YI Visits The High Line and the New Whitney Building
Jul 11, 2013

Emily Pinkowitz talks with YI teens about the history of the High Line

Emily Pinkowitz talks with YI teens about the history of the High Line, July 2013. Photograph by Kate Nadel

Emily Pinkowitz talks with YI teens about the history of the High Line

On July 11, the Youth Insights Summer Program participants visited the High Line. and met up with Emily Pinkowitz, Manager of Education, Teen, and Family Programs and current acting director of the organization, Friends of the High Line. She gave us an amazing tour around the aboveground railroad that was turned into a New York City park. We also asked her some questions about how she got to this point in career, her education, and her different job experiences. 

I learned so much about the history of the High Line and Emily Pinkowitz herself. We walked through the park and stopped at certain significant points, where Pinkowitz would fill us in on historical facts about why that specific part of the park is important, or what happened there. We saw the remains of three old buildings that the trains would go through—a cookie factory, a refrigerated storage building, and a slaughter house. It was cool as well to see fragments of the train tracks throughout the park--little signs that let me know about this park’s interesting history. 

  • Teens look at old maps and photos of what New York City was like in the 1900s

    Emily Pinkowitz shows the teens old maps and photos of what New York City was like in the 1900s, July 2013. Photograph by Kate Nadel

  • YI gathers under an overpass on the High Line to reflect and talk with Emily Pinkowitz about her career path

  • Rebecca and Ashley listen to Emily talk about public programs on the High Line

    Rebecca and Ashley listen to Emily talk about public programs on the High Line, July 2013. Photograph by Kate Nadel

  • YI Summer participants walk down to the construction site of the new Whitney building

    YI Summer participants walk down to the construction site of the new Whitney building, July 2013. Photograph by Kate Nadel

  • YI teens visit the Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea to look at architectural plans by Renzo Piano for the new Whitney building and other projects

    YI teens visit the Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea to look at architectural plans by Renzo Piano for the new Whitney building and other projects, July 2013. Photograph by Kate Nadel

After the tour, we walked around on our own and explored more of the High Line. I thought it was breathtaking and absolutely beautiful. Afterwards, we went to see the construction site of the new Whitney Museum which was very exciting. I felt like I was seeing the future in process. We wrapped up the day by visiting the Gagosian Gallery in Chelsea to see an exhibition of works by Renzo Piano, the architect who designed the new Whitney building. We got to explore the different models that his architecture firm uses to make a building come to life. Overall, I had an amazing time and I’m definitely looking forward to visiting the High Line and more Chelsea galleries in the future. 

By Brittny, Youth Insights Summer participant