Guggenheim Museum

2/20/2013

awful experience.  Will not be returning

I'm not an art aficionado purely thought it would be a creative place to take a date, below are the exhibits which were on display at the time of visit 02/19/2013.

$44 for the pair of us to look at scribbles that looked like you gave a toddler a crayon, paper with holes poked into it with a pencil....  There honestly wasn't anything thought I would consider was actually 'art' or took 'talent' overall a really boring walk through I tried to make the best of it with my date and we talked with a few of the tour guides to get insight, honestly this was really lousy waste of time.

- Gutai: Splendid Playground
- Zarina: Paper Like Skin
- Kandinsky 1911-1913
- A Long-Awaited Tribute:
Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian House and Pavilion
- The Thannhauser Collection

4/18/2013

This one is alright, i used to not like it but kinda warmed up to lately. Some may get a kick out of its weird spiral interior. Their Kandinsky  room was awesome and their impressionists to early picasso collection is pretty great and so is their upstairs cafe overlooking the Fifth Ave and Central Park.

8/26/2013

This museum has a unique architectural design with a big circular type structure. The art is more of a modern type which I am not particularly fond of, but if you go definitely get the audio unit. It will give you some history and info about the pieces you like. I think it makes them more interesting. I mostly love the architecture. I would love it too if I could kick half the people out, and have some time to myself to take it in.

8/17/2013

Wonderful architecture, from the outside. But it's not worth $20. There just aren't many paintings, and it is PACKED with tourists.

6/12/2011

After sweating and walking up and down multiple flights of stairs, I was about to ask people that worked at the museum, "Where is the art?! This is an 'art' museum right?"

It felt like most of the museum was closed. The third floor and everything above the fifth floor closed, and most importantly, the ramp going all around the museum was closed, so the only way getting around was crowded stairs.

I went on a Saturday at about 6:00, the line might be long because it's suggested admission (you may pay $1 if you'd like) on Saturday from 5:45 to 7:15, but the wait isn't that bad.

At the entrance, I was happy to see that there were free audio sets, which were quite useful. And after wandering for a while, I finally found the exhibit on the fifth floor, an exhibit of child art. I walked around, took a gander, and stormed out in frustration. I will not take kindergarten art as something I need to see in a museum. We don't televise 5th grade kick ball on ESPN nor do we listen to a 6 year old clanging "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on the piano in at Carnegie Hall. Therefore, I am not going to spend a minute looking at random scratch drawings.

Thankfully, I did really enjoy the Kadinsky at Baohaus and the second floor exhibit, which included Manet,  Cezanne, and other Impressionists, Picaso, and a few others. Both exhibits were not large though. The only other one was a large room with $100,000 worth of $1 bills stuck on the wall, which is quite a sight.

I guess I have to plan my visit better for when the museum is actually "open," but until then, the museum literally took me 30 minutes to walk through. What a shame.

4/23/2012

I love the design, interior and exterior. However, its sad that I couldn't share my eyes with everyone back home. I love how, in NYC, you have so much things to see and do. When I'm back home, I have literally NOTIHNG much to see or do. It's pretty depressing. Anyway, back to the Guggenheim, I love how you can start looking at the art pieces from the top and then work your way down the spiral path. Fantastic and Awesome!

8/12/2013

Yes, the building itself is impressive, but with that said, it does not lend itself for maximum space to show art/exhibits.  It costs us (a party of 3) more than $60 to walk in the door and we were finished seeing everything....AND I DO MEAN EVERYTHING in less than an hour.  So, my advice is to just walk by, take pictures of the outside of this unique building and consider yourself lucky that you didn't pay the unreasonably high entrance fee.

7/18/2011

Came here for Art After Dark, which I thought it was going to be similar in crowd / vibe to 1st Saturdays at BK Museum - no dice. I'm glad I didn't have to pay for entry as a friend of mine was a corporate member.

Audience is very classy, wine & beer. Music was loud & techno.
It was entertaining to wander through the galleries buzzed as it helped us to sort through the modern art with fun interpretations... like how much do you think this room full of dollars bills is worth?

11/25/2012

Start at the top of the ramp and go down, you won't get so dizzy navigating Frank Lloyd Wright's spiral designed gallery space.  

The 5 stars is for the collection on current view the Picasso Black and White.  It is awesome!  I have seen numerous other exhibits here as well.  And I truly enjoy the main gallery space in the spiral format, it unto itself is a work of art.

The permanent collection and smaller exhibitions are always something to see  off the main gallery.  The new acquisitions space were cool cutting edge installations the museum had on display.  

This is a must see stop on any museum tour of the city.  Such a great space.  Fun to just get away from the hustle and bustle and see some art while on the Museum Mile and UES.

6/27/2013

My husband and I went here on a whim after spending a long day in Central Park on 6/22/13. It was good to say I went here, as I like to visit well known places like this at least once in my life. However, I am not a fan of this kind of art and so I thought most of it was pointless. The featured artist shone light on a wall and took a bunch of pictures of it. The featured exhibit was a 20 minute line to get in. It was a dark room with a large grey rectangle on the wall. I do not understand that kind of thing... But I liked the blue optical illusion in the entry way and I'm sure at another time and a different exhibit, I would have enjoyed myself more.

5/24/2009

Bluntly - ripoff.  

Yes, the building is cool - but honestly, you can walk in the front door, look up and rotate 360 degrees and appreciate all that the Guggenheim has to offer.

$18 ($15 students) and a strict no picture policy whereas you can spend $20 ($10 students) at the Met for a vastly more friendly experience - one with well more art, allowable pictures, and an equally beautiful building.

Currently featuring a Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit I guess there is something meta-interesting about seeing the man's art and concepts in his builidng, but honestly it is just a bunch of blue prints and a few models on top of the minimal standing collection.

Quite frankly, the Detroit museum, Cleveland Museum, Toledo Museum, Chicago Museum, and myriad other cities offer a better collection at a lower price and in New York I'd rank the Guggenheim below the Met, MoMA, The New Museum, and many galleries in Chelsea - the only place I'd rank it above is the claustrophobic and downright rude Neue.

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• See all photos from Michael U. for Guggenheim Museum

7/26/2012

I was pretty excited to wander around for a while in here but ended up leaving disappointed. The main exhibit was being changed out so the entire spiral ramp was closed down. I think I actually enjoyed two of the exhibits, but the rest were a bust. An entire floor was dedicated to children's art. While I can appreciate the creativity put into the pieces, it seemed a better fit for the lobby rather than an entire floor. Fortunately admission was at a reduced price due to the change in exhibits so I wasn't as frustrated as I might have been.

10/25/2009

The Guggenheim is one of the reasons why I enjoyed living in the UES and why I love this city. I have a particular interest in architecture, and the Guggenheim Museum is certainly unique. To me, Frank Lloyd Wright's timeless masterpiece is evocative like only works of a few other architects can be (Gaudi', Calatrava, Gehry).

Before yesterday, the last exhibition I saw at the Guggenheim was "Richard Prince: spiritual America", which I loved. I came here yesterday with a friend to see the Kandinsky exhibition, which is fantastic (btw, don't miss the two rooms with Kandinsky's work on paper)!

What can you write about this gem of a museum that has not been written already? Well, some practical things, for example. On Saturdays it is pay-as-you-wish from 5:45 pm. Lines are long, but move fast (I suggest you get in line at 5:15-ish). The museum closes at 7:45, which means that you'll have to go through the exhibition pretty fast if you want to see everything.
The After Dark series every first Friday of each month is kinda cool once, but it is totally mobbed and unfortunately the acoustics of the museum is pretty bad (lots of reverberation). It is also $25...

9/28/2012

It is round. It makes me want to roller-skate. It has three Kandinsky paintings and a Marc. Do I need to say more? Seriously, this is one of my favorite museums ever, purely for those three reasons.

7/13/2005

The gently curving architecture of the Guggenheim (courtesy of Frank Lloyd Wright) is more appealing viewed from the outside than it is navigated within. The museum uses only two or three standard rooms for exhibits; the bulk of its collection is presented along the ramp that winds its way up - or down, the less tiring way to follow it. Take the elevator to the uppermost level, then walk your way downhill back to the lobby. Moving on a slant for a couple of hours proves to be more difficult than you might imagine.  I suspect it's even worse for a wheelchair-bound visitor who needs to rely on sturdy brakes to keep from hurtling past the art.  We had come to see a special exhibit from Brazil, which we enjoyed thoroughly. The permanent collection was less impressive, leaving me with no distinct recollections. I have a vague memory of feeling I was in a dark, cavernous atmosphere, surrounded by the color black, for most of the time I was there on the gloomily overcast day I visited. I'd return to the Metropolitan (and have, often) much sooner than I'd come back here.

6/6/2009

eh.

1/25/2013

This museum usually has a visiting exhibition on the main spiraling floors and their permanent collections on two separate floors on the side. I was there for the Picasso Black & White, which was amazing they were able to get that many fill up all the floors. There is a free coat check. There are only two unisex bathrooms on each floor. The bathrooms are poorly designed and uncomfortable I'm sure for many. Going through the whole museum at a slow pace took about 1 and half hours. It not nearly as big as the Met or even the Frick collection down the street. Student discount was $18. There's no photography allowed here except on the main floor before you give your ticket.

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  Inside setup

  Inside setup
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  From 5th ave

  From 5th ave

4/26/2011

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a gorgeous architectural masterpiece (thank you Frank Lloyd Wright). Its location seems somewhat random on the Upper East side next to Central Park, but it's beautiful inside and out.

If you love modern art, you will love this museum. It's definitely pricey considering the size of the museum, but what tourist attraction in New York doesn't cost $$$, and the admission includes an audio tour.

Even with the crowds, the self guided audio tour made me feel like I was in my own little art bubble. Still conscious of the others around me, I was able to weave in and out of crowds with relative ease and admire the post impressionist and modern works of Chagall, Cézanne, Gauguin, Manet, Monet, Picasso, Pissarro, Renoir, and Van Gogh.

The design of the museum makes for a pleasurable and intuitive flow of art viewing; everyone moves in a counterclockwise fashion and between viewing the art are periods of people watching as other art goers admire pieces on lower circular floors.

My favorite exhibit had to be the Kandinsky special exhibit. It showcased a  range of his early works and later pieces. And close by to that exhibit was a cafe with huge floor to ceiling window overlooking Central Park. On our visit it had snowed earlier in the morning, so the white blanket was really breathtaking.

The only drawback  to the museum is that you can't take pictures except for at the ground floor. Also, the museum store is not super extensive, and I love art museum stores. I ended up grabbing a few postcards and then headed out with my friends to try and grab some Magnolia cupcakes before departing back to DC.

Overall though, the Guggenheim is a really excellent museum. The architecture alone is reason enough to visit, but the art is also beautiful and inspiring.

9/17/2011

Free Saturday evenings after 5:45!!! Donate as much as you want and enjoy the last 2 hours of the evening amongst other patrons.

The guards are really friendly. There were art pieces on the floor and I asked one if anyones ever tried to destroy them. He said, "frequently" which shocked me. What the heck people?! Leave the art alone and let others view it and appreciate it too.

Loved the money room. $100,000 in $1 bills covered a huge white room. I just wanted to pluck them all!! Guards.. darn it!

9/5/2012

Amazing-looking structure and fantastic paintings. Take the elevator to the top and work your way down is the best strategy. Also the Rineke Dijkstra exhibit is not to be missed.

10/17/2012

Came here during the summer exhibition: Art of Another Kind.

I like walking from top the bottom... because I am just lazy to walk up. Great museum for contemporary art, and interesting architecture, but I don't think it's the best museum ever. The admission price is slightly higher than the other museums in New York.

8/25/2011

The Guggenheim is a beautiful museum, and the building itself plays a part in the experience of viewing the art. The museum displays rotating special exhibits (which do not cost extra) and also has smaller galleries off of the rotunda which display its permanent collection. Within the past year I saw the Kandinsky retrospective, the Tino Sehgal performance pieces, Anish Kapoor's structures, and most recently, Lee Ufan's Marking Infinity. All of these shows depicted art that represents more than pretty pictures and objects, and shows art which reflects process and creates a dialogue between the artist and the viewer. If you are looking for some grand painted portraits and marble busts, you should look elsewhere. But if you are interested in engaging with a piece of art, go see a show at the Guggenheim.

Also: Coming from someone who has worked in a museum, the no-photography policy applies when the work on display has been borrowed from other museums or private collections--therefore the museum doesn't own it and cannot allow it to be photographed.

7/11/2012

I really loved the Guggenheim Museum, even more than the MoMA.  First off, the size of the museum is really manageable; I didn't feel like I had to spend all day here to appreciate it.  It's all about modern art, and most of the pieces on view were from the early to mid-20th century.  The obvious downside is that if you don't like modern art, you're going to feel cheated out of paying admission just to see the cool building.

All the exhibitions taking place when I visited were interesting.  The exhibition of mid-20th century abstract art in the spiral area was great - modern, but not too contemporary for my taste.  I don't enjoy photography much, but I loved the Rineke Dijstra retrospective as the subjects' lives and emotions really seemed to come through in the pieces on view.  There was also the Guggenheim's Kandinsky collection (one of my favorite artists), as well as the Thannhauser collection of early modern/impressionist art, which is probably the most appealing to a lot of people.

8/21/2011

Pay-what-you-wish Saturdays is a wonderful idea for poor grad students like me who can't afford to enjoy all the great museums NY has to offer. Every penny counts when you have no income, people!

Although the line wrapped around the museum to 88th St., it moved rather quickly. You'll be amazed by the architecture of the building from the outside, so you won't even think about waiting in line... well, at least I didn't mind since I was taking a bunch of pictures while in line.

You receive a free headset for the audio tour. Lee Ufan's Marking Infinity is the current exhibit, and I enjoyed it, considering modern art can sometimes make you question "WTF?!?!" (in my opinion, at least). Would've purchased a postcard of one of his paintings, but the museum store didn't have much to offer, so came home empty handed.

I would love to visit Guggenheim again for its next exhibit coming up in the fall as well as checking out its permanent collections.

7/13/2013

The one museum in NYC that prohibits photography.  There are some masterpieces worth seeing, but I'd rather spend more time at the Met than the Guggenheim.

11/23/2008

Not sure why there are haters on this place, but I love the Guggenheim! I've been here several times, and thoroughly enjoyed each visit.

Frank Lloyd Wright designed the venue, and its spiral walkway both dominates and is part of the museum. The ramp doesn't just take you from place to place, but adds to the experience. My favorites include the Cubist and Minimalist pieces that are part of their permanent collection. Besides those, you might find random exhibitions throughout the year (some more random than others).

The Guggenheim is one of my favorite museums in NYC. If you're into art, pay them a visit.

6/15/2013

Yes, from the outside it is a beautiful structure. Yes, from first glance the interior is a spectacular space, iconic and stunning. Is it ridiculously expensive? Absolutely. Does it have great art? Meh. MoMA has better. The Metropolitan has at least as good. The layout is poor and I found myself getting lost on each level, bizarrely ending up near the restrooms for no real reason. The staff was not particularly interested in art as far as I could tell. It's more or less a tourist trap that one really has no choice but to visit at least once, just to say that one has visited it.

2/2/2013

If you plan a trip to New York, and are at all interested in modern art or architecture, the Guggenheim is a must-see.   This magnificent building (by Frank Lloyd Wright)  feels as though it has a life of its own. As we entered the building into the main floor, we found an entryway packed with people in line to buy tickets and it took us a good 20 minutes to buy our way in. Looking up from the bottom floor, you see a circular interior that widens as it goes up, with a glass-domed ceiling to cap it off. Once you pay for your ticket, an interior spiral ramp (stairwell) invites you to begin your walk upward.  The stairwell widens as you climb up, and art decorates the wall continuously on your climb, with several main levels of  artwork.  The museum-owned art (Thannhauser Collection) contains an amazing collection of  Impressionism pieces,  with artists such as Cezanne, Monet, Manet, Van Gogh, and Picasso! This collection alone is worth the visit.   There will also be featured/visiting exhibitions.  

Photography is not allowed in the museum, but you might want your camera for shots of Central Park and the exterior of the Guggeenheim from across the street.

10/17/2012

Very interesting art museum. Usually one big exhibit.

If you're a member of the Brooklyn Museum you get free admission. I always think of a spiral when I go here.

7/8/2012

This place was a little disappointing. After going to MOMA & The Met I think my expectations may have been a little too high. Plus they don't allow you to take any pictures of the art (even with the flash off).

5/14/2013

So a trip to NYC really should include the Guggenheim, but I have to admit it really wasn't my cup of tea.  I know they change up the exhibits, so maybe what I saw was just not my taste at the time.  I found there was just way too much modern art, that was just borderline weird.  A sheet on the wall, or a pole with nails in it just isn't art to me.  I also think there was a lot of stuff in here that my Primary students could have done.  I did like the architecture of the building.  I recommend taking the elevator to the top and working your way down, so you don't have to walk up all the time.  There was one room with some VanGogh and Gauguin that was worth seeing, so I was glad I went if for nothing else than that.

12/30/2013

The Guggenheim is horse shit.  Save your $22 buy a beer and some paint you'll be famous in no time.

2/28/2011

Sometimes, I just need a good dose of art. And living in NYC, I have no excuse not to get one at a major cultural institution known round the world. A couple of Saturday's ago, I went to the Guggenheim for one of their Pay-As-You-Wish evenings. If you don't know about this promotion, you should definitely check it out. Every week, the museum, known for it's modern and contemporary collection and special exhibits and housed in one of the most unique Frank Lloyd Wright buildings I've ever seen, opens it's doors to the public from 5:45-7:45 p.m. While you still have to wait in line and get a ticket, you can hand the cashier anything from a $20, to a nickel, to zero and everything in between. Even on a cold, rainy evening, the museum drew quite the crowd, but as soon as the clock hit 5:45, the line practically dissolved. (Note to self: don't get there early next time!).

I handed the cashier $2, checked my coat (the Guggenheim is one of those check it or wear it institutions when it comes to coats) and headed up the spiral ramp. One thing I love about this museum is that you can completely go through everything in two hours and feel content and not rushed. The architecture of the building is also very innovative for an art museum.

The current exhibition is called "The Great Upheaval: Modern Art from the Guggenheim Collection 1910-1918." It is arranged chronologically and as you go up the ramp, each spiral encompasses another year. Prominent artists in this exhibit are mostly from Germany, Austria, France and Italy and include Franz Mark, Vasily Kandinsky (one of my favorites), Pablo Picasso, Henri Rousseau, Umberto Boccioni, among others. With more than 100 works spread throughout the exhibit, it provides an interactive and comparative view of the art world around the time preceding and during World War I.

A side exhibit, if you hadn't seen enough of him yet, "Kandinski at the Bauhaus, 1922-1933,"  showcases many of the artists geometrical and flat planed paintings from the time period in which he taught at the renowned German school of art.

So the next time you find yourself with an itch for culture and nothing to do in the pre-dinner hours on a Saturday, head over to the Upper East Side for some awesome art at the Guggenheim. Your brain and your wallet will thank you.

1/4/2012

Our 'day' of museum hopping started around 3 pm so we only had time for one museum. My architect manfriend chose the Guggenheim - because he'd never been.
10 minutes of standing in line outside and 2 student tickets for $30 later, we're in!

The main exhibit is by Maurizio Cattelan, featuring taxidermied horses, various other animals and satirical sculptures (like the pope struck by a meteorite).
You cannot miss it as you walk in. As you walk up, you see different angles of the exhibit and more is revealed.

In the side galleries, we saw work by Piccaso, Monet, Manet, etc. My favorite side exhibit was the Pop Art with pieces by Andy Warhol.

If you have time, it's definitely worth a stop!

1/11/2012

The best features of this museum are the parts you don't have to pay for. Obviously, Frank Lloyd Wright's unique architecture is the main reason that people come. The current exhibit in the atrium by Maurizio Cattelan is something worth checking out - he pretty much has hung all of his works from the ceiling. And they are quite a sight to see! The exhibit is there until January 22, so hurry up and check it out.

If you do choose to pay the entrance fee, I suggest taking the elevators to the top and work your way down the spiral path, stopping to take a look at the other exhibits along the way. Much of the art is modern, abstract, or contemporary, but there is a good amount of works by some of the famous artists that a layperson (such as myself) could recognize (Manet, Degas, Picasso, van Gogh to name a few).

The line at times may wrap around the building, but it moves pretty quickly. You could probably get through the museum in a few hours, depending on how into the art you are.

4/28/2012

Iconic building, but, based on several visits, a lot of what's on display is uneven.  

Helpful staff.  Toilets typically Wright and built for form, not function.

6/20/2012

I've only been here once. I really went for the architecture. The special exhibition was interesting (something about still life and Dutch and Flemish painters...? It was in 2008) and the building was amazing! Check out the special exhibitions before you go...otherwise explore the building from the exterior and the interior in the gift shop.

6/9/2012

Iconic building, apt for curation allowing for showing progression in an artist's work. Didn't think I could appreciate modern sculpture (from salvaged auto parts, of all things!) till I saw the Chamberlain exhibit here.

5/19/2011

DUH.

If it wasn't a groupon deal, I would never make it here.
And I am glad that I didn't pay 18 bucks for it.
I know that art couldn't have a price but still.

Also, what kinda museum doesn't allow you to take photos?
Are you kidding?  
Ain't sure if I'll be back.

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  Feel dizzy now

  Feel dizzy now

9/9/2012

Seems to be closed a lot when I visit NYC--I arrive as they are installing new exhibits. Walking around in circles is more fun than viewing the art!

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  $15 coffee mug

  $15 coffee mug
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  Portrait of a portrait.

  Portrait of a portrait.
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  I'm pretty sure I'm the first person to ever take a picture from this angle.

  I'm pretty sure I'm the first person to ever take a picture from this angle.
• See all photos from Mark H. for Guggenheim Museum