Rockefeller Center Is Worth a Visit Right Now
If you don’t have allergies, spring is the most magical time of year in New York. And there is no better place to enjoy it than Rockefeller Center, thanks to a series of colorful installations produced by Van Cleef & Arpels in collaboration with multidisciplinary artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet. Entitled Spring is Blooming at Rockefeller Center, the large-scale, French garden–inspired installations are open to the public through May 18 and on display at the landmark’s most iconic attractions, including the Channel Gardens and the Rink. While the brand does something similar every year, this one is truly special.
The vibrant, sketchlike designs capture the euphoric essence of spring in New York City, full of optimism, excitement, and a renewed energy. They will be illuminated at night and feature interactive playgrounds for visitors.
“It was a true honor to design this project with the architecture of Rockefeller Center in my mind’s eye,” artist Alexandre Benjamin Navet — who previously worked with Van Cleef & Arpels on spring installations in 2022 and 2023 — said in a press release. “The thousands of people visiting each day, whether they’re working, dining, or simply enjoying all of the beautiful, historic plazas and gardens every day is so impressive. I studied the structures and buildings for months while I imagined new perspectives and charming, unexpected details weaving through the public spaces with a referential nod to a bucolic French garden of course.”
In addition to the installations, Van Cleef & Arpels’s Spring is Blooming at Rockefeller Center features daily programming throughout the month, including live contemporary dance performances, children’s storybook readings, live paintings, poetry readings, and photography vignettes. Get your Zyrtec out and bring your kiddos!
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