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The staff of Friends of the High Line was deeply saddened to learn of the death of Clare Weiss, the Parks Department's Curator of Public Art, on January 11, 2010.  During her tenure at Parks from 2005 to 2009, Clare helped organize 128 outdoor public art exhibitions, as well as 36 exhibits at the Arsenal Gallery in Central Park.  She was a charter member of the High Line's Public Art Advisory Committee, which selected the High Line's first public art installation - Spencer Finch's The River That Flows Both Ways.  Clare worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make this city cultura

In addition to all the shoveling the High Line staff did to keep the park open this weekend, our temporary Maintenance & Operations facility has been moved down to the southern entrance of the High Line, at street level. In order to get ready for the joining of Section 1 to Section 2 (still under construction) the M&O trailers (where our gardeners, maintenance workers, and Rangers house equipment and offices) were moved 10 blocks south, just west of the Gansevoort Stairway.

M&O container being lifted off of the 20th Street location and moved to ground level
at Gansevoort & Washington Streets. Photo by Jenny Staley.

The trailers and containers were crane-lifted off the High Line and loaded onto flatbed trucks that transported everything to their new southern location, where they will rest until construction for the new Whitney Museum begins at Gansevoort and Washington Street, adjacent to the High Line.

Container being set down into its new location just west of the Gansevoort Entrance.
Photo by Jenny Staley.

If you haven't already caught glimpses of the High Line dressed in white, check out this snow-strewn photo that our Maintenance & Operations staff took this weekend.

The Diller - von Furstenberg Sundeck under a white blanket.

In order to clear the snow, the crew used various tools and equipment including: a Bobcat mini-tracker with spinning broom, power brooms, push brooms, snow-blowers, shovels, and eco-friendly ice melt. Brooms (and power brooms) are the best way to remove snow safely and efficiently from the concrete planking and pathways.

Image courtesy of fieldoperations.net

James Corner, principal and founder of James Corner Field Operations, the High Line project lead, will lecture on his recent and current works at the Cooper Union on Wednesday, December 9th.

Organicoa's Pure Hot Cocoa. Photo by Auzelle Epeneter.

Now through December 11th in the Chelsea Market Passage, you'll find Organicoa – organic, sustainably-grown, pure hot cocoa.

Founders Matthew Pek and Brett Nidel created Organicoa especially for the High Line.  Each cup of Organicoa's hot cocoa is crafted with Dagoba cocoa beans (which are sourced through sustainable cacao farms), organic vegan cane sugar, and locally sourced organic milk.  Their cups, lids, and sleeves are made from recycled and compostable materials.

We recommend grabbing a cup and enjoying it on the sundeck.

Follow the jump for a menu and more pictures.

On Friday the thirteenth, a group of planners, transportation experts,  sociologists, and techies joined together for an intimate dialogue hosted by The Open Planning Project (TOPP) and the Regional Planning Association (RPA). Perched on top of 148 Lafayette, we gathered to discuss "New Technology for Participatory Planning". A series of "lightning talks" revolved around the potential of evolving technologies to simultaneously address planning challenges and open communication barriers.

New Technology for Participatory Planning conference. Ideas for take-away discussions.

The Open Planning Project acts as an advocate and resource for those who wish to understand the planning of cities around them.  TOPP is about to launch a new community-based planning tool using open-source software,  where those interested in planning can converge online.

Rescued American Woodcock.

This fancy bird, a migratory American Woodcock, was rescued by High Line gardener and bird enthusiast Maryanne on Friday. It was found huddled in a doorway on West 20th Street, stunned but not visibly injured -- she guessed the little guy had flown into the side of a building and had been knocked to the ground.

Tickets are still available for this special self-guided gallery tour of West Chelsea and SoHo, benefiting Friends of the High Line. The daylong event features a self-guided tour of 28 art galleries including James Cohan Gallery, Mary Boone Gallery, PaceWildenstein, 303 Gallery, and Zach Feuer Gallery, where you will collect stamps designed by leading artists in a limited-edition passport. In the evening, join us for a cocktail party and silent auction, including works by Jenny Holzer, Rodney Graham, Yinka Shonibare, and Nayland Blake.

Photo by David B. Smith

Spencer Finch's The River That Flows Both Ways is the spectacular installation of 700 panes of colored glass that covers the western wall of the Chelsea Market Passage on the High Line.  Come hear this articulate and engaging artist speak about that piece and others, this Wednesday evening at 6:30 in the 14th St. Passage.  FREE.  RSVP recommended but not required.

At the end of July, we went to the opening of No Longer Empty, an exhibition inspired by the High Line and located nearby the  in an empty storefront space.

Now, in conjunction with that exhibition, the show's organizers  are presenting a panel discussion on public art and alternative art spaces, featuring 7 speakers... including me!