I Heart MoMA

I Heart MoMA

Hi everyone, sorry I have been a little behind on posting. School has been very busy and exciting. I am happy to be back and talk to you more frequently. I am looking forward to sharing more fun stories and experiences of the concrete jungle, New York. 

 

Old Entrance at 5th and 53rd

New York is highly regarded as the centre of the universe. It both the business and economic hub of the world. New York has  also been dubbed the cultural centre. This is largely due in part the vast number of museums and galleries. The city is home to some of the world’s most iconic pieces, many of which are at The Museum of Modern Art. MoMA as it is known is one of the world’s most prestigious museums. It is  home to a large collection of paintings, photographs and films. The Museum has been featured in a number of movies and television shows including Sex and The City. 

Waterlilies by Claude Monet on display At MoMA

Today, MoMA reopened its fifth avenue doors,  after an extensive renovation. This is the latest renovation since its large renovation  in November 2004. This marks the start of a whole new art revaluation in New York. MoMA opened its doors a day earlier than anticipated and is offering free admission. 

MoMA was opened in the fall of 1929  and is the home to noticeable pieces from Pablo Picasso, Jackson Pollack, Claude Monet, and Francis Bacon to name a few. The original building was created after two Rockefeller family homes were donated and demolished to make way for the museum. MoMA was founded by a group dubbed “The Ladies” which included Abby Rockefeller, wife of John D Rockefeller. These women recognized the popularity of modern art and wanted to be able to display it to the public. This was very controversial at the time, since many believed that art was only that of classics like Rubens and Da Vinci. These women were able to see the value of contemporary art long before it grew in popularity. This is what continues to make MoMA popular to this day is the ability to see what is next. This ability to show what is going to happen next in the art world helps open our eyes beyond our traditional viewpoints. MoMA helped in making art in a modern America. MoMA is home to a number of pieces that many would not consider art in the traditional sense like furniture and a helicopter. 

Dance 1 by Herni Matisse on display at MoMA

MoMA in 1971 created PS1. The first permanent exhibit was opened in 1976 in Long Island City, Queens. For over twenty years the space was used for artists from all over the world. In 2000, PS1 became connected to the Museum of Modern Art by sharing resources. PS1 like MoMA is an innovated space for people to experience art. I have personally not been to PS1, but I have been to MoMA many times. I remember the first time I went was when I went on a school trip to New York. I did not want to leave and almost lost my group. On my last visit before the renovation, I took my time to take in all that the museum had to offer. 

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon by Pablo Picasso is highly regarded as the artist most famous work 

One piece that really stood out to me was Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso. Translated to English this means The Ladies of Avignon. This was created by Picasso in 1907 and is regards as his most famous work. I was struct by the oddness and the beauty that is portrayed by Picasso. According to a very helpful older gentleman I met at the museum, Picasso took influence from a trip to Africa and the African masks. As a result, he changed two of the faces to reflect that. This old man was very helpful and also told me this piece was very important to the museum to acquire  and they did so in 1939. This was followed by a Pablo Picasso retrospective that same year at MoMA.

MoMA has played an integral role in the modern art movement. The museum has been a home to foster new talent and share it with the world. This an example of how New York is changing the world. My advice to anyone heading to New York, head to MoMA and explore the beauty of the concrete jungle. 

MoMA is right this way