower of Carnegie Hall. The story of the Museum of Arts & Design relates to the creation of Central Park, the history of Columbus Circle, the quirky modernism of Edward Durrell Stone, and its controversial renovation in the Bloomberg years. The Art Deco gem Two Park Avenue played a key role in the story of Ayn Rand and the writing of the Fountainhead. We hope these reviews of, as Tod Williams puts it, "Sleeper" or "Slow-Take Buildings," will spark a conversation: with the help of moderator Carolyn Bailey, the speakers will be taking questions from, and asking questions of, the audience.
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Next week.
As for next week, it is full. Our institutions seem to have finally gotten the feel for the webinars - the Center for Architecture is even starting to charge admission for some of its digital events.
On Monday…
ANDREW FREEAR, RURAL STUDIO: STORIES FROM THE HINTERLAND, 7pm
Mr. Freear receives the President’s Medal from the Architectural League; usually a posh affair, now everyone with a computer is invited.
On Tuesday…
The CFA is hosting two topical conversations: a lunchtime talk, Practice, Pandemic and the Profession: With Kim Yao of ARO, and A Primer in Effective Community Engagement and Design, at 6:30pm.
On Thursday…
We would suggest our distribution event, New York Reviews Architecture with Billie Tsien, Tod Williams & Leopoldo Villardi, but the Bruce Museum is also organizing, New Visions for Public Spaces in the Age of COVID-19, and the CFA is having a talk with Joshua DeFlorio about sustainable infrastructure.
On Friday…
EXPANDING MODES OF PRACTICE: INTERBORO, 7pm
This comes as part of a very thoughtful series by Bryony Roberts - we definitely want a writeup.
Find even more events on our website: nyra.nyc
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An Article
Sarah McNally (of McNally Jackson) talks about what is killing bookstores. It is not Amazon.
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An Exhibition
NYCxDESIGN Architecture Graduates Showcase 2020
Would be interesting to compare this to the London tradition of having art and architecture schools throw open their doors to the public.
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If you would like to cover any of these events, or review any of these articles or exhibitions, or have another pitch altogether that you think is great, tell us about it: read our writing guidelines, then e-mail us at editor@nyra.nyc
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To subscribe: nyra.nyc/subscribe
To receive our e-mails: newyork.substack.com
And then instagram: @nyreviewofarchitecture