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Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT)
announced today that the Empire State Building (ESB) will
partner with the Whitney Museum of American Art to design a
one-of-a-kind light show, showcasing an interpretation of
works of American art from the Whitney's collection. The
light show, taking place on Friday,
May 1, 2015, will unite the two icons as they mark
historic occasions: the opening day of the Whitney's new
building in Manhattan's Meatpacking
District and the 84th anniversary
of ESB.
Internationally-acclaimed lighting designer Marc
Brickman will
interpret twelve iconic works from the Whitney's collection
by artists including Georgia
O'Keeffe, Edward
Hopper, Andy
Warhol, Peter
Halley and Barbara
Kruger, utilizing the building's LED tower
lights to create a dynamic show. Beginning at 8
p.m. on Friday,
May 1, each artwork-inspired lighting display will be
showcased on the architectural landmark for thirty minutes,
with the light show ending at 2
a.m. on Saturday,
May 2. Most of the works that inspired the light show
will be on view at the Whitney as part of the new building's
inaugural exhibition, America
Is Hard to See, May
1-September 27, 2015.
"The Empire State Building has brought music,
sports and elections to life with our state-of-the-art
lighting system, and now we're delighted to showcase the
impressive artwork of the Whitney Museum of American Art,"
said Anthony
E. Malkin, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of ESRT. "Our partnership with the Whitney will give
the people of New
York a
celebration of two of the city's iconic institutions."
To kick off the celebration, ESB will host a
lighting ceremony for invited media and guests on May
1. John
B. Kessler, President and Chief Operating
Officer of Empire State Realty Trust; Adam
D. Weinberg, the Whitney's Alice Pratt Brown
Director; Donna
De Salvo, the Whitney's Chief Curator and
Deputy Director for Programs; and some of the artists whose
work will be interpreted in the light show will jointly flip
the "switch" and light ESB in celebratory colors.
A special viewing for museum visitors will be
held at the Whitney's new building at 99 Gansevoort Street
on Friday,
May 1, from 8
p.m. until 10 p.m., which has stunning views of ESB
from its four, east-facing terraces. The works can be viewed
online at . www.whitney.org/ESB
"We're thrilled to see these incredible works
from the Whitney's collection interpreted on one of the most
iconic buildings in the world—one that has been the subject
of many an artist's work," said Donna
De Salvo, the Whitney's Chief Curator and
Deputy Director for Programs. "We can't imagine a more
spectacular way in which to signal the opening of our new
building and celebrate the art and artists of the
United States."
Featured Artworks:
Georgia O'Keeffe, Music
Pink and Blue No. 2, 1918
Edward Hopper, Railroad
Sunset, 1929
Chiura Obata, Evening
Glow of Yosemite Fall, 1930
Mary Ellen Bute, Synchromy
No. 4: Escape, 1937-1938
William H. Johnson, Blind
Singer, c.1942
Mark Rothko, Untitled
(Blue, Yellow, Green on Red),
1954
Jasper Johns, Three
Flags, 1958
Andy Warhol, Flowers,
1970
Elizabeth Murray, Children
Meeting, 1978
Peter Halley, Blue
Cell with Triple Conduit, 1986
Barbara Kruger, We
Don't Need Another Hero, 1987
Cory Arcangel, Super
Mario Clouds, 2002 |