Last month, construction began on the High Line Park, the nation's first elevated park which will sit atop a stretch of renovated railroad tracks running thirty feet above New York City's west side. The project, the result of 7 years of civic-minded work of the Friends Of The High Line, will beautify a section of abandoned railway running from 34th Street to Gansevoort Street. Even with the ground freshly broken, plans are afoot for the First Annual High Line Festival, a 10-day marathon event that will feature music, nightlife, visual art, performance and film.

Not to put things off until the last minute, the festival has already slotted May of 2007 for its inaugural event and has announced that David Bowie will be its initial curator. Bowie will choose a diverse collection of artists and musicians who inspire him and capture his point of view.

The Festival plans to rotate curators annually. "One of the most exciting things about the Festival for me is how different curators will actually change the complete flavour of the event each year," said Festival co-founder David Binder. "Curators can be filmmakers, musicians, painters, someone with passion and vision."

In praising Bowie, Binder noted that the Thin White Duke's "eye for talent and his passion for emerging artists is nothing short of spectacular." Given his immediate recognition of the Arcade Fire and The Secret Machines, expectations for the 2007 Festival should be set sky high. Bowie's appearance at the Festival has already been confirmed and will mark his first New York appearance in over 3 1/2 years.

Labels: David Bowie