AOL Artists

Rainbow City featured an exclusive pop-up shop on site that allowed visitors to take a piece of the magic home. The shop was designed by New York-based, renowned architecture firm HWKN. HWKN, at its core, embraces all aspects of contemporary culture, dedicated to "making the impossible possible." They are responsible for co-founding Architizer, the world's largest social media site that has enhanced the architecture and design dialogue and producing J2, the tallest high-rise building of New Jersey in 2015. All of the merchandise sold was exclusive to AOL and the Rainbow City experience!

While FriendsWithYou was in New York they simultaneously made an exciting appearance at The Hole gallery. The Hole is a new space, curated and run by former directors of Deitch Projects, Kathy Grayson and Meghan Coleman. The Co-founders have been responsible for curating numerous art exhibitions globally, creating books and art reviews, and creating fashion shows and shops. Their ultimate goal with this space is "Filling a hole in the downtown community." The show was sponsored by Native Shoes - a company inspired by a combination of classic silhouettes and an airy comfort.

AOL was proud to bring FriendsWithYou's Rainbow City to New York City in summer 2011 to celebrate the Opening of Section 2 of the High Line. From June 8-July 5, 2011, FriendsWithYou's 40 piece interactive and environmental installation of colorful inflatables filled a 16,000 square foot outdoor space at 30th St. and 10th Avenue in Chelsea.

In December 2010, Paper Magazine and AOL hosted Rainbow City at Miami Art Week. In addition to the amazing event from Paper+AOL, the partners came together to create the best coverage of Art Basel Miami 2010, at artbasel.aol.com. Coverage provided viewers with up-to-the-minute listings and picks of the coolest happenings at Art Basel Miami Beach, the best of the museum and private collections, the DJs and bands at the hottest art events and parties, celebrity sightings, satellite art fairs and solo shows from both emerging artists and international art stars at artbasel.aol.com. The partnership kicked off at Rainbow City with a VIP event within the installation with a live performance by Pharrell and N.E.R.D. AOL's presentation of Rainbow City in June 2011 was FriendsWithYou's first large-scale interactive installation in New York City.

Built for adults and kids alike, FriendsWithYou has created a set of minimalist forms that borrow aesthetics from toy-like geometry and design, with each element towering over guests at heights from ten to forty feet. The space was open daily, free to the public, and created a unique summer destination spot for New Yorkers, students, and tourists alike. Additionally, Rainbow City served as the site for a variety of educational programs, organized by AOL and FriendsWithYou, geared toward developing children's creativity and engagement in an artistic environment. AOL's support of the High Line and partnership with FriendsWithYou was an incredible affirmation of AOL's commitment to empowering creativity and engaging the community.

Rainbow City, created by the world-renowned art collective FriendsWithYou, invites visitors to participate in a vibrant landscape of responsive, air-filled sculptures that addresses the potency of interaction, ritual, and play. Built for adults and kids alike, FriendsWithYou has created a set of minimalist forms that borrow aesthetics from toy-like geometry and design, with each element towering over guests at heights from ten to forty feet. Inspired by the Hindu festival of Holi, in which followers throw brightly colored water and powder at each other, and fabricated from intensely colorful and receptive materials, the installation creates a surreal landscape of pure fun, intended to provoke childlike awareness.

Rainbow City was open from June 8 - July 5, 2011 at 30th street and 10th Ave in Chelsea, NYC

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The High Line is built on a 1.45 mile-long elevated freight rail structure constructed in the 1930s on Manhattan's West Side. The first section of the park, which runs from Gansevoort Street to West 20th Street, opened in June 2009. The second section, which will run from West 20th Street to West 30th Street, opened in conjunction with Rainbow City. The High Line is maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line, the non-profit conservancy that raises the essential private funds to support more than 70 percent of the High Line's annual operating budget and oversees the park's maintenance and operations pursuant to a licensing agreement with the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.