At the confluence of the Harlem and East Rivers, Socrates Sculpture Park overlooks the narrow inlet between Astoria and Wards Island, known by the locals as Hell's Gate for its dangerous tides. The park, named after the great philosopher as a tribute to the Greek community of Astoria, was once nothing more than an abandoned landfill and an illegal dumpsite. In 1986, a coalition of artists led by local sculptor Mark di Suvero, famous for his large, bold sculptures and his dedication to emerging artists, transformed it into a renowned outdoor museum. Today Socrates Sculpture Park is the only New York metropolitan space that provides artists with opportunities to create and exhibit large-scale work in an urban environment. The exhibitions revolve, so check back often if you are nearby. Located at the intersection of Broadway and Vernon Boulevard, the park is easily accessible by public transportation (although be prepared for an eight-block walk when you get off the subway.)
The Socrates Sculpture Park foundation is a non-profit organization that to-date has hosted works of over 700 artists. Over 73,000 visitors a year come to see the ever-changing park landscape. Free guided tours, led by local artists who are knowledgeable about the park's history and art, are available year-round. Private tours are given upon request. Exhibits range from multi-artist collective presentations to one-man shows and from classic stone or wood sculptures to larger-than-life modern abstractionist prodigies that leave the audience to wonder and awe.
In addition to exhibition space, Socrates Park offers an arts education program and fun activities, ranging from cooking to sports and meditation. The park foundation has been commended for exemplary community service and received a National Recognition Award from America the Beautiful Fund. Every Saturday afternoon May through September, rain or shine, the park offers kids art workshops ranging from plaster casting to weaving to "Decorate Your Bike with Socrates Sculpture Park Artists." There are also workshops for adults on sustainable city living, including cooking and gardening as well as outside fitness classes in Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi in summer. Participants can meditate on the green lawns next to the art pieces and under the shade of the park's 30-year old trees, not to mention the spectacular water view and the Manhattan skyline. All workshops are free, and cooking and gardening materials are provided, but the sustainable city living workshop space is limited to 25 people, so advanced registration is encouraged. For more adventurous travelers who don't mind getting wet, Socrates Park partners with Long Island City Community Boathouse (LICCB) to offer free kayaking in Hallets Cove, an area further north off Vernon Boulevard. The park also features kite flying in spring, outdoor cinema in summer, a solstice event where an Urban Shaman performs a special solstice ritual, and a Halloween harvest festival in October.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- Socrates Park is open 365 days a year from 10am until sunset
- Click here for sunset times: www.timeanddate.com
- Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 10am to 6pm
- Admission:
- Free
- Sunbway Stop:
- N train to the Broadway stop in Queens
- Contact:
- Location: 32-01 Vernon Boulevard at Broadway Long Island City (Queens), NY
- Phone: 718-956-1819
- Website: www.socratessculpturepark.org
- For additional information contact Ellen Staller at Socrates Sculpture Park, 718-956-1819 ext. 12
