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Mark Dahle's tips for visiting New York art galleries and museums, Armory Week and Frieze
Jackson Pollock's One at MOMA. Here are some tips for looking at art in New York. And by New York, I mean Manhattan. There's great art all over the state. But just seeing what's worthwhile in Manhattan takes more than a week.
1) If you only have a day, forget everything else and go to MOMA, the Museum of Modern Art. Nothing else compares. 2) If you can, be in New York for Frieze New York, May 4-7, 2017 or for the Armory Show March 2-5, 2017. Both of those weekends will have a number of other art fairs in town that will be worth visiting. You'll probably need a winter coat for March. See the links below for highlights from past shows. 3) You'll never find all the New York art galleries unless you have a gallery map or guide. Many Manhattan galleries look like residential houses from the outside. There's no neon, no signs, no shop windows, no clues you're at a gallery until they buzz you in and you see the art on the walls. Some buildings have art galleries on multiple floors.
People walking through Carlito Carvalhosa's Sum of Days at MOMA. 4) Some galleries (and their doormen) won't appear to want you inside. But you're there to see art, not to be liked. So don't let their attitudes bother you and enter smiling, even if they're hanging a show. Once in a while you'll be able to see several million dollars worth of art before security politely escorts you out. The vast majority of the time, however, you'll actually be welcome.
Robert Indiana's Moon at MOMA. 5) If you have three days or more, I recommend a side trip to Brooklyn to see Dinner Party by Judy Chicago at the Brooklyn Museum. It's one amazing art project. Catch the 2 or 3 subway from Manhattan and exit at Eastern Parkway/Brooklyn Museum.
Jean Tinguely's fragment from Homage to New York at MOMA 6) When I go to New York, I see all the art I can until 7 p.m., then head to Broadway for a play. It makes a great day, especially if you can string several days like that in a row. Tickets are often available at reduced prices the day of the show, but if you want to see a current hit, you'll have to book in advance.
The TKTS booth in Times Square has half price tickets on the day of the show; their selection changes daily. Get tickets for the most popular plays on Tuesday; they won't be available Friday or Saturday. Most of the time the reduced price tickets are towards the back of the house.
Frederick Kiesler's Totem for All Religions at MOMA 7) If you can, skip August and the first week of September. 95% of the Chelsea galleries are closed in late summer and about half of the galleries in other areas are closed. Be the first to tell your friends about this great page: See the links below for highlights from past art fairs: Armory Show/Contemporary 2013 highlights Armory Show/Modern 2013 highlights Independent
Art Fair 2013 highlights SCOPE New York 2013 highlights
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Meatpacking District, New York. © Mark Dahle 2011
Meatpacking District, New York. © Mark Dahle 2011
Park 24 Hrs., New York. © Mark Dahle 2011
New York. © Mark Dahle 2011
Meatpacking District, New York. © Mark Dahle 2011
Reconstruction, New York. © Mark Dahle 2011
Meatpacking District, New York. © Mark Dahle 2011
Meatpacking District, New York. © Mark Dahle 2011
High Line (Meatpacking District), New York. © Mark Dahle 2011 |
