A Scale Model of NYC's Iconic Buildings Hits the Big Time: Trucking Giant Joe Macken's Viral Masterpiece Set to Debut at the Museum of the City of New York
In a heartwarming tale of an art form born out of necessity, 63-year-old trucker Joe Macken's life-long passion project has finally gotten its official showing. The gargantuan scale model of every NYC building, meticulously crafted from balsa wood, Elmer's glue, and Styrofoam over the course of two decades, is set to debut at the Museum of the City of New York this winter.
Macken's model, standing at an impressive 50 by 30 feet, has already gained a massive following on social media platforms like TikTok. It was his daughter who encouraged him to share his creation online, inadvertently propelling it into viral stardom. Word of its awesomeness soon caught the attention of a prominent client, leading to Macken's first public display at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds near Albany in August.
Elisabeth Sherman, newly appointed Chief Curator and Deputy Director at the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY), has been instrumental in bringing Macken's masterpiece to the hallowed halls of the museum. "This is absolutely the kind of celebration of the city that I am personally very interested in highlighting," she said, highlighting the unique aspect of Macken's model being a personal yet universally resonant tribute to New York City.
While it bears some similarities to the Queens Museum's famous "Panorama," Sherman cautions against direct comparisons. Macken's model is deeply personal, reflecting his own lived experience and psychogeography of the city. It is more than just an artistic vision – it is a testament to the enduring power of human connection with their environment.
Macken himself is over the moon about the prospect of sharing his creation with a wider audience, despite initial reservations. He plans to drive the model to its new home in person, navigating the city's busy streets in a specially rented 25-foot U-Haul trailer.
When asked if he was nervous about the logistics, Macken replied matter-of-factly: "I know exactly how to do it where it's not gonna move around too much and it'll be pretty stable." It seems this is one small project that won't be leaving Macken in a cloud of dust anytime soon.
In a heartwarming tale of an art form born out of necessity, 63-year-old trucker Joe Macken's life-long passion project has finally gotten its official showing. The gargantuan scale model of every NYC building, meticulously crafted from balsa wood, Elmer's glue, and Styrofoam over the course of two decades, is set to debut at the Museum of the City of New York this winter.
Macken's model, standing at an impressive 50 by 30 feet, has already gained a massive following on social media platforms like TikTok. It was his daughter who encouraged him to share his creation online, inadvertently propelling it into viral stardom. Word of its awesomeness soon caught the attention of a prominent client, leading to Macken's first public display at the Cobleskill Fairgrounds near Albany in August.
Elisabeth Sherman, newly appointed Chief Curator and Deputy Director at the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY), has been instrumental in bringing Macken's masterpiece to the hallowed halls of the museum. "This is absolutely the kind of celebration of the city that I am personally very interested in highlighting," she said, highlighting the unique aspect of Macken's model being a personal yet universally resonant tribute to New York City.
While it bears some similarities to the Queens Museum's famous "Panorama," Sherman cautions against direct comparisons. Macken's model is deeply personal, reflecting his own lived experience and psychogeography of the city. It is more than just an artistic vision – it is a testament to the enduring power of human connection with their environment.
Macken himself is over the moon about the prospect of sharing his creation with a wider audience, despite initial reservations. He plans to drive the model to its new home in person, navigating the city's busy streets in a specially rented 25-foot U-Haul trailer.
When asked if he was nervous about the logistics, Macken replied matter-of-factly: "I know exactly how to do it where it's not gonna move around too much and it'll be pretty stable." It seems this is one small project that won't be leaving Macken in a cloud of dust anytime soon.
just saw the craziest thing - a guy builds an insane scale model of NYC buildings from balsa wood and stuff and now it's going to the Museum of the City of New York 
️!! i mean, i get it, he spent 20 years on this thing and it's his passion project, but wow... 50 by 30 feet is no joke 
! 
. I love how Elsabeth Sherman said its a personal thing but still resonates with everyone who loves NYC. Macken seems down-to-earth about the whole thing, even joked about driving it in a 25ft trailer 
. Id love to see this model in person, cant wait for winter & the museum show!
i love how his daughter encouraged him to share his art online and it just blew up on tiktok. can't wait to see the museum exhibit this winter and give some props to joe's dedication and passion 
scale model, but what really gets me thinking is the intersection of art and necessity. I mean, think about it, Joe Macken's been working on this for 20 years while driving trucks – that's dedication 
! It's not just a hobby or passion project; it's a labor of love born out of his daily experiences. And now, his masterpiece is getting the recognition it deserves 
. I mean, we can all relate to feeling a deep connection with our environment – whether it's the city streets, nature reserves, or even just our own backyard 
. It's amazing how something so intricate and detailed like this scale model can evoke that sense of human connection.
I mean, Macken's been working on this for decades; shouldn't his art be celebrated just because it exists? 
Still, I guess that's the beauty of it – Macken's model is finally getting the recognition it deserves, and we get to enjoy it. Fingers crossed it stays stable during its big debut 
!
The fact that it was born out of necessity (because, let's be real, trucking is all about long hours and downtime) makes it even more relatable. And can we talk about the logistics? 
i mean, its been two decades making this thing and its finally gonna be shown to the world. idk how he even got so much time on that thing but balsa wood and elmer's glue is def genius 
50 by 30 feet is wild! what if it gets damaged or lost during transport tho? 
. It's so cool that his daughter encouraged him to share it online and it ended up going viral 
. Can't wait to see it in person this winter 
!
. i'm so hyped for him to share this with the world at the MoCNY! 
let's give it up for this amazing dad who chased his dream & inspired a whole new generation 
can't wait to see the look on people's faces when they walk into that museum – priceless!