"Everybody." Sign from Brooklyn Museum. Photo courtesy of Camille Hayward
Paul Ramirez Jonas with help from Creative Time, developed a public art project for the summer of 2010 where the medieval tradition of bestowing a key to the city is translated to the modern day by allowing travelers to experience hidden spaces across New York. In all five borrows participants can look to their “Key to the City” passports for directions to the next hidden location. The citywide treasure hunt provides intimate access to more than 20 New York locations–a secret room in the Met, a gateway across the George Washington Bridge, an extra helping of something sweet from Eddie’s Sweet Shop, a graveyard at Trinity Church, even a locker in Gleason’s Gym. In a city of 8 million, the feeling of exclusivity the key grants is invigorating, but at the same time communal—all participants share a love for this city and a taste for discovery. Although the kiosk in Times Square where participants bestowed keys to one another is closed, the lucky art project ambassadors can travel the city with their passport and unlock hidden spaces until the end of summer.
Manhattan
Nestled in the narrow canals of Wall Street between a host of goliath buildings, Trinity Church has been a part of New York since 1698, in one form or another. The initial gambrel roofed, rectangular structure was incinerated in the Great New York City Fire of 1776, subsequently rebuilt by 1790, later demolished, and resurrected in 1846 with its current gothic architecture. The Episcopal house of worship is the oldest public building in continual use in New York City and claims the famous congregate George Washington. Its rich history makes this landmark an essential aspect of the city’s legacy.
The passport guides participants to the left of the church’s entrance to the cemetery’s padlocked gate. The master key slips into the lock and reveals the massive amounts of history kept behind the metal enclosure. A stone walkway snakes through the grassy cemetery beneath the canopy of trees in the shade from neighboring skyscrapers. Viewers are reminded of the church’s beauty, as it is visually impossible to keep one’s eyes off the jutting steeple, stone exterior, and stained glass windows. But if one does manage to meander through the graveyard with focus and keen eyes, they will find the final resting places of Alexander Hamilton, Robert Fulton, unknown martyrs of the revolution, and many more of our mortal brethren.
Brooklyn
The Brooklyn Museum is the second largest art museum in New York and one of the largest and oldest in the United States. It was founded by Augustus Graham and opened in 1897. A permanent art collection allures 500,000 patrons annually with its more than 1.5 million objects spanning from ancient Egyptian artifacts to 17th–20th-century paintings to modern photography.
Positioned between the portrait of George Washington by Charles Willson Peale and the portrait of Mrs. Sylvester Gardiner by John Singleton Copley, the secret door awaits the key to the city. After enjoying a stroll through Prospect Park, arriving through the modern appendage of the historic building, past the children scribbling in charcoal their young renditions of Augusta Rodin’s Pierre de Wiessant, Monumental (Pierre de Wissant, monumental), following the “EVERYBODY” sign, and ascending five museum floors, the secret behind the unmarked door tantalizes the art project ambassador. With a twist of the wrist, tiny glass ornaments dance into view.
Ten of Peter Carl Fabergé’s works sit in a glass box behind a red velvet curtain. The delicate pieces perfectly catch the spotlight igniting their allure. Inside Cat, Dog, Bear, Rabbit, Mouse, Bull, Watch-Clock with Diamonds, Potted Mistletoe Plant, Crystal Pot, Potted Dandelion Plant, Crystal Pot, and Vase, with Metal Base show the artist’s talent for meticulous detail with the fragile glass material. The most awe-inspiring proved to be the crystal Potted Dandelion Plant, Crystal Pot. Its delicate seeds sprouting gold stems seem too life-like to be synthetically made. This decorative art piece is a fascinating example of Fabergé’s talent.
The Russian artist began his artistic life as a jeweler made famous by his creation of Fabergé eggs. He had an indescribable talent for working with delicate materials and the hidden exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum displays his fine talent for creating precious, miniature delights.
The Bronx
A hop, skip, and train ride away from the island of Manhattan is the Key to the City’s next location in the Bronx’s PostNet. Taking its name from Postal Numeric Encoding Technique, the barcode symbol used by the United States Postal Service in directing mail, PostNet stores offer private and secure mailboxes available for rent. The Key to the City has taken the private spaces of correspondence and made one available for use to those with the master key.
On 149th Street and Grand Concourse right off the Metro, between a 7-11 and Burger King, this Key to the City location is well hidden from skyscrapers and high rises. Stepping inside the PostNet building, and veering to the left toward the PO boxes, the Key to the City’s is number 136, nestled in the center. The only thing setting this box aside from its neighbors is the fact that a thousand keys and a thousand people have access to it. The box is open to leave a note, memento, or in this traveler’s case, a stick of gum. Postcards inside give tips for adventuring in the Bronx, tales of fun afternoons, or written regales of the journey to reach the mail box. Inside number 136, the city speaks through citizens with the commonalities of anonymity and shared ownership.
Queens
Speaking to the notion of representation, a Key to the City location lies on a window display holding the American flag at the office of New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm, 25th District, in Queens. The eastward borough with the largest area and second largest population is considered the most suburban of New York City districts. Here lies Daniel Dromm’s office. The Democrat member of the New York City Council since January 1, 2010 is not only an elected representative of his community, but helps shape the youthful minds as a public school teacher. He is a staunch fighter for the people he represents in Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, East Elmhurst, LeFrak City, Corona, Rego Park, and Woodside. He is active in the committees of Immigration as Chair, Education, Cultural Affairs, Libraries & International Intergroup Relations, Juvenile Justice, Parks & Recreation, and Veterans. He is an example of the public domain that is reflected in our government.
A window beside the entrance to Dromm’s office holds a vertically positioned American flag. The master key slides into the window’s lock and when turned, pops open the display. The hanging flag covers a bundle of notes and relics of Key holders left by past travelers. Inside the box are little scribblings of encouragement and advice for the journey ahead or congratulations for the accomplished mission.
Connecting with a community numbered in the millions is not an easy feat. With New Yorkers stretched across five boroughs and the overall pace of the hurried city where locking eyes for more than a second is taxing, the Key to the City art project looks to unite New Yorkers. The idea of bestowing keys to one another physically reiterates the link created by Paul Ramirez Jones’s conception. A hand to a hand, a map to a metro, and a key to a lock are all signs of a person connecting with her city. With the same final sentiment voiced by a note tucked behind the American flag in Queens, “This is such a journey.”
Trinity Church and Cemetery, Manhattan. Photo Courtesy of Camille Hayward
Trinity Church's unlocked Key to the City padlock. Photo courtesy of Camille Hayward.
The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn. Photo courtesy of Camille Hayward
Peter Carl Fabergé’s Potted Dandelion Plant, Crystal Pot (1870-1920). Photo courtesy of Camille Hayward
PO box 136 in PosNet, The Bronx. Photo courtesy of Camille Hayward
Postcard advising fellow key holder to visit Louis Armstrong's house. Photo courtesy of Camille Hayward
The office of New York City Council Member Daniel Dromm, Queens. Photo courtesy of Camille Hayward
Letters and mementos behind the American flag. Photo courtesy of Camille Hayward