Women of Culture’s signature Art-Full Discovery Walks are a unique way to learn about the arts, while also taking a deep dive into a quintessential NYC neighborhood like the LES. Whether you are a visitor to New York or have been in the city for decades, WoC Founder and Art-full Discovery walk guide, Alexandra Harper will help you see NYC in a whole new new light!

On July 18, we embarked on a walk through Manhattan’s Lower East Side, convening at Granddaddy Cafe before heading to our first stop: the James Cohan Gallery. Ceramic sculptures by British-Nigerian artist Ranti Bam were displayed within lime-green-colored walls.

From there, we made our way to Pickle Guys, a LES classic that sells every kind of pickle imaginable, and then meandered over to Essex Market, another longtime NYC culinary institution. Our second gallery stop was the “Don’t Touch My Hair” exhibit curated by Hannah Traore. Containing objects, photos, paintings, and even real hair, the exhibit was a celebration of hair as a source of identity, culture, and femininity.

We also made a stop at the Rachel Uffner Gallery’s presentation of “Arcus,” in which the arc shape was a unifying thematic element. This textured blue ceramic piece was my personal favorite.

Alex effortlessly catered to the interests of the group, and since they expressed a passion for street art, she guided us through the First Street Green Cultural Park and down Freeman’s Alley, as well as making several other stops to observe the many murals of the Lower East Side.

Alex’s holistic approach to curating her Art-Full Discovery Walks means that attendees leave not only with a greater understanding of the rich art, history, and food of a specific neighborhood, but they also get a glimpse into the hidden nooks and crannies that make this city so unique.

— Amelia Mason