Photo courtesy of the Meatpacking BID
Celebrate Edward Hopper’s birthday by becoming a subject in one of his paintings. This weekend, life-size 3D recreations of three Hopper paintings will pop up on Gansevoort Plaza in the Meatpacking District, inviting New Yorkers to step inside the artwork. Hosted by the Meatpacking BID and the Whitney Museum of American Art, the installations will be on display from July 19 through July 22.
Designed by Theresa Rivera Design, the “Step Into Hopper” program recreates three of the American artist’s most iconic works: “Nighthawks,” “Soir Bleu,” and “Early Sunday Morning.”
The installations will feature live interactive elements, including a clown performer in a French cafe in “Soir Bleu” and free Terremoto Coffee inside the famous diner scene in “Nighthawks.”
“The Meatpacking BID and Whitney share a commitment to creating accessible spaces that center art where New Yorkers and visitors alike feel welcome,” Jeffrey LeFrancois, executive director of the Meatpacking BID, said.
“The Step Into Hopper installation is a first-of-its-kind for the neighborhood that brings a world-renowned artist’s paintings to life, and our hope is that through these installations people are able to reimagine Hopper’s portrayal of American life and create a new work of art that reflects their diverse perspective and lived experience.”
The realist painter moved to Greenwich Village in 1913 and lived there until his death in 1967, with many of his renowned works capturing everyday life in the city. The Whitney Museum holds 3,000 artworks by Hopper and has hosted “Hopper Day” since 2022 to celebrate his July 22 birthday.
Earlier this spring, the museum also launched a digital map marking 20 locations across the city Hopper painted during his career with a side-by-side comparison of the location as it stands today.
In addition to the interactive paintings, the Whitney is celebrating “Hopper Day” with a 60-mile bike ride from the Meatpacking District to Hopper’s birthplace in Nyack, New York. Held for the first time last year, the Whitney Hopper Ride takes place on July 20. The museum will also offer special art projects and activities inspired by Hopper’s works.
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