MoMA PS1

1/8/2013

Just great. Can't say more than has already been said, engaging, youthful, exciting creative works of art and social commentary. Really love the vibe you get walking in with a group who is experiencing their first time here-not for everyone's arts tastes, but certainly a wonderful, must do worth appreciating!

9/8/2011

Go to Warm Up if you like:

- dirty, stinky, pretentious meth-head hipsters
- music that's impossible to dance to
- pushy crowds
- smoke, smoke, smoke
- sitting on a dirty bale of hay in mud
- $15 cover and $6 beer in a cup

We used to go in 2009 when the crowd was more mixed in age and style and a lot less rough around the edges.  That year they had these enormous volcano sculptures misting the crowd that were very cool.  

Then in 2010 they raised the cover from $10 to $15 and it became way more crowded and homogenous.  They had a beach theme last year and people were smashing these beachballs on peoples heads on the dancefloor like a dodgeball game and frolicking in kiddie pools of dirty water.  I don't know what the theme was this year.  They had foosball and ping pong and even more hipsters.  It sucked.  

Not worth $30 for 2 people.  Not kid-friendly.  (And no, I'm not even a mom.  Just not a safe environment with the pushing and shoving and cigarettes everywhere.)  These parties in NY all start off cool and then get overcrowded with gross people.

7/21/2011

Finally came out to a summer Warm Up party at PS 1and I'm glad I did.  While it's not really the place of choice to spend a beautiful Saturday afternoon with your significant other, it's a fun day-drinking spot and  activity to do with a group of people when you have a few hours to kill.  Or you can use it as a place to pre-game since it ends at 9pm.

Admission is $15 without a MOMA membership, beer is $6, and water is $2.  We had no problems getting in at 7pm as there was essentially no line, (hours run from 2pm to 9pm), and they were handing out free water towards the end of the evening.  The beer selection was small (maybe 5 types of beer) but decent.  I'm not really a beer drinker so maybe I'm not the most realiable source.  I didn't see or try the wine.

The music was fun, techo and heavy bass, but dance-able.  Everyone mostly hangs out in the school courtyard and somebody brought balloons to blow up and bop around.  There were random pieces of "art" in the courtyard, most notable a mirror alcove.  I even saw games going on like ping pong and foosball.  The crowd is a mix of people, but unpretentious and fun.  If you are from Europe, European, or love the European club scene, you WILL love it here.

On to the museum.  The fact that it was in an old school building was awesome!  I actually had more fun passing through that than the actual museum itself.  The art exhibits were VERY contemporary.  A little too weird and creepy for my taste, hence the 3 stars.  Good luck on a day hotter than 90 degrees tho; there is really no shade unless you are inside.

11/13/2011

A great modern museum with a low entry prices and easy to get to. On the weekends, check the subway alerts to be sure that trains are running on the weekends. Fastest train from Manhattan is the #7 train.

Always a new, great exhibit, large exhibition rooms, and helpful staff.

7/3/2011

PS1 is an extension of MoMA and it's in LIC, Queens.
During the summer they host a "Warm Up" dance party that serves as a pre-party b/c it goes from 2-9pm.  Even though it's a museum, they serve beer and wine.  You dance in front of DJ's on the outdoor patio.

I've been attending Warm Up for a few years now and it's one of the best reasons to be in NYC for the summer!
ps1.org/warmup

7/5/2013

I love the Summer outdoor parties here. Matthew Dear and other local legends. Just the perfect way to rock out during the Summer. Really odd and strange art. Overall a fun vibe. I would go back here again!

3/1/2011

PS1 gets right everything that annoys me about MoMA proper in the city. It's affordable, 46% less pretentious, and 98% less crowded. The building it's in, a converted old school, has been put to great use housing some interesting permanent exhibits in the basement, and providing ample space for some truly memorable installments. When I visited, there was a great extended exhibit on voyeurism in all its forms, as well as playable video game piece on China. Easily two of the best art exhibits I've ever seen.

I was really won over by the space and the quality of the art, and since I didn't break the bank to see it all, something tells me I'll be back soon.

7/4/2009

PS1 warmup started today.  Ah now *that* marks the beginning of summer...

Almost every year since I've been in New York it's been going.  I think it started all the way back in 1998.  Warmup is a weekly DJ lineup that PS1 brings together every Saturday afternoon.  2-9pm, see and hear good music, dance yourself silly, sit under the installation art, and frolic new york summer style.  

If you need a break from the music, head inside for some thought provoking, and fascinating works from emerging artists.  PS1 is part of MoMA Queens, and about 10 minutes door-to-door from Grand Central on the 7 train.

$10 cover, but if you live in LIC or Astoria, and show proof, you skip the line and get in free.  So does your guest.

Get there!

3/27/2010

I came here for a get together with members of South Asian Lesbian & Gay Association (SALGA). It was a small group even though when the event was organized, about 30 people RSVP'ed through Facebook.
They had an exhibit Mickalene Thomas which is the one we primarily wanted to see. They also had an exhibit on 1969 which included a chronology of memorable events that occurred in 1969. It was a very interesting art center and very unusual. I'm sorry I didn't go sooner.

• 

  View from inside cavern underneath indoor pool exhibit

  View from inside cavern underneath indoor pool exhibit

9/23/2010

I was determined to not be your average NYC tourist and venture out to other boroughs. I needed something to do in Queens and I stumbled across MoMA PS1. Art? Love it! And the admission price of $10 solidified my plans to visit.

MoMA PS1 is in an old school building and as soon as I climbed up the subway station stairs I saw the banners and the big brown building. I made my wait to the entrance and found a massive plastic and mesh contraption with multiple colored exercise balls you find at the gym scattered around. There were hammocks set up randomly which many people were comfortably lying in. I walked into the building and I hear "Paper Planes" from MIA blasting from somewhere in the distance. I continued up to the desk  and the girl there didn't even bother looking up at me. I said "Hello" and she looked at me as if I disturbed her. I handed her my cash, she said "One adult", and I was handed my ticket. She didn't speak anymore. She was very friendly as you can tell.

There are four or five levels in the building and each level is more eclectic and mind bending than the next. Art ranging from dinosaur drawings to pictures of vaginas to photos of black exploitation. Many video exhibits were featured which ranged from a woman singing karaoke topless to a clusterfuck of a video featuring a man with a black basket on his head with a dog in it and two women, one peeing while standing up and another peeing while in the bridge yoga position to drag queens in rags and painted in Day-Glo paint. I am not sure what I was viewing but I was impressed this was available for public consumption. Long live the First Amendment.

It wasn't packed at all which was a positive.

MoMA PS1 was worth the visit. I appreciated the varied and often head scratching art and the admission price was just right.

8/18/2011

Cool museum.  I loved that it's in an old elementary school.  Some of the creaky floors take me back to the old elementary school I went to.  

The art here isn't for everyone.  Contemporary and very experimental. When I came here I enjoyed the Laurel Nakadate exhibit very much.  I also enjoyed James Franco's My Own Private River.  I wasn't a big fan of all the exhibits there, but I do look forward to coming back seeing what else will be exhibited there in the future.  

I'm also a huge fan of the Summer School program at PS1.  Getting to attend lectures with artists, actors and directors with q&a's has been very cool.

7/7/2011

Awesome place to take a date. Lots of activities, tons of art. Great place to dance and explore.

The art was eclectic and the DJ in the front of PS1 was spinning some great tunes and some rappers came out and did up some grungy rhymes and beats. Can't beat that.

11/18/2008

the building and exhibition setups are an art form in itself - like a maze, it is room after room of modern art forms.

cheap, inspiring, and lots of good restaurants in the vicinity...ps1 is an excellent way to spend a sunday afternoon.

7/26/2010

I love art and I thought I liked contemporary art, but this really wasn't my scene. We went for Warmup and stopped inside to check out the exhibits. I like the repurposed concept, but can't really enjoy the execution. Don't expect to come here again! Oh, and it's not suitable for kids, in case you were thinking of bringing 'em.

7/9/2012

This used to be an amazing place in early 00's. Always had a great time at the parties and of course have seen  amazing shows while I mostly favor video work and sculpture/installation. Don't miss out on the book fair and make sure to check the e- flux booth, great reading they have.

4/21/2010

$2 student admission? Yes please.

Great exhibits. Love the little bookstore too.

Could get lost in the video exhibit for a week and still not be done. I love PS1 and I love that it's not as crazy as Manhattan museums. Thank god for lazy tourists! :)

9/13/2006

PS 1 is pretty spiffy. There are some really cool things here, but a big portion of the art is video art, which can become a little repetitive. Other works save the day though, especially a room full of Hujar's photography. It made me giddy. The building is fun too. And there's a little cafe on the first floor, a little pricey if I remember but the selections sounded tasty.

No photography allowed.

7/9/2012

MoMA ps1, museum of contemporary art, used to be my favorite museum in NYC because of the progressiveness and pioneering spirit brought forward by exhibits. Over time, their programs become mediocre. Besides the location is inconvenient and not very pleasant to hang around. Stopped going there for more than a year.

3/13/2011

I liked that this musuem was very different compared to most musuems.  I appreciate photography (especially of people) -  I felt the musuem really reached me on that angle.  

$10 entry for non-students
$5 entry for students
Free for LIC residents (transplant or not ;p )

11/15/2010

Very cool space, and you will feel like you are still in a school when you get chided by the staff for entering doors and hallways where you don't belong. Signage would help!

Several floors were closed when I was visiting, with no explanation. In the end, of the 4 floors, only 2 were open and one of the floors only had 2 pieces of art. I was confused. No one said which floors were open and which were off limits, so i was left to wander around feeling clueless and out of line.

The staff here is bewildering. Why don't they welcome you with some information about what sections are open and which are off limits?

9/10/2010

I'm more of a traditional art type of person and a lot of the exhibitions didn't really do it for me. The actual layout of PS1 is cool though. Super cool that it's free for CUNY students. Plus, my gf and I went there on a quiet Sunday afternoon, when apparently this place gets going on at night in the summertime. Would like to come back on a weekend night for sure to see what the fuss is about.

2/24/2012

It's ok. Not the best use of a free day. Questionable that some of the exhibits are classified as "art."

4/3/2011

3/30/11 Dear Warhol, If I read more than I feel or see...(a haiku review)

Ho hum PS one.
Remnants - fabric, bras, brush
were best.  Three hours max.

8/9/2011

Maybe I don't understand modern art when there is a taped off section just for a small ken-like doll with a security guard that watches over it and an exhibit just based on a woman demonstrating sex techniques by herself in different motels.    It's great that they turned this old public school into a museum and they have their hipster "Warm Up" saturdays but give me a break.  I rather go across the street at 5 pointz to see some real artists at work.

7/15/2013

I'm a modern art connoseur, visting every modern art museum that I can visit when I'm in other cities or other countries. I have to say that I was very dissapointed in PS1. The only exhibits that I found interesting were the Ansel Adams photography of National Parks, the collection of outdoor garbage cans, and the sculpture made by a polish artist who encouraged those in the community to use refuge to create themselves in the future. I was put off by the needlessly large number of security guards. Admission included a free pass to the "Rain Room" at MOMA in Manhattan. When I went to MOMA, they told me the "cue" had closed at 11am. Fine, but it was now 3:30pm and there was nobody in line. They once again told me that they close the cue early so even though there was nobody in line and even thought the Rain Room was going to be open for two additional hours, I was prohbitied from visiting it. The art exhibit at PS1 is forever evolving. Perhaps I just wandered in on an uninteresting day? But I can say that I found the graffiti artitist across the street at 5 Pointz FAR more interesting to watch than anything at PS1.

8/17/2010

Came here to see an Animal Collective DJ set, but missed it by 10 minutes. Even an hour before closing, we still had to pay the $15 admission (stupidity on my part).

The outdoor area of PS1 was lively, with a mass of gyrating taking place on the stadium-style stairs, topped with turntables and your usual headphone gripping DJs. We were lured into this mass through the Jimmy Buffet-esque beach balls that were circulated through the crowd.

Walking through the exhibitions, I found myself intrigued with a few exhibits... But if I came solely for the art, took the G train all the way to the last stop after waiting 30 minutes for it, and paid $15--I would have been disappointed. I would recommend attending during an event in order to get more bang for your buck.

1/2/2010

Boyfriend pointed out that it's a little silly to review a museum like PS1 because it has so many rotating pieces/exhibitions...but it's definitely worth a trip out to the space to see what they have at any given time.

It's a suggested entry of $5 for adults and $2 for students, which makes it a great deal if you're on a budget and want to see some (potentially/probably/likely) great art in the city.

As previously mentioned, some exhibitions might not be to your liking but I think it's definitely worth a trip.

6/16/2010

Woohoo!! P.S.1 Saturday warm-up! This is half the reason why I love summer. OK, not half, but quite close.

Modern art, crazy hipsters (who bring their kids?), local beers, fun DJ's/bands, close subway proximity - really what more could you ask for in a summertime party in the sun.

The only downside is that there's nowhere nearby for the drunken crowd to go. Other than that, bring a group of friends or a group of envious out of towners (oh, they WILL be envious!) and let loose!

7/3/2010

Love the concept (great reuse of a former school building!), but didn't like the reality.

Went here today for the "Warm Up" event with no expectations other than decent art and a nice "Warm Up" afternoon.

The Art: Dreadful. Really terrible. Show me art that is clever, skillfully executed, creative, thoughtful, provocative even if I don't agree with it, and I'll be a bigger fan of modern art, after! Sadly not the case here... though to be fair a friend said she'd been there several times prior and never seen the art so bad before. Maybe this is because of the poor economy or exhibiting too many emerging artists at once... don't know.

Warm Up: Was too hot and we arrived too early to really enjoy it. That wasn't MOMA's fault, but sitting around for several hours waiting for the music to start with not enough shade and way too much cigarette smoke no matter where you stood for my tastes just made me woozy. Can see how this would be a lot more fun if I were a smoker or didn't mind inhaling tons of cigarette smoke, and arrived after 6 PM.

Esp for the $15 required admission, I expected more.

3/31/2010

I really enjoy going to PS 1.  It's right off the area where you get off from the subway.  The first time I came here, finding the entrance was a little bit confusing.  at the time, there were these huge mammoth-like hairy structures...  (the exhibit at the time, it's no longer there) or in other words, this large yard you have to go through before you actually enter into the museum.  

The price is cheap, and for CUNY students, it's free admission *hint, bring your CUNY student ID*  The museum feels like it's just the right size to wander around in for a while, but not overly/ridiculously large... like the Met, and the best part is the exhibits change.  Some I don't find too interesting but there are a few gems that are freaky/weird, that you can't help but find awesome.  

One that I particular liked (not there anymore) was photography of the troll toys.  It was freaky.  To add to more freakiness, randomly scattered throughout the hallway, or in a corner high above the stairway, would be a small photograph portraits of a man/men.  Actually I think one of them was of a 9/11 criminal...  The photograph looks like one I saw in the news.  Why was it placed there?  Because PS1 is freaky.  

The 2nd time I went to PS 1, the criminal photograph wasn't there anymore.  What I enjoyed most on my visit then was the performance videos...  Some I passed right by, they weren't interesting.  But there were a few rooms that contained some freaky and unusual stuff.  if I describe any of these videos, it'll be too graphic.  There was a tiny text warning placed before you enter these exhibits, saying the videos would be graphic.  It raises the question of whether this museum is really for kids to be taken to?  I'd imagine a few of the unusual exhibits would give little kids nightmares.  

On another note, the pool exhibit is  great because you can walk underneath the pool, and appear as if you are inside the pool from the top.

This place is definitely worth checking out.

1/31/2010

While I wasn't big on travelling out of Manhattan and wasn't initially blown away by the exhibits I saw, I spotted some one-of-a-kind and pretty awesome works that just blew me away.

We were here for the summer warm-up party. Great music (most part) and pretty cool exhibits. Two thumbs up.

7/26/2009

I finally experienced "The Warm Up" this Saturday and was I blown away? .....yes and no...

Yes, because "The Warm Up" itself was fantastic, everyone was having a good time dancing and drinking beer. The crowd was definitely 'warmed up' by the time we arrived and there were these gigantic teepee like installations that sprayed mist from the top to cool the people down. The dance floor was also awesome having the staircase being a part of it really played a huge part in creating the vibe of this dance party.
I liked that they didn't have an age limit to the event...we saw a few toddlers in the midst of the dancefloor and even a baby was being tossed in the air a few times.
I enjoyed the sporadic bubbles that floated from the DJ booth down to the dancefloor :)
10$ to enter, which included the museum and its exhibits.

No, because of the museum itself...not well air conditioned and the lines for the bathroom were a little insane. There were only a few memorable pieces and not quite worth the trek from Manhattan if you are just coming for the museum...you must experience "The Warm Up" along with it.

9/4/2011

I'd say this place is pretty disappointing.  It's $15 for admission, $6 for a beer, $2 for water.  The place is 3 stories except when we came here the 2nd level was closed (they open on 9/11).  And, the third floor only had one thing to check out; hence, you're pretty much on the one floor that's actually open.  I would say there's really not much to see.  You could probably finish the entire place in 15 minutes.  When you go outside, you have the loud bumping music with ping pong tables, chess tables, and a lot of people just dancing or drinking beers.  I don't think I'd ever come back to this establishment.

10/3/2010

PS1's Warm Up Parties on Saturday afternoons are some of the best parties I've ever been to. I've been going for about 6 years now and I've never been disappointed. The Music and Crowd are Phenomenal. Every time I go I end up meeting people from all over the world, and I can't believe how they found out about this place. I actually became a member of the MOMA just so that I didn't have to wait in line to enter. If you ever want a guaranteed good time on a Saturday afternoon from July to September you have to check this place out.

4/13/2009

It's like you're on drugs...but you're not...but maybe you are?  These exhibits manipulate your mind and twist it around and make you think and look at things differently.  

Much of the video art is extremely creepy and strange, and that is what is so fantastic about it.  For example, you walk into a dark room and there is nothing but an antique style TV on the floor and you have to walk closer to see what's going on, and put on creepy headphones.  Or there is a room with a giant movie screen and a 6 minute silent film and a piano that plays itself.  In fact, each room kind of reminded me of like an Adult Fun House...

for the MIND.

The security guards roam the halls and do not mess around when it comes to not taking pictures.  You should work on a secret code before you go.  This way, you can sneak pictures without them chasing you down the hall yelling and, eventually, telling you to leave.

Good hummus with warm pita and salad in the cafe.  

And, finally, the famous pool exhibit?  Amazing.  I felt dizzy and disoriented and mesmerized looking up from the bottom of the pool and walking around.  Don't try to swim or suntan, that doesn't work.

5 Pointz is across the street, too.  I'm not telling you what it is because I'm a secret-keeper, but if you go to PS1, check it out!

9/14/2009

This place is great, even when it was raining! I came here this past Saturday for the extended Warm Up and wow it was so much fun!! It was raining all day, but I still had a blast! We went around the whole museum, and there were quite a few exhibitions which I loved. The first one, and probably my favorite, is called, "Perpetual Zooz."
This is the description from the PS1 website:
"The computational cinematic projection Perpetual ZOOZ is the primary work in the exhibition, which incorporates two versions of The Wizard of Oz. One version of the movie plays in time with his mother's heartbeat and the other plays in reverse, in accordance with Grey's heart. The projection is designed in a way that both versions of the movie are presented in a sculptural form, like two sides of a spinning coin. "
My second favorite exhibition and probably pretty popular is the pool. I don't know what its called, but its pretty neat. From the top, it looks like a small replica of a swimming pool, but then you can take the stairs down, and wow there is a space underneath the pool! It in a way defies physics and it was very fun to explore ;-)
I also enjoyed the Warm Up party, but it was raining the whole time ;-(
At times, we had to find refuge under this year's theme, which is something like a woolly mammoth's hide. My BF didn't like this year's theme, but for some reason, I found it comforting and in a way I felt insulated by the hairy display ;-) Psychoanalyze that!!
Entrance to the Warm Up + museum admission = $10
beers = $6 (and they have Magic Hat #9, but it was served in a plactic cup)

7/24/2012

I have been meaning to go to a warm up party for years, well I finally made it out and it was worth it! Once inside it is a large open air courtyard where people are just hanging, talking, drinking and having a good time. I was surprised at how many non queens people were at this event, but I liked that it was such a good mix. They serve beer at tents for 6 bucks each, be warned that you have to wait on a line to buy beer tickets and then another line to buy beer. My recommendation is buy a bunch of beer tickets early so when you are waiting on long ass beer lines near the end it is at least only one line! A DJ was playing very danceable electronic music near a relatively small dance floor near the museum entrance. You cannot go in the museum with your beer :( but can check out the art at any time, so that is a nice refresher if you want a break from the party. My main qualm was the lines. If you arrive late the entry line looked really long and slow moving and the two lines for beer sucked! Either way, I did have a really good time and think it is a great alternative to an indoor venue for enjoying the summer and getting large groups of people together. Please note, LIC residents get free entry, non LIC residents pay 15 bucks. From what I understand it goes towards supporting the museum and the unique party experience so I would imagine it is worth it (Note, I am an LIC resident and got in free).

2/17/2009

I saw a unicorn here and it may have exceeded the excitement of the time I first saw a liger. Unfortunately, Feb 23 is the last day to see Borre Sæthre's Stealth Distortion and the unicorn - so get there if you still can! PS1 has no permanent exhibits so any visit can be hit, miss or a mix.

The other inspired work is Leandro Erlich's Swimming Pool. It's housed in a duplex gallery with the bottom floor fashioned as a swimming pool completed with a ladder and lighting and the top floor looks down into the pool which is acrylic covered in water. It's on display through May 4th. It's worth the trip out just to view this installation.

When you're in the lobby, don't miss Pipilotti Rist's Selbstlos im Lavabad (Selfless in the Bath of Lava) tiny video installation embedded in the floor boards. Eternal damnation makes for great art.

PS1 is a converted 19th century school which makes the space so unique. Photography lines the hallways, vertical paintings fill the stairwells  and video installations play in old classrooms. There are four floors to explore and even the elevator has a lighting installation.

Suggested admission is $5 and suggested student admission is $2. It's steps from the subway and minutes from Manhattan.

12/11/2011

On my 1st visit, I decided to go to PS1 after visiting MoMA.  Admission to PS1, at least at that time, was free with MoMA admission.  PS1 is a small museum housed in a former school building.  It has a somewhat storied history in the contemporary art world but in recent years it has become an annex to MoMA where contemporary works, often installations, are presented.
At the time of my visit, MoMA was presenting Olafur Eliasson's work and PS1 was filled with his installations.  The most memorable for me was walking into a quiet black box theater, which was pitch black except for light shining through a curtain of wet mist on the stage.  The illusion created was a floating rainbow.  You could walk onto the stage, touch the mist, and put your hand through the rainbow.  Most people just sat quietly contemplating it.
The place is generally more hipster and less tourist.  The administrative offices are on the upper floors and I took a peek when I got lost looking for a bathroom.
This is a relatively small museum.  The focus of the curators appears to be depth and not volume, so don't expect to see huge collections when you come here.  Depending on who they are presenting, it can definitely be worth a visit to Long Island City.
Quick aside:  While I wouldn't go out of my way to see it, if you're a street art enthusiast, check out the building across the street!

7/14/2013

Let me first start by saying that the entire concept is pretty cool. Modern art in an old school house in Queens. Lovely! The museum itself was not the reason for the low star rating... it was the outdoor space where the Warm Up Saturday concert/parties take place. The space is really weird and can become a bit of a clusterf***.  Too many individuals in a small space can make for some aggravation. Unless you are the lucky souls to get close to the staircase or VIP area, the most of your time will be spent being tossed around because people are constantly moving... and not to the music. Are you going into the museum? The bathroom? To get more beer?? Where the hell is everyone trying to go???  I could not understand where everyone was going and why no one was listening to the music. If the outdoor space was bigger so that people who do like to walk back and forth could do so without interfering with the folks who actually want to get into the music and dance it would be great. I will try it again... maybe it was just an off day.