Today, on 7th Street between A and B, and then on past St. Brigid’s, more rain was imminent from the early evening sky with its swirling gray clouds that might have made Coleridge’s Mariner take notice. The winds were strong, but invigorating with the warmer temperatures. Later, once the rain burst through though, slightly cooler spring weather had returned.

Christadora House, East Village
 

Storm Clouds in the East Village
 

Storm Clouds in the East Village
 

St. Brigid’s and Storm Clouds in the East Village
 

One can question whether the building designed by Thom Mayne of Morphosis belongs in the East Village in comparison to some of the architecture from the early 1900s, or the Ukranian church right next door. But, I like it. It’s a bit crazy, funky, a definite statement – kinda like the East Village is or was.

My question is: when will they open the windows?

East Village Babes

Crafted by one of our April EVP video feature participants, Works In Progress NYC, on East 4th Street between 2nd and Bowery (a.k.a. Fourth Arts Block), these t-shirts are made of 100% Cotton. Accept no imitations!

As part of their program set to run at their 74A East 4th Street location, La Mama is collaborating with NYU dance students past and present – many of whom are on the edge of launching their dance careers.

We caught up with one young choreographer, Bryan Campbell, at La MaMa’s Great Jones Street rehearsal space recently to get his story. Click below, to view the video:

Tickets for the La MaMa NYU collaboration performances on May 8, 9 and 10 are on sale through La MaMa’s website, www.LaMaMa.org.

Bryan Campbell, Choreographer

Fortunately, Scott Vandervoort and his new elevator shaft design company, Lift newyork, provide an exciting alternative solution for the pulsing mechanical core of many New York City buildings.

EVP viewed Lift’s recently-completed shaft at 30 Bond Street, a classic, “old school” building especially when comparing it to Ian Schrager’s Herzog & de Meuron-designed, 40 Bond building next door. Who knew such a radical elevator core was lying within?

Click here to view the video:

The shaft’s seven-story painting offers artists (and potentially advertisers, too, says Scott) new site-specific opportunities within the construct of elevator design as tight space, movement and community are re-considered.

On Lift newyork’s team for the 30 Bond shaft were artists David Ellis & Doze Green who painted the long walls in July of 2007 and published the results of their elevator shaft artwork last April in a book titled “Shaft.” Fluid lines mingle with birds and beasts, and iconography that let’s you know, “Hey, this is the 3rd floor… we gotta get off.”

Scott designed the vator’s brushed metal car from North American Elevator with glass windows to reveal the painting on one wall and and the soaring, steel mechanics on another. The result is an elevator which becomes a building’s proud, common jewel as well as a location for the next cocktail party.

Despite the current real estate climate and U.S. economy, Scott still sees opportunity as the cost of revamping an elevator shaft is inexpensive compared to larger renovations that co-ops, corporate structures and even public housing might undertake. And, a re-designed shaft is something that the building’s inhabitants can share and enjoy everyday.

The next project is already underway for Lift newyork as artist Kenji Hirata is creating the mural for the a redesigned elevator shaft at the Chelsea Day School in New York City.

Scott Vandervoort, Founder, Lift newyork

Lift newyork in the Media: Curbed

EVP recently visited the production shop and interviewed the entire crew.

Check out the following video:

Works In Progress internships are offered each year to students who may have creative interests or find that traditional classroom settings aren’t a great fit. Students are taught all phases of the production process as it relates to silk-screening at the WIP offices at 59 East 4th Street in NYC’s East Village. T-shirts, bags and other printable wearables can be produced by the team of artisans at a competitive price.

This year’s participating group includes New York City high school students from the Institute for Collaborative Eduction (ICE) and Essex Street Academy.

Not surprisingly, many of the areas museums use Works in Progress NYC for their t-shirt business as the opportunity to give back to the community along with expert execution of designs is hard to pass up.

In the coming years Emily tells us that WIP hopes to expand the program to include more students, more space and, eventually, computers for participating students, too.

Fourth Arts Block, on which WIP resides, continues to evolve as companies and non-profits plot their growth strategies in spite of the domestic economy’s woes.