MademoiselleFifi

Is the lobby open to the public, or is it necessary to take the whole guided tour in order to see Chagall's stained glass window?

Tempusfugit

ttt

travelbuff

I don't think anything is "open" to the public at the UN anymore, with the security there and on 1st Ave. There is a nice boutique that may be open. You might check the UN website to see if any additional info is available.

yk

Anybody know the answer?

mp

The last time I went on the UN tour (with my son's 1st grade class in April 2001) we met in the public lobby - I vaguely remember the window on the east side.
Sorry I can't be more helpful.

here's the info #'s if you want to call
Guided Tours Unit
United Nations
New York, NY 10017
Tel. 212-963-TOUR(8687)
Tel. 212-963-7539(For tours in languages other than English)
Tel. 212-963-4440(For group reservations)
Email: [email protected]

yk

I'm wondering if anyone else knows the answer (before I call the UN guided tour phone #)?

MademoiselleFifi

I goggled some more tonight but most of the hits were from 2005 (when the window was restored). The UN's on website isn't very helpful, and the calendar of art exhibits open to the public only goes up to 2008.

Finally, I found the following info in an article about the pope's visit last spring:

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As one enters the main U.N. entrance, the meditation room is located to the right of the information desk, next to the "Chagall Peace Window."

The window was made as a tribute to Hammarskjold, who died in 1961 in a plane crash in what is now Zambia.

The blue glass of the window is a warm azure that echoes the beauty of Marc Chagall's other works.

The window is 15 feet wide and 12 feet high and contains several symbols of peace and love, including an image of a small child being kissed by an angel that emerges from a bouquet of flowers. On the left, below and above the child, motherhood and people struggling forpeace are depicted. In the upper right-hand corner is found a crucifix.

Musical symbols are spread throughout the window, possibly a reference to one of Hammarskjold's favorite pieces, Ludwig van Beethoven's "Symphony No. 9."

The sign outside the room, which is open to the public, bears a message for all visitors: "Please respect the sanctity of this room."
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http://www.catholicnews.com/data/sto...ns/0802195.htm

yk

Thanks!

yk

Okay, I finally made it to the UN building today (or I should say, yesterday). Anyone is welcome to visit the UN lobby, after going through security, for free. No tour is needed to enter the lobby, which is where the Chagall window is located. Having said that, the tour is pretty good too, but it does not cover the Chagall Window.

Unfortunately (for me, at least), there is no description for the Chagall window. I really should have read up on it before my visit. In fact, it is tucked away on the side that very few people actually pay attention to it.

Here's a photo I took today:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/IMG_3075.jpg
Close-up of details:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...9/IMG_3076.jpg

starrs

very cool!

corli33

UN out of the US!!!!

MademoiselleFifi

Thanks yk! The photos look great with the back-lit like that-- was that sunlight, and what time of day was it?

yk

It was sunlight - this was taken around 9:15am. I think the window is South-facing, however the sun probably gets blocked at some point by the tall UN building during the day.

MademoiselleFifi

After having to work overtime for two weeks straight, I got yesterday afternoon off and decided to play tourist in my own town-- I finally went to the UN and saw the Chagall window that I wanted to see over a decade ago (when I was a tourist). Even after all these years of anticipation, it did not disappoint. Absolutely beautiful. I recommend this to any of you visiting soon or who live here and haven't seen it.

Here are a few more photos:
http://images49.fotki.com/v1504/phot...11C0410-vi.jpg
http://images49.fotki.com/v1510/phot...11C0422-vi.jpg
http://images49.fotki.com/v1520/phot...11C0406-vi.jpg

yk, since you got good lighting in the morning, I was afraid to go in the afternoon, but in fact the window faces NW, so we both got lucky-- winter mornings or summer afternoons are the times to see it

yk

Hi MlleFifi - I'm so glad you had some time off and got to do something you've always wanted to. Your pics are great - just LOVE that blue color. I need to go back there again next time I'm in town. I suppose Chagall and/or UN people had considered the placement of the window to ensure optimal light at any time of day/season?

jroth

Just a note about viewing stained glass windows. There is a common misconception that the best viewing is when there is good and strong sunlight. Not so. You get much better color saturation on overcast days. This is especially true in the great gothic cathedrals of northern Europe. In fact, the builders of those cathedrals and windows were aware that Northen Europe is best for viewing because of preponderance of overcast skies as compared to the sunny south.

MademoiselleFifi

re >
Sleep deprivation sure messed up my sense of direction-- the sun would have been coming from the opposite direction at 9am in March; I guess the light in yk's photos was reflection from one of the tall buildings across the street?

yk

Perhaps it was indirect light; reflection from the white walls of other UN buildings?

joygerm

I'm interested in seeing the Chagall Peace Window on our upcoming trip, but won't be doing the tour as my young daughter will be with me and they don't allow children under 5 on the tour.

The UN website says that the visitors' entrance is located on First Avenue at 46th Street. Is this also where you would enter the lobby to see the Window or is there a different "main" entrance?

yk

Hi joygerm, you enter through the visitors entrance. That's the only route you can go in. Once you go through the security check, you enter the lobby. The Chagall Peace window is INSIDE the lobby. You do not need to take a tour in order to see the Peace Window. Enjoy your trip.