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Public Programming Access Restricted
Access Restricted 2007: Clocktower Gallery and Clock Machinery Room
Crowned by one of the city’s few remaining mechanical clocks, the Clock Tower Office is one of a small group of city buildings to hold landmarks for both its interior and exterior parts. Built by architect Stephen D. Hatch from 1894-1898 and later extended by Mckim, Meade & White’s flamboyant palazzo-like pavilion, the Clock Tower Office houses a large main gallery in its top floors and a tower exhibition space originally intended to be architect Stanford White’s entertaining room. Following White’s murder and various habitations, the space went disused until 1973 when Alanna Heiss (who went on to found P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center), founded the Clocktower Gallery with three inaugural art exhibitions: Joel Shapiro, Richard Tuttle, and James Bishop. The Clocktower Gallery soon became a legendary alternative space and its distinctive location "in the sky near City Hall’ made it an icon of one-person shows.
