Last October 2017, New York magazine launched their 50th anniversary (founded April 1968) slightly early, with a commemorative issue and book: Christopher Bonanos, Highbrow, Lowbrow, Brilliant, Despicable: 50 Years of New York ([New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2017]). Dixon Books Oversize PN4900.N34 B66 2017q.
Thankfully, our dust jacket is still in place, which folds out into a poster documenting highlights from the last 50 years: https://www.instagram.com/p/BbMtr-0gTZX/?tagged=nymag50.
This week a new project appeared around the New York City area to mark their celebration. http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/01/new-yorks-50th-anniversary-public-art-project-debuts.html The editors write, “In honor of New York Magazine’s 50th anniversary, the publication is launching a year-long exhibit showcasing specially-designed New York covers by 50 renowned artists, called simply ‘A Public Art Project.’ Today [January 22, 2018], the first eight covers—created by Yoko Ono, Barbara Kruger, Rob Pruitt, Alex Katz, Hank Willis Thomas, Mel Bochner, John Giorno and Marilyn Minter—were unveiled and rolled out at 25 locations across the five boroughs.
The covers are displayed in various sizes and formats, including ‘wild postings,’ on street lamp banners, and giant versions; they’ll continue being rolled out through the fall when, come October, an exhibit of all 50 will debut.”
The first of them, by Alex Katz [seen at the top], appeared on their cover last November and “is a drawing he did on the subway, an echo of those he made underground in the 1940s. The others also, in their own ways, celebrate the spirit of life in New York City, a place of solidarity — whether on packed trains or in political marches.”
**Most important, in a few locations that will be announced on Twitter (at @NYMag), there will be ten copies stacked like a pad of paper, so (if you’re one of the lucky people to get there first) you can tear off a poster and take it home. Donations to our collection are always welcome.
Dust jacket for Christopher Bonanos, Highbrow, Lowbrow, Brilliant, Despicable: 50 Years of New York ([New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 2017]). Graphic Arts Collection GAX in process.