Calls for Entries

Seeking Submissions for Wonder Women Zine! Deadline April 18, 2022!

Black and white illustration of a fist holding a coiled rope and wearing a dark armband
Wonder Woman-inspired illustration by Leslie Lanxinger

The City Reliquary Museum, in collaboration with Desert Island, is conducting a call for submissions of artwork and creative or academic writing related to or inspired by the popular icon, Wonder Woman.  

Submissions will be considered for inclusion in a 32-page comic book, edition of 2000 titled “Wonder Women: NYC’s Heroes of Heterodoxy.” Edited by Desert Island founder, Gabe Fowler and City Reliquary founder, Dave Herman; it will serve as a companion piece to the museum exhibition of the same name on view at the City Reliquary Museum beginning in June 2022. The comic book will be distributed free to supporters of the City Reliquary and Desert Island, and to select comic book dealers throughout NYC. Selected contributors will receive 10 free copies of the publication.

Other contributors to the museum exhibit and limited edition comic book include:

  • Trina Robbins; artist and author, The Legend of Wonder Woman, and It Ain’t Me Babe
  • R. Sikoryak; artist, The Unquotable Trump, and Constitution Illustrated 
  • Robyn Smith; artist, Nubia: Real One, and Wash Day Diaries
  • Tim Hanley: author, Wonder Woman Unbound, and Betty and Veronica: The Leading Ladies of Riverdale
  • Noah Berlatsky: author, Wonder Woman, Bondage and Feminism in the Marston/Peter Comics 1941-1948
  • Karen Green; Curator for Comics and Cartoons at Columbia University
  • Andy Mangels; author, editor; Gay Comix, founder/curator; Wonder Woman Museum 

The publication and exhibition will address additional themes integral to the Wonder Woman comics and their surrounding NYC history including:

  • Early 20th century birth control pioneers
  • Underground and Gay Comix 
  • 1st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-generation feminists 
  • BIPOC representations in comic art 
  • NYC protest activities including women’s suffrage parades, pride parades, the BLM movement
  • Women’s, Transgender, and Queer liberation.    

More about the museum exhibition:

For over a century, all across New York City, the women behind the fascinating evolution of Wonder Woman have rejected social norms and fought tirelessly to break the chains of orthodoxy in its many forms. Beginning with the suffrage movement in Greenwich Village and the nation’s first birth control clinic in Brownsville, the character’s unique history grew to span a polyamorous triad at Columbia University, a mental health clinic in Harlem, a Lower East Side bohemian boutique, the United Nations Building, and Black Lives Matter protests throughout the city. Explore the remarkable women who inspired the triumphant and troubling journey of America’s favorite female superhero in the City Reliquary Museum’s exhibit: Wonder Women: NYC’s Heroes of Heterodoxy. 

Submissions should be received by Friday, April 18th 2022.

Email submissions to: [email protected]

Text: No more than 500 words.

Artwork: Single page or 2 page spread. Final artwork should be 6”x9” per page 300 DPI resolution, black and white or CMYK, pdf or jpg format.


Who Will Be Miss Subways 2019?

Perhaps it’s you?

The City Reliquary and Riders Alliance are seeking contestants who believe they should be the public ambassador for the New York City subway in its time of crisis. Despite the potentially “miss”-leading title, we welcome contestants of all gender identities!

TO ENTER: Send the following in an email to [email protected]:

  1. A short essay telling us why you want to be Miss Subways 2019, what your favorite subway line is, and why it inspires/enrages/enchants you;
  2. A detailed description of your proposed performance. Show your love for our subterranean system through song, dance, poetry, or any other talent: Rubik’s cube solving, hula hooping, speed knitting, playing the sousaphone…surprise us!
  3. A photo and/or short video (< three minutes).

The deadline for entries is SEPTEMBER 29, 2019 at 11:59 pm! Contestants will be notified of their acceptance on a rolling basis.

Competition will be fierce! The more compelling your entry, the greater the chance of being selected as a final contestant!

Miss Subways 2019!

An illustration of the Statue of Liberty wearing a sash reading "Miss SUbways 2019." Art by Ben Wigler.
Art by Ben Wigler.

Tickets are Available Now!

The Third Annual Miss Subways Extravaganza will take place on Thursday, October 3, 2019! We’re returning to Littlefield, 635 Sackett Street in Brooklyn, for this year’s celebration of the weird, wild, frustrating, entertaining, and vital circulatory system that is our city’s subways.

With cascading malfunctions and literal cascades happening all too frequently, it can be difficult to find things to celebrate about our transit system. But let’s not forget the bright spots of the past year in subway news: the L Train shutdown was downgraded from “apocalypse” to merely “difficult.” New York passed a congestion pricing plan which will help speed up city buses and raise additional revenue for transit. A new fare payment system is on its way. And…well…there’s always a chance of seeing a dog in a bag. Our subways need advocates and ambassadors more than ever!

This event serves as a call to arms for subway supporters and lovers of the NYC underground. A modern take on the Miss Subways pageants held in NYC between 1941 and 1976, subway riders of all ages and gender identities are encouraged to participate! In a night of performances spanning the classy, the trashy, the weird, and the whimsical, contestants will demonstrate their devotion to their subway line of choice. But only one can take home the transit tiara! Our panel of distinguished judges, with assistance from the audience, will select this year’s public ambassador, Miss Subways 2019.

All proceeds from the event support the City Reliquary, NYC’s finest cabinet of city curiosities, and Riders Alliance, a membership organization dedicated to winning better transit by organizing bus and subway riders into a powerful political constituency.

If you’re interested in being a contestant in the Miss Subways Extravaganza 2019, click HERE for more information on applying!

Sept. 28: The 2017 Miss Subways Extravaganza

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Deadline extended to Sept. 14!!

We’re seeking Miss Subways 2017!

On Thursday, September 28 at 7 PM, The City Reliquary Museum will host The 2017 Miss Subways Extravaganza. You might remember that the Reliquary celebrated NYC’s most maligned line with its 2009 “Miss G Train” competition. How things have changed! The G is now one of the most reliable lines in the system. Clearly, something must be done.

With a wink and a nod to the Miss Subways pageants held in NYC between 1941 and 1976, this event is a call to arms for advocates and lovers of the NYC underground. In a night of performances spanning the classy, the trashy, the weird, and the whimsical, contestants will demonstrate their love for their subway line of choice to a panel of local celebrity judges.

The Museum of Interesting Things will join us with a table display of subway ephemera!

Tickets are on sale for $20-$60 ($17 for Reliquary members). Beverages available by suggested donation, with beer courtesy of Brooklyn Brewery.
All proceeds benefit The City Reliquary and the Riders Alliance.

Are YOU this year’s Miss Subways?

Can your talents inspire Governor Cuomo to action? We’re looking for contestants who believe they should be the ambassador for the subway in its time of crisis. Despite the potentially “miss”-leading title, we welcome contestants of all gender identities. The deadline to enter is Thursday, September 14th at 11:59 PM. 

TO ENTER: Send the following to [email protected]:
1) a short essay telling us why you want to be Miss Subways 2017, what your favorite subway line is, and why it inspires/enrages/enchants you;
2) a detailed description of your proposed performance.Show your love for our subterranean system through song, dance, poetry, or any other talent: Rubik’s cube solving, hula hooping, speed knitting, playing the sousaphone…surprise us!;
3) a photo. Feel free to send additional things, such as a song you’ve written, or a story of a memorable subway ride.

Our judges panel features CELEBRITIES & CIVIC HEROES! Including:

janeane-garofalo

Actress, comedian, and progressive activist Janeane Garofalo! Rising to fame in the ’90s with iconic appearances on The Ben Stiller Show and Reality Bites, she recently starred in the 90s throwback comedy, Wet Hot American Summer!

 

 

RJDowntown NYC art star and icon, Reverend Jen Miller! The Rev Jen was an early participating artist at Collective: Unconscious in the Lower East Side in the 1990s, where she began the Anti-Slam & Art Star movement. She’s been a muse for internationally renowned comedians and authors (the TV show “Bored to Death” featured a character based on her Elf Girl persona). She is the founder of the Mr. Lower East Side Pageant and of the Troll Museum, which tragically closed in 2016.
Roger-Clark 640x360NY1 reporter Roger Clark! As an intrepid NY1 morning reporter, Roger has surfed Rockaway Beach, learned the trapeze, kayaked the Hudson, and canoed the Gowanus Canal. He regularly covers community issues and highlights non-profits that help make NYC great. And he’s in a punk band! Roger’s band Perp Walk has played venues such as Bowery Electric, Hank’s Saloon, and The City Reliquary.

21994065_10213279746564399_7587461439172856378_oBaratunde R. Thurston, star of stage (acclaimed comedian, highly sought-after keynote speaker) and screens (producer, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah; fellow, MIT Media Lab, digital editor, The Onion, unusually astute talking head on political talk shows; prolific tweeter). He’s also the author of the New York Times bestseller, How to Be Black.

Be a part of the our exhibition, “NYC Trash!: Past, Present, & Future”!

Jacob A. Riis, "Italian Home Under a Dump," ca. 1890. Museum of the City of New York (90.13.1.208)

Jacob A. Riis, “Italian Home Under a Dump,” ca. 1890. Museum of the City of New York (90.13.1.208)

CALL FOR EXHIBITORS:
NYC Trash! Past, Present, & Future

The City Reliquary invites proposals for its upcoming exhibition, NYC Trash! Past, Present, & Future, which will open in October 2017 and run through April 2018. From Jacob A. Riis’s images of 19th-century squalor to plans for waste management in the 21st century and beyond, this show will explore the diverse ways that New Yorkers relate to and deal with their trash.

Waste management experts, collectors of NYC Department of Sanitation ephemera, enthusiasts of reuse/recycling, and anyone invested in the past, present, or future of trash in New York City are encouraged to submit their ideas. Contact [email protected] with your name, phone number, and a brief description of your exhibit idea including any AV and/or size & space requirements.

The curators are particularly interested in contributions that address projects related to reuse and recycling and how the city must deal with its waste in the future, but all proposals will be considered. The deadline for submissions is August 14, 2017.

Bicycle Fetish Day 2017 Registration Form

SIGN UP AND SAVE THE DATE!!
BICYCLE FETISH DAY 2017

Saturday, June 24, 12-6 PM

The City Reliquary Museum is proud to present its 13th annual Bicycle Fetish Day! Our block party for bikes will take place on Havemeyer St. between Hope & Grand Streets on Saturday, June 24.

To reserve a booth, submit your information below and pay the deposit through Artfully (see Event Details below). We’ll accept submissions through Friday, June 16. For a mention in our press release, please respond by Friday, June 2.

Event schedule TBA

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Event Details

Booth Deposit:
An early registration fee of $40 will reserve your booth space and help support The City Reliquary. Booth space includes 10 x 10′ of curbside space, one 6′ x 3′ table, and one folding chair.

To pay the fee, go to our Artfully donation page and type $40 in the “Other” field. Be sure to note “Bike Fetish Day” in the Special Instructions area of the Checkout page.

Early registration ends after Friday, June 2, at which point the registration fee will be $50.

The fee is waived for nonprofits, cyclist clubs, and advocacy groups, but all Bicycle Fetish Day participants must register.

Participant Rights & Responsibilities:
Merchandise will remain in the care and protection of its owners.The City Reliquary is not responsible for any damage or loss. The owner understands that photo documentation may be taken of his/her booth and used for press and other promotional purposes. 

Booth set-up will happen between 10:30 and 11:30 AM on Saturday, June 24. Displays must be packed up by 7 PM.

Collectors Night Sign-Up!

SIGN UP AND SAVE THE DATE!!
COLLECTORS NIGHT 2017

Hosted at the New York City Fire Museum
Saturday, April 8 @ 5 PM

The City Reliquary Museum is proud to present its annual Collectors’ Night on Saturday, April 8 at the New York City Fire MuseumCollectors’ Night celebrates of one of the quirkier cultural practices of everyday New Yorkers. Every year, self-proclaimed archivists and packrats of every stripe gather to show off their collections. Displays range from the charming and quotidian to the intriguingly morbid.

With special presentations by guest speakers. This year’s special guests are Miriam Sicherman of the Closet Archaeology project, Mike Zohn of Obscura Antiquities and Oddities, and artist and activist LuLu LoLo of the Where Are The Women Monuments project.

To showcase your offbeat assemblage in a table display, submit the form below. A 6′ long table will be provided–see Event Details. You’ll also be invited to participate in the evening’s Rapid-Fire Show & Tell! We’ll accept submissions through Friday, March 24. For a mention in our press release, please respond by Monday, March 13.

Event schedule TBA

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Event Details

Table Deposit:
A $10 fee will reserve your table and help support The City Reliquary. You can submit the $10 table deposit in the Other field on our Artfully donation page. Be sure to note “Collectors Night 2017 table” in the Special Instructions area of the Checkout page.

Collector’s Rights and Responsibilities:
Collections will remain in the care and protection of their owners. The owner understands that photo documentation may be taken of his/her display and used for press and other promotional purposes. Protective measures will be taken to assure that all collections are respectfully guarded from harm, but neither The City Reliquary nor New York Fire Museum is responsible for any damage or loss.

Presenters will transport and set up their collections between 3:00 and 4:30 PM on Saturday, April 8. Collectors must remove displays from the premises by 9 PM.

Display Guidelines:
We invite you to display your collection as creatively as you wish.  In the past, collectors have taken a “school science fair” approach and used a trifold display board. Flat objects, background information, or titles and informative labels work well against a cardboard backdrop. Helpful display accessories include: small boxes to raise objects; fabric to drape over table tops; glass or Plexiglas/acrylic vitrines; pins; clips; labels; extra lights; and extension cords. The New York City Fire Museum does not allow collectors to attach anything to the walls of the ballroom.

NYC related art and souvenirs

The City Reliquary is looking for New York-related artwork or souvenirs designed by New York artists to sell in our gift shop. If you know of any work that might be appropriate, please drop us a line: [email protected]

Call for Entries – The Annual Tribute to Our City Window Display – Deadline 8/31/06

Each year, the City Reliquary presents a special collection gathered from the people to correspond with the “September Tribute to Our City” event. This is a collection of objects that represents the memories of New York by the people who love to call it home. This year we are calling on you to submit an object on loan to the NEW & Improved Community Collections windows during the month of September.
This year’s theme will be:
“Remembering New York”
We would like to ask all of the collectors in New York (and that IS everyone) to look over the objects they hold dear to themselves as reminders of the New York they know and love. September has become a special time of reflection in New York and we would like to share some of the ways we remember this city.
Requirements:
SIZE: Please keep your object(s) within the limits of a 2 foot square. If you have questions about an object larger than this, please call the museum at 718.599.0134 (after 8/2/6). We may be able to accommodate larger pieces on loan in the museum.
RELEVANCE: The object can be anything you wish and as obscure, mundane or obvious as you see fit. The only requirement is that it is something that reminds you of New York City and why you are proud to call it home. You can see some examples on our website.
SUBMIT: Bring your objects to the City Reliquary Museum, 370 Metropolitan Av. at Havemeyer St. by THURSDAY, AUGUST 31st. Museum hours are Thursday & Friday 6pm-9pm and Weekends 12-8pm. Or call, 718.599.0134 (after 8/2/6) for special delivery or pick-up options. Your object will be on display through mid-October. You will be asked to provide contact information when you drop off the object so that we can contact you for pick-up when the show ends in October.
SPREAD THE WORD: Please invite all of your friends to submit object with you. Group packages are welcome. We are looking to display a very diverse collection.

Bicycle Fetish Day 2006 Vendor Form

We need you!!
Calling all bike shop owners, club leaders, food vendors, musicians, etc.
We are looking for you to participate in Bicycle Fetish Day 2006. For more information please download the Vendor Form. We’ll have a new form up soon, but for now you can use last year’s:

Download File