I recently attended an all day sketching event with the NYC Urban Sketchers.
We started our day at The Coney Island Museum. I had never heard of the museum and I was so glad to have the opportunity to explore it.
Our tour guide for the museum (and the day) was Coney Island resident artist and lifelong Coney Island resident, Marie Roberts.
Marie was an *amazing* tour guide. She knows so much about everything Coney Island. It was inspiring! And her art is wonderful! She painted most of the large banners and posters that we saw — both inside and outside the museum!
The museum was full of wonderful artifacts from Coney Island's history.
I liked the fun house mirrors!
The museum has lovely views of the amusement park.
Perhaps coolest of all, we got to go where regular museum visitors can't. You see, Marie's studio is in the museum behind a closed door. And it was super cool to take a peek at what she was working on.
This is a skateboard comission she's working on:
She's not the only artist with a studio at the museum. It's a honeycomb of studios and many of them have beautiful old murals on the walls. Marie restored this mural many years ago.
Apparently the paint was chipping off in huge sheets. She soaked all the chips and put the mural back together again in a painstaking process.
The whole museum has a wonderful kitschy feeling to it. There's an actual bar in the lobby for starters.
And because we're the NYC Urban Sketchers, we didn't just look around, we spent some time sketching what we saw:
I'll share my sketches with you tomorrow.
However, before I go, I'll leave you with a story….
After a day of sketching, we looped back to the Coney Island Museum for their Side Show. I got dragged onto stage for one of the bits. The host had me sit in an electric chair and ran an electric current through me. Just like the poster…
…I lit a lightbulb with my hand. The host also had me light a kerosene soaked baton with a spark from my finger. It's like a really strong electrical shock and you can see the electricity jump to the baton right before it bursts into flame. Even crazier, he had me tilt my head back and light the baton with my tongue!!! Not going to lie, it stung a bit, and my tongue went a little numb for a while. But, it was fun to be part of the side show and Coney Island history!
More to come tomorrow!
Thanks for stopping by!
ooooooh I hope this museum is open out of season – we are visiting Brooklyn (from the UK) for a week in November this year, and I am so excited to visit Coney Island even though I know the rides won’t be up and running. I look forward to seeing your sketches, once you have recovered from being electrocuted 😀
ooooooh I hope this museum is open out of season – we are visiting Brooklyn (from the UK) for a week in November this year, and I am so excited to visit Coney Island even though I know the rides won’t be up and running. I look forward to seeing your sketches, once you have recovered from being electrocuted 😀
ooooooh I hope this museum is open out of season – we are visiting Brooklyn (from the UK) for a week in November this year, and I am so excited to visit Coney Island even though I know the rides won’t be up and running. I look forward to seeing your sketches, once you have recovered from being electrocuted 😀
ooooooh I hope this museum is open out of season – we are visiting Brooklyn (from the UK) for a week in November this year, and I am so excited to visit Coney Island even though I know the rides won’t be up and running. I look forward to seeing your sketches, once you have recovered from being electrocuted 😀
ooooooh I hope this museum is open out of season – we are visiting Brooklyn (from the UK) for a week in November this year, and I am so excited to visit Coney Island even though I know the rides won’t be up and running. I look forward to seeing your sketches, once you have recovered from being electrocuted 😀
Sadly I have just checked and it looks like the museum closes up in September and doesn’t reopen until the following spring 🙁 If you or any of your readers could suggest to me any other ‘off the beaten track’ or artsy things to see or do in Brooklyn (or NYC) that WILL be open in November, I would love to hear!
Sadly I have just checked and it looks like the museum closes up in September and doesn’t reopen until the following spring 🙁 If you or any of your readers could suggest to me any other ‘off the beaten track’ or artsy things to see or do in Brooklyn (or NYC) that WILL be open in November, I would love to hear!
Sadly I have just checked and it looks like the museum closes up in September and doesn’t reopen until the following spring 🙁 If you or any of your readers could suggest to me any other ‘off the beaten track’ or artsy things to see or do in Brooklyn (or NYC) that WILL be open in November, I would love to hear!
Sadly I have just checked and it looks like the museum closes up in September and doesn’t reopen until the following spring 🙁 If you or any of your readers could suggest to me any other ‘off the beaten track’ or artsy things to see or do in Brooklyn (or NYC) that WILL be open in November, I would love to hear!
Sadly I have just checked and it looks like the museum closes up in September and doesn’t reopen until the following spring 🙁 If you or any of your readers could suggest to me any other ‘off the beaten track’ or artsy things to see or do in Brooklyn (or NYC) that WILL be open in November, I would love to hear!
What fun and thanks for sharing all those pics with us Julie.
How brave of you to help out with the electrical show. Reminds me of the time I tried on a bark collar before getting one for my dog. Well, the short story is that it was shocking to say the last and I didn’t buy one. I felt strange for about one hour after receiving the shock, so I feel your “pain” at lighting items through your body.
What fun and thanks for sharing all those pics with us Julie.
How brave of you to help out with the electrical show. Reminds me of the time I tried on a bark collar before getting one for my dog. Well, the short story is that it was shocking to say the last and I didn’t buy one. I felt strange for about one hour after receiving the shock, so I feel your “pain” at lighting items through your body.
What fun and thanks for sharing all those pics with us Julie.
How brave of you to help out with the electrical show. Reminds me of the time I tried on a bark collar before getting one for my dog. Well, the short story is that it was shocking to say the last and I didn’t buy one. I felt strange for about one hour after receiving the shock, so I feel your “pain” at lighting items through your body.
What fun and thanks for sharing all those pics with us Julie.
How brave of you to help out with the electrical show. Reminds me of the time I tried on a bark collar before getting one for my dog. Well, the short story is that it was shocking to say the last and I didn’t buy one. I felt strange for about one hour after receiving the shock, so I feel your “pain” at lighting items through your body.
What fun and thanks for sharing all those pics with us Julie.
How brave of you to help out with the electrical show. Reminds me of the time I tried on a bark collar before getting one for my dog. Well, the short story is that it was shocking to say the last and I didn’t buy one. I felt strange for about one hour after receiving the shock, so I feel your “pain” at lighting items through your body.
Sounds like you had a fun & very interesting day there-an adventure for sure!
Sounds like you had a fun & very interesting day there-an adventure for sure!
Sounds like you had a fun & very interesting day there-an adventure for sure!
Sounds like you had a fun & very interesting day there-an adventure for sure!
Sounds like you had a fun & very interesting day there-an adventure for sure!
How fun! I tried to hit the LIKE button – maybe next time I’m in NY.
How fun! I tried to hit the LIKE button – maybe next time I’m in NY.
How fun! I tried to hit the LIKE button – maybe next time I’m in NY.
How fun! I tried to hit the LIKE button – maybe next time I’m in NY.
How fun! I tried to hit the LIKE button – maybe next time I’m in NY.
Sarah– I actually wrote a blog post about artsy NYC thing to do today… http://schulmanart.blogspot.com/2014/06/6-free-nyc-summer-art-adventures.html although this is specific to summer, most of these museums have these types of activities all year round!
Sarah– I actually wrote a blog post about artsy NYC thing to do today… http://schulmanart.blogspot.com/2014/06/6-free-nyc-summer-art-adventures.html although this is specific to summer, most of these museums have these types of activities all year round!
Sarah– I actually wrote a blog post about artsy NYC thing to do today… http://schulmanart.blogspot.com/2014/06/6-free-nyc-summer-art-adventures.html although this is specific to summer, most of these museums have these types of activities all year round!
Sarah– I actually wrote a blog post about artsy NYC thing to do today… http://schulmanart.blogspot.com/2014/06/6-free-nyc-summer-art-adventures.html although this is specific to summer, most of these museums have these types of activities all year round!
Sarah– I actually wrote a blog post about artsy NYC thing to do today… http://schulmanart.blogspot.com/2014/06/6-free-nyc-summer-art-adventures.html although this is specific to summer, most of these museums have these types of activities all year round!
thanks for this post, just signed up for NY sketchers!
thanks for this post, just signed up for NY sketchers!
thanks for this post, just signed up for NY sketchers!
thanks for this post, just signed up for NY sketchers!
thanks for this post, just signed up for NY sketchers!
What perfect timing, thank you Miriam I will read your post tomorrow 🙂
What perfect timing, thank you Miriam I will read your post tomorrow 🙂
What perfect timing, thank you Miriam I will read your post tomorrow 🙂
What perfect timing, thank you Miriam I will read your post tomorrow 🙂
What perfect timing, thank you Miriam I will read your post tomorrow 🙂
I love this story about Coney Island. thanks. I have a friend who grew up in its heyday. She has great stories.
Kay Wisnia
I love this story about Coney Island. thanks. I have a friend who grew up in its heyday. She has great stories.
Kay Wisnia
I love this story about Coney Island. thanks. I have a friend who grew up in its heyday. She has great stories.
Kay Wisnia
I love this story about Coney Island. thanks. I have a friend who grew up in its heyday. She has great stories.
Kay Wisnia
I love this story about Coney Island. thanks. I have a friend who grew up in its heyday. She has great stories.
Kay Wisnia
Julie, you look so amazing!! I’m so jealous! I wish I knew your secret, but if it’s exercise and diet, blah. No fun lol.
It’s funny actually, I had a dream recently that you and a friend(I’m thinking it was Nathalie) were showing me and a friend around town and we were sight seeing and just having a ball. I think your blog was the last thing I read before I went to sleep. But I woke up happy and laughed, wishing that was actually true. I’ve always dreamed of going to New York. Ah, someday……
Thanks for all your posts and inspiratio!
Melissa
Julie, you look so amazing!! I’m so jealous! I wish I knew your secret, but if it’s exercise and diet, blah. No fun lol.
It’s funny actually, I had a dream recently that you and a friend(I’m thinking it was Nathalie) were showing me and a friend around town and we were sight seeing and just having a ball. I think your blog was the last thing I read before I went to sleep. But I woke up happy and laughed, wishing that was actually true. I’ve always dreamed of going to New York. Ah, someday……
Thanks for all your posts and inspiratio!
Melissa
Julie, you look so amazing!! I’m so jealous! I wish I knew your secret, but if it’s exercise and diet, blah. No fun lol.
It’s funny actually, I had a dream recently that you and a friend(I’m thinking it was Nathalie) were showing me and a friend around town and we were sight seeing and just having a ball. I think your blog was the last thing I read before I went to sleep. But I woke up happy and laughed, wishing that was actually true. I’ve always dreamed of going to New York. Ah, someday……
Thanks for all your posts and inspiratio!
Melissa
Julie, you look so amazing!! I’m so jealous! I wish I knew your secret, but if it’s exercise and diet, blah. No fun lol.
It’s funny actually, I had a dream recently that you and a friend(I’m thinking it was Nathalie) were showing me and a friend around town and we were sight seeing and just having a ball. I think your blog was the last thing I read before I went to sleep. But I woke up happy and laughed, wishing that was actually true. I’ve always dreamed of going to New York. Ah, someday……
Thanks for all your posts and inspiratio!
Melissa
Julie, you look so amazing!! I’m so jealous! I wish I knew your secret, but if it’s exercise and diet, blah. No fun lol.
It’s funny actually, I had a dream recently that you and a friend(I’m thinking it was Nathalie) were showing me and a friend around town and we were sight seeing and just having a ball. I think your blog was the last thing I read before I went to sleep. But I woke up happy and laughed, wishing that was actually true. I’ve always dreamed of going to New York. Ah, someday……
Thanks for all your posts and inspiratio!
Melissa