Around Town

How Green Is My City

Friday, Dec 4, 2020

Originating on the Lower East Side, the locally-led Green Map movement is returning to its roots, impacting 65 countries along the way.

In 1995, Green Map System created a new way to use mapmaking for social change and shared their ideas, toolkit and outcomes to spark vibrant connections between people and the place where they live. The nonprofit’s adaptable toolkit has been creatively applied by agencies, institutions, innovators, activists and community groups to challenge perceptions of local nature, culture, social justice and green living while encouraging eco-smart habits and informed actions.

Bringing the roots and trajectory into focus, this exhibit will generate new answers to the question “How Green Is My City?” Featuring locally made Green Maps from NYC and cities around the world, the exhibit shares the project’s tools and trajectory along with local impacts on public policy, climate change, social movements, along with sustainability projects of all kinds. Come explore new directions to a healthier common future.

Located at 155 Avenue C in the East Village, MoRUS Museum's season includes a fresh from the streets Black Lives Matter exhibit, Creating a Buzz about Bees interactions the annual MoRUS Film Festival, and mapping events, too! Open 11-7 Tuesday and Thursday-Sunday (closed Monday and Wednesday) with a suggested $5 admission.

Join an event, make a map and experience the green side of our cities. However, given the uncertainties of the season, check GreenMap.org How Green Is My City and MUSEUM OF RECLAIMED URBAN SPACE How Green Is My City Exhibit or follow @GreenMap or @MORUSnyc for updates

EVENTS

Friday, December 4, 2pm OGM2 Demo Online! Repeated

Find out about Open Green Map 2, the new mapping platform, now in Beta, and how you can use it for your own local Green Map projects with the developers at the Berlin-based GIS Collective. Featuring Green Mapmakers already using the OGM2 mapping platform! Here's the Zoom link

November 6th, 2pm Material Mapping (MoRUS Family Programming)
Led by MoRUS, this youth event will gather found materials from different East Village blocks and transform them into sculptures. As artistic manipulation transforms these materials, they will begin to take on a physical representation of their origin block. As more and more sculptures are created, they will begin to map out the neighborhood and forge new relationships to space and community. For all ages.

Saturday October 17th, 3pm (rain date 10/18) Green Map Cycling Tour
This Green Map bike tour will highlight green infrastructure in the East Village. Let’s meet at the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, then track underwater streams and traverse the original shore line into East River Park, which is slated for demolition this fall. Guest speaker Fannie Ip from EastRiverParkAction.org as well as maps from the past (and for the future) will help us chart the physical changes and gain perspective on current resiliency challenges and movements. Limited to 8 riders with distancing & masks.

Friday, October 2, 2pm

Find out about Open Green Map 2, the new mapping platform, now in Beta, and how you can use it for your own local Green Map projects with the developers at the Berlin-based GIS Collective. Featuring Green Mapmakers already using the OGM2 mapping platform! Here's the Zoom link.

Friday, September 25th, 6pm Climate Week NYC Exhibit Tour
Join us for a special exhibition tour led by Wendy Brawer, the founding director of Green Map System, this event is part of Climate Week NYC 2020. Meeting outside the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, this tour will provide unique insight and context to the Green Map movement.

Sunday, September 20th 4pm East Village Community Garden Passport (MoRUS Family Programming)
Stop by the Museum for a copy of your Community Garden Passport, which will map out different sustainable gardens in East Village. If you gather the stamps from all the gardens, return the full passport to the museum and receive a prize! We will have a small opening on Sunday September 20th, but come in anytime on the 20th or after to pick up a copy of your passport and complete your tours.

Saturday, September 19, 5pm – 7pm Put your Spot on the Green Map at Grace Exhibition Space!
Celebrate North American Day of Sustainable Communities by putting your favorite green sites on the map. Share your knowledge about places, projects and practices and find out about the OGM2 mapping platform at this outdoor event. Grace Exhibition Space, dedicated to performance art & permaculture, is located just 2 blocks from MoRUS at 182 Avenue C, where “Microbes to Metropolis” exhibit by MoS MoBS LoBS Lab by dd Maucher is also on view.

Sunday, September 6th, 5pm Exhibition Opening and Tour
Join us for the socially-distanced opening of Green Map’s exhibit How Green Is My City?, including a live broadcast at 6pm (on MoRUS's Facebook page) introducing the show and upcoming events, brought to you through a special partnership with the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space. In the basement level of MoRUS, explore a special temporary exhibit featuring photos, art, and barricades from the recent Black Lives Matter demonstrations.