While pigeons aren’t exactly greeted with open arms in New York — often fondly referred to locally as ‘rats of the sky’ — artist Duke Riley has found a way to elevate the common urban fowl via 'Fly by Night', a performance that has brought hundreds to the gates of Brooklyn’s Navy Yard, eager to catch a glimpse of the birds in action.
Taking a page from the historic tradition of pigeon fancying, Riley has trained a flock of over 2,000 birds to perform an elegant choreography, each with a small LED light adhered to their ankles to create a glittering display across the night’s sky.
Standing atop their coops, Riley and his collaborators wave large swaths of fabrics, guiding the birds through a series of practiced movements.
The event, which has been sold-out since before it opened has a waitlist of nearly 40,000, is now extended through 19 June, adding three additional performances to its run. Those interested in attending can reserve a ticket or become a member of Creative Time, the creative initiative that has helped organise numerous public art projects (including this one), to ensure two tickets to one of the final performances.
‘Creative Time is committed to helping artists realise their dreams, and Duke's dream was for Fly By Night to be his gift to New York,’ says Katie Hollander, Creative Time’s executive director. ‘We are grateful for the opportunity for more New Yorkers to experience its magic.’
Those less fortunate to snag a ticket can also view the spectacle from across the river at the East River Park Ampitheater.
Taking a page from the historic tradition of pigeon fancying, Riley has trained a flock of over 2,000 birds to perform an elegant choreography, each with a small LED light adhered to their ankles to create a glittering display across the night’s sky
Standing atop their coops, Riley and his collaborators wave large swaths of fabrics, guiding the birds through a series of practiced movements
Made possible by Creative Time, an initiative that has helped organize numerous public art projects (including this one), its executive director Katie Hollander says, ‘Creative Time is committed to helping artists realize their dreams, and Duke's dream was for Fly By Night to be his gift to New York.’
The event, which has been sold-out since before it opened has a waitlist of nearly 40,000, is now extended through 19 June, adding three additional performances to its run
INFORMATION
'Fly by Night' is now extended until 19 June. For more details, please visit the Eventbrite website
Photography: Tod Seelie
ADDRESS
Brooklyn Navy Yard
63 Flushing Ave
Brooklyn, New York
-
The Stuff That Surrounds, episode three: Inside the home of architect Glenn SestigIn The Stuff That Surrounds, Wallpaper* explores a life through objects. This episode, we’re invited inside an architectural gem – just what you'd expect from one of the most distinctive voices in the field today
-
Germane Barnes just transformed a humble Indiana parking garage into an enormous sub-woofer systemWith Joy Riding, the Miami-based designer’s installation at Exhibit Columbus, Barnes celebrates togetherness by evoking Black car culture
-
The best Ruth Asawa exhibition is actually on the streets of San FranciscoThe artist, now the subject of a major retrospective at SFMOMA, designed many public sculptures scattered across the Bay Area – you just have to know where to look
-
The best Ruth Asawa exhibition is actually on the streets of San Francisco
The artist, now the subject of a major retrospective at SFMOMA, designed many public sculptures scattered across the Bay Area – you just have to know where to look
-
Orlando Museum of Art wants to showcase more Latin American and Hispanic artists. Do you fit the bill?The Florida gallery calls for for Hispanic and Latin American artists to submit their work for an ongoing exhibition
-
Pantone’s new public art installation is a tribute to Coldplay’s ‘Yellow’, 25 years after its releaseThe colour company has created a – you guessed it – yellow colour swatch on some steps in Wembley Park, London, where the band will play ten shows this month
-
The spread of Butter: the Black-owned art fair where artists see all the profitsThe Indianapolis-based art fair is known for bringing Black art to the forefront. As it ventures out of state to make its Los Angeles debut, we speak with founders Mali and Alan Bacon to find out more
-
Steve Martin wants you to visit The Frick CollectionThe actor has appeared in a video promoting New York’s newly renovated art museum
-
'What does it mean that the language of photography is invented by men?' Justine Kurland explores the feminist potential of collage'The Rose,' at the Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW) in Kingston, New York, examines the work of over 50 artists using collage as a feminist practice
-
Inside the fantastical world of performance artist, Darrell ThornePerformance artist Darrell Thorne straddles multiple worlds, telling stories through transformation, reinvention and theatrical excess
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekSummer holidays are here, with Wallpaper* editors jetting off to some exceptional destinations, including highly recommended Mérida in Mexico. Then it’s back to work, or, for one editor, back to school…
