OVERVIEW

In spring 2003 LMCC renewed its program of innovative site-oriented artist residencies by granting selected artists the unique opportunity to work high above lower Manhattan in the historic Woolworth Building.

The tallest building in the world when completed in 1913, the Woolworth’s signature neo-Gothic spire still holds sway in downtown’s skyline, its delicate latticework accentuated by blocky profiles of surrounding skyscrapers. Financed by Frank W. Woolworth’s five-and-dime empire, the "Cathedral of Commerce" meshed state-of-the-art modern invention, including the tallest single-track elevator and self-contained climate and electrical systems, with opulent old-world details like an underground Turkish bath and an elaborate marble and mosaic interior design. The Woolworth is located on Broadway at Park Place near City Hall.

In uncharacteristically raw, open-format space on the 33rd floor, generously donated by The Witkoff Group, twelve artists were invited to work on projects that actively engaged with the environment, the exceptional views, and the aesthetic dynamics created by the site. There were 360? views onto the former WTC site, Battery Park and the harbor, the East River and Brooklyn, and the full expanse of Broadway as it weaves uptown. Like World Views, LMCC’s former residency program in the World Trade Center, as well as the New Views residencies in the World Financial Center and DUMBO, Brooklyn, this program encouraged an artistic/political/ theoretical consideration of location and context and continued LMCC’s mission to position artists in lower Manhattan, create ties between the arts and business communities, and support the careers of artists in all fields.

Click here to see views of the studio space

Click here for building information