“Drifting in Daylight” Arrives in Central Park Aboard the S.S. Hangover (Yes, that’s Right)

If you need another reason to visit Harlem this weekend besides the Eat Up Festival, Creative Time and Central Park Conservancy will be unveiling Drifting in Daylight aboard the aptly named S.S. Hangover on Friday, May 15th. The location of the six-week installation is meant to draw people to the northern end of Central Park, with a starting point at Fifth Avenue and 110th Street. It is also at the centerpiece of the Conservancy’s 35th Anniversary and to, as Creative Time writes, “tempt visitors to transcend their busy lives, losing themselves along a playful trail of sensory experiences.”

We had a chance to see the installation in action a few days before its official opening. As we entered Central Park, we could hear the sound of music and spotted the S.S. Hangover in the Harlem Meer alongside the Discovery Center. The 1934 wooden fishing boat was carrying a brass sextet, with instrumentals provided by the Grammy-nominated Metropolis Ensemble– a conceptual and performance installation by Ragnar Kjartansson.  Further south, along the Eastern walkway is a signboard collage of images–the work of Karyn Olivier that represents a view of the Central Park’s past, present and future.

Spencer Finch’s “Sunset (Central Park)” will offer visitors free soft-service ice cream cones in colors reminiscent of the sky at sunset; Davie Levine will present “Private Moment” infiltrating movie scenes taken in Central Park into their original locations; Marc Bamuthi Joseph will combine music, dance and spoken word in his piece “Black Joy.”  Other participating artists are Alicia Framis, David Levine, Nina Katchadourian and Lauri Stallings.  Drifting in Daylight will run from May 15 through June 20th.

Next, check out the Top 10 Secrets of Central Park. Get in touch with the author at AFineLyne.