Venue

New York City is certainly the art capital of the western hemisphere, rich in both collections and collectors. Carleton has many connections here, both through its faculty and alumni. You will visit museums, auction houses, and private collections for a glimpse of the art world.

Activities

Bradley has contacts with Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction houses and private collectors. You will have several behind-the-scenes experiences focusing on art collecting and highlighting significant developments in the art world. By special arrangement, you will preview prints being offered for auction at Christie’s, visit trend-setting galleries in Chelsea, and learn about recent developments in collecting prints and photographs. Also planned are guided tours of museum exhibitions, including the new galleries at the Museum of Modern Art, dining at cutting-edge restaurants acclaimed for their culinary achievements, and a theatrical experience with an artistic theme. You’ll meet Carleton-connected museum professionals, collectors, and artists living in New York City. There will be an overview of how to buy at auction, and you will have an opportunity to attend and possibly bid at an art auction. On Sunday there will be an optional trip to Dia: Beacon, an expansive gallery that houses major artworks from the 1960s to the present by such giants as Donald Judd, Dan Flavin, and Andy Warhol.

Accommodations

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Grand Hyatt New York (Park Avenue and Grand Central). When reserving a room in this block please ask for the Carleton College Alumni Weekend to get the rate of $279 per night. This block of rooms will be held until October 5. Reservations can be made by calling the Hotel’s Reservation Department at (212) 883-1234 or 800-233-1234.

Faculty

Laurel Bradley, director of exhibitions and curator of Carleton’s art collection since 1996, lived in New York City for eight years. While pursuing a PhD at New York University’s Institute of Fine Arts, Bradley also made the rounds of the city’s art galleries, museums, and auction houses as a reviewer for Artmagazine. At Carleton, she maintains an extensive network of art world contacts in order to organize exhibitions as varied as Japanese tea ceremony kettles, photography of Antarctica, and contemporary printmaking. Bradley was co-leader of the 2004 Alumni Adventure in Chicago.