Art Destinations

New York, NY – The Big Apple

As an art destination, few cities compare to New York City for volume, content and variety of attractions.  First on the list is the Museum of Modern Art, 11 West 53^rd St. (212-708-9400). It is home to the largest collection of artwork created between 1880 and the present and is also an architectural wonder.  It is dedicated to being the foremost museum of modern art in the world.  Their concept of “creating a dialogue between the established and the experimental, the past and the present, in an environment that is responsive to the issues of modern and contemporary art, while being accessible to a public that ranges from scholars to young children” makes the experience a “must see.”  www.Moma.org.

Children’s Museum of the Arts, 182 Lafayette St., between Broome and Grand Streets, 212-941-9198 or 212-274-9086.  Included in the museum are lots of interactive workshops for kids, from art creation like puppet making to storytelling by the “Brothers Grin.”  The Children’s Museum of the Arts is a great family destination with lots to do and see and ways to engage children of all ages.  www.cmany.org.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83^rd St., 212-721-1234. Loaded with interactive activities and excitement, this is a great family destination that will keep youngsters busy and interested. It focuses on early childhood education, creativity and healthy lifestyles. www.cmom.org.

New Museum of Contemporary Art, 583 Broadway, 212-219-1222.  This museum focuses on experimental ideas and exhibits portraying the development of emerging artists.  The extensive collection includes unusual abstract art from around the world.   www.newmuseum.org

International Center for Photography, 1133 Avenue of the Americas at 43^rd St., 212-857-0000. This site is a combination museum, school and center for display, devoted to photographers and the art of photography.  Exhibits change often and the variety is astonishing.  Old and new methods and techniques are exhibited. Subjects and presentation make the changing exhibits very enjoyable. www.icp.org.

National Museum of the American Indian, The George Gustav Heye Center, One Bowling Green, 212-668-6624.  This museum is dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of the cultures and history of the native peoples of the Americas.  Through an extensive collection that includes archaeological objects from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego, they convey their interest and devotion to preservation.  There are also film and video archives and contemporary prints and negatives that bolster the collection’s reputation.  www.si.edu/nmai/.

For architectural buffs, don’t miss The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place (at Nassau St.), 212-968-1961.  Founded in 1996, The Skyscraper Museum is a private, not-for-profit, educational corporation devoted to the study of high-rise building.  Past, present and future are explored.  This educational site is one that should be high on the list for architectural students and designers.  www.skyscraper.org.

Museum of Arts and Design, 40 West 53^rd St., 212-956-3535.  This museum focuses on all aspects of crafts.  Decorative and functional crafts are featured, including materials, the processes involved and designs of projects.  Huge variety is their strong suit, making this a stop well worth the time for all interested in the history and creation of crafts in America.  www.madmuseum.org.

American Folk Art Museum , 45 West 53^rd St., 212-265-1040.  Imagine 4,000 works of folk art in one location!  And the location is an eight-story museum that is full to overflowing with folk art of every description.  Fun and interesting for the entire family.  www.folkartmuseum.org.

If you are headed for New York City, this is just a tiny list of the myriad options for the visual stimulation associated with art and creativity.  When you plan your trip, visit the websites for further information and enjoy!

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 17 No. 7 — May 2007