This week I had the opportunity to be among the first to experience Singapore: Inside Out, a traveling showcase of incredible, unique works from some of Singapore’s leading contemporary creative talents that coincides with the country’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. Curated by award-winning Singaporean architect and artist Randy Chan, the interactive event boasts 18 new commissions from talented artists, including exhibits, live musical performances, panel discussions and theatrical encounters spread across the lush landscape of Manhattan’s Madison Square Park. Singapore, celebrating its 50^th anniversary this year as its own nation, is in the midst of a vibrant creative movement across a range of fields, including architecture; design; fashion; film; food; music; and literary, performing and visual arts. Singapore: Inside Out pulls visitors inside the culture and gives them the chance to experience its creativity through dance, theater, fashion, painting, sculpture and conceptual art. I spent time on a beautiful morning exploring each exhibit and was enthralled by the uniqueness and creativity. I enjoyed perusing each installation, especially artist Kamar Kamillion’s Speak Cryptic exhibit, inviting visitors to draw or add colors to a white cube designed as a bedroom setting while he paints alongside the audience, and Chef Janice Wong’s 1000 Crosses edible art installation, demonstrating the melting pot effect of cultures in Singapore through the mix of edible mediums with brushstrokes. Singapore: Inside Art offers an excellent opportunity to explore the country’s booming arts scene, and I encourage anyone visiting New York this weekend to take advantage of the crisp weather and stop by Madison Square Park to check out this free event, running through Sept. 27 in the Flatiron District. — Monique Barrett, eFlyer editor/associate editor