ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
SPYSCAPE
FIND YOUR INNER SPY By Darren Paltrowitz | Photos by Scott Frances
ew York’s first museum dedicated to spying and related tactics, SPYSCAPE is on West 55th Street—just two blocks from MoMA. As few professions are more universally-intriguing than that of a spy, SPYSCAPE ought to appeal to all sorts of New Yorkers, from history buffs and fans of espionage-related movies to curious children and typical museum-goers. The museum was designed by David Adjaye—known for his work on Washington D.C.’s Museum of African American History and Culture—and is full of interactive exhibits and artifacts. I had the pleasure of speaking with SPYSCAPE’s Chief of Staff, Shelby Prichard. Before arriving at SPYSCAPE, Prichard had served as Chief of Staff at The National September 11 Memorial & Museum, landing there after time with the New York City Mayor’s Office. When asked which spy-related film is the best of all time, Prichard clued me into SPYSCAPE focusing in on two films within its galleries, 2007’s Breach and 2014’s The Imitation Game. How would you describe SPYSCAPE to a first-time visitor? SPYSCAPE is an entirely new kind of destination. It’s a contemporary museum, featuring fantastic spy stories, devices, and characters brought to life by world-class design, technology, and storytelling. It’s an interactive experience, where you can try real spy challenges including lie-detection in interrogation booths, observation in surveillance missions, and agility in special ops laser tunnels. More importantly, it’s a personal journey, to discover your inner spy through our authentic profiling system—developed with a former head of training at British Intelligence—and learn to see yourself and the world around you more clearly. 96 | OUR CITY, YOUR LIFE | APRIL 2018