MoMA PS1

4/15/2008

I find I love the space more than the art at times.
But they are cost effective. And have cool events through out the year.

8/24/2007

I hate massive crowds, so to me I didn't really care too much about this place when I first got there.

It's like a huge rave...
if you were stoned, high, trashed, or whatever---perhaps you wouldn't mind the crowd.

So 2 hrs later-I, no longer cared and had a smashing time but that's only after being there for 2 hrs.

I give it 3 stars only because you have to subject yourself to another level----sobriety kills!

2/2/2011

This was kind of a waste of time! My boyfriend and I paid the donation fee and I wanted to ask for a refund! They need to put up a sign at the door saying no pictures allows, the security guard almost beat me up for a quick snap of a photo I found funny.

3/4/2008

Awesome, awesome, awesome. I love modern art and PS 1 fits the bill: brimming with subversive installations, paintings, photography, sculpture, you name it. It's visceral, enchanting, and exciting. However, I'm one of those people who can spend hours in a museum.

Also, walking around the space is a bit eerie (in a neat way) since the museum used to be an old school. There's tons of inspiring exhibits, but there are no permanent collections. This may work out in y our favor since th art is constantly rotating and changing. And yes, there are student discount rates, too.

1/13/2008

If i lived in NYC I would frequent P.S. 1 on a regular basis.  This place is awesome!!

1) THE ART!
There's no permanent collection only rotating exhibits of up and coming, cutting edge, contemporary artists.  Some artists are only featured in smaller side rooms while others get more attention in the larger rooms.  There's so much to see and look at with out being overwhelming.  It's good for those with a short art-attentions spans.  It's like a bunch of little galleries all in one building featuring all top notch artists with top of the line presentation.

2) The Building
I love that it's in an old Public School.  It gives off a recycled and historic feel as you walk from exhibit to exhibit.  But without seeming dingy or old.  It's definitely clean, well though out and well kept.

3) The Price:
$5 non student - $3 student
free for MoMA members or with your MoMA ticket within 30 days.

love love love love LOVE it!

9/14/2008

Industrial looking museum in Long Island City, makes sense.  You get in free if you're a MoMA member.  The building is a cool use of space, it doesn't look like a museum, many small & large rooms split off different hallways.  Not sure if all exhibits are like this, but a lot of what we saw had multimedia displays.

Bathrooms are co-ed, which seem to freak out the woman walking in as I was walking out.  Nice looking cafe, didn't try anything as I has six bucks in my pocket and nothing on the menu other than a cookie was less than seven.

11/22/2008

Here's a little tale I like to call "The Oppression of Suggested Admission."  When we arrived, we saw two large gaggles in front of us. They all stood in the doorway and blocked entry. We made our way around the crowds and decided to skip out on the front desk because we were late for a poetry reading ( the Poet Laureate of California was there and we were already late).

We went down a hall and a guard stopped us, asking us where our passes were. We asked where the reading was. He said, you need passes. We said, where's the reading. He said, the front desk can tell you. The three of us peered down the hall to where there was still a mob of people. We went back to the desk and had to wait for the first group to clear. Then no one moved, so we attempted to go ahead of the second group. Unluckily, some old guy in the group made it to the counter first and did some calculations for how many people, how many passes. The passes, btw, were stickers. This was ridiculous. Why did we need a sticker if there's no mandatory admission? All the sticker proves is that we wasted time at the desk.

Now don't get me wrong. We weren't trying to get out of paying. We were trying to get out of wasting time and waiting behind the slow people. But now, we were ornery.

We finally got up to the desk and my friend said, One please. The girl said, Five dollars. My friend answered, I'm a student, and slid across two singles. The girl asked, Do you have your ID? My friend said, no I don't, and slid the two singles closer. The girl said, then we suggest five dollars for adults.

A few things wrong with this response.

1. Suggestion. If the admission is suggested, then we could pay nothing or throw a fifty their way. It's up to the patron.

2. If a person says she's a student but doesn't have her student ID, she doesn't automatically become not a student.

So my friend said, yes, I know, and looked at her singles sitting on the counter. The girl finally handed over a sticker.

Then it was my turn. I said nothing. I handed the girl two dollars. She handed me my sticker.

The saddest part is that most of the exhibits that day were not worth all that hassle.  The saving grace of the day for me was Nari Ward's Liquors for the Soul, an upside down liquor store sign that lit up the letters to spell out soul.  Fabulous!  Thank you, Nari Ward.

P. S. 1 is supposed to be the funky affordable satellite for MoMA, and on this day, it was funkdefied in the wrong way.  The cool thing about it, though, is that it used to be a school, so as you go through, you can envision where the classrooms used to be.

8/13/2007

Dragged against my will (initially) to PS.1 for their "Warm-Up" summer house party, I wasn't so excited to leave Manhattan on a hot saturday afternoon to go participate in what I call "my nightmare" (massive crowds).  But I had so much fun lying in the hammocks with my friends and dancing to the music.  Partially deaf after it all ended, but fun nonetheless.

As for the actual museum, I think it's a great concept.  I just don't like it as much in comparison to a planned museum designed specifically to exhibit works of art.  Usage of rooms were suspect, I'm always 50-50 when it comes to contemporary art, and the long lines for the unisex bathrooms rubbed me the wrong way one too many times.  But it is worth checking out if you've never been.

10/28/2008

P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center is one of the oldest and largest non-profit contemporary art institutions in the United States.

Wandering around the building alone is an experience. Great exhibitions! Good coffee to. Definitely a must see when you're visiting NYC.

Admission is a $5.00 suggested donation for Adults, 17 and older; $2.00 for students and senior citizens; free for MoMA members and MoMA admission ticket holders. The MoMA ticket must be presented at P.S.1 within thirty days of the date on the ticket and is not valid during Warm Up or other P.S.1 events or benefits.

9/17/2009

Me and my boyfriend came here last Saturday and we both had a wonderful time walking around the museum.  A lot of creative work are being display on the wall and on the floor.  My favorite art work is seeing all the old black records on the floor.  The entire floor in a room is covered with that.  The cool part is that we could take pictures of some of those records with me being in it.  Also coming here reminds of going back to elementary school because it was originally an elementary school and nothing has really changed after it converted into a museum.  I like the wall being painted with different artistic drawing on each floor by the staircase.  This place is definitely different from any other museums I've been to in the city.

1/29/2010

I took my 74 year old grandfather there and he started to cry after seing some of the exhibits, he was deeply moved and I will never forget that experience. PS1 does move you, prepare to be touched

3/6/2007

Oh man, I love this place. I did a dance program in middle school and we got to perform in that huge awesome room on the top floor...totally rocked my socks.

The installations can be hit or miss depending on the type of art you like, but it changes pretty frequently so there's always something new to see.

Best thing is to go in warmer weather, that way you can go see installations on the roof and outside. I haven't been to the dance parties they have there yet, but you can be sure it's on my to-do list!

4/27/2008

Admission price is great.  Adults $5, students $2, children under 12 free.
Nice space, nice design, we had fun.
Over paid for a salad that was just ok.
Over all a nice Saturday afternoon.

4/25/2010

I like the cost, the space, and that they had live music the last visit!

The only sadness is how silly and old I felt when my friends responded, 'Who is Michael Stipe?' after I told them I was 99% sure he there.   But for those over 19 or in the know, I'm still 99% sure it was him.

10/9/2007

Why don't more people go to PS1?  It's such a cool space and there are always interesting projects.  

Really, Manhattanites, it's only 20 minutes from midtown!  And you can go in for free with a MoMA admission ticket (up to 30 days from the date of ticket!).

I love the little bookstore!

5/12/2007

Hands-down my favorite large-scale contempo-gallery I've been to state-side!  I live in Chicago, and it's the only place I repeatedly visit when I'm in The City.

I love art that makes you say WTF!, laugh, is cutting edge, obscure, tongue-in-cheek and generally impressive. And I really like found objects and mixed media- this place is chok full of the above.

Finally I found a space that (in my mind) creates a feeling parallel to the one I experienced when at the Saatchi Gallery in London when it was on the Thames.

Bonus points for being located in queens and amongst some very impressive graffiti!

1/27/2007

PS1 is a great space.  Cutting edge contemporary art and of course the summer Warm Up parties.

I have been going to the summer parties for the past 3 years now and I always have a blast.  Expect to hear 2-3 DJ's spinning per event.  Expect a variety of electronic music genres.  The crowd is always good at these events, a good mix of people who just want to get down and boogie outdoors as opposed to in some stinky basement.  Don't get me wrong, stinky basement parties are BAD ASS.

One problem with the Warm Up parties are that they tend to get very crowded and bathroom lines can be painful.  I'm talking about a 45 minute wait.  I have learned the trick:  Leave and walk across the street to the Irish Pub, have a shot of tequila and use their bathroom.  This will take you 15 minutes!  Trust me.

Ah I miss the summer...

2/21/2010

Very  Cool spot. Totally random art work. Most definitely worth a trip across the east river. Enjoy!

10/31/2009

Recently stopped by for the Fall Exhibit opening.  A truly great, fun and welcoming exhibition space.

12/21/2006

A great space in an old school that is dedicated to contemporary art (as opposed to "modern" - the semantics of it all get silly). Wander through the halls and get taken back to the days of lockers and period bells.

A lot of video installations, which are either hit or a very big miss. They are very powerful if they are successful though, so this is a good place to go to get some inspiration.

I haven't been in awhile, so I'll need to check it out again and report back..

p.s. If you're in the area, make sure to check out 5 Points, an old factory that has become a safe haven for graffiti artists (the whole block, Jackson Avenue at Crane Street and Davis Street):
sleepingfish.net/5cense/…

7/6/2006

Hot, sweaty and completely huge. Warm Up, the Saturday event from 3 to 9, is a huge outdoor dance party. Check the 2006 schedule here: ps1.org/ps1_site/index.p….   Beers are six bucks, waters are two. You buy tickets first and then give those tickets away when you get your beer. Sometimes you can hold onto your ticket and not drop it in the box- no one notices..
The music is variant based on the djs spinning, but you can expect great things.. lots of people, all about having a good time.
Sunglasses is a must. and sunscreen.

3/23/2007

PS1 is MoMA's rambunctious step daughter. Most of the time she shows us things that are exciting, contemporary and cutting edge. But occasionally she stands clumsily, at an awkward kilter.

My visit started out by drinking cappuccino out of a dirty cup, while a German tourist tried to discretely sneak a photo of my moment of solitude. I saw the coffee stained mug and the jaunty photographer's failed attempt at being sly, but I said nothing. I just sat and thought about art making.

I paid the full $5. "suggested" donation for the first time. I don't know why. I could have paid a dollar or less, but I felt supportive of my comrades in the arts.

The museum always offers something to take away, to ponder and  offers many less ponderous works. This time, I was excited about seeing the Vic Muniz photography exhibit. I was less so about the paintings made of make-up and the sculptures made of peanut butter.

I always have a difficult time with the video pieces here, because the presentation is not welcoming or comfortable for long stretches of viewing. However, there was one video piece, by Catherine Ross, that stood out . She used the hand gestures of  "Three's Company" episodes to create a musical dance of neurotic gesticulations. It was fantastic.

7/4/2006

AWESOME.

Went to PS1 for the Warm Up Party on July 1st... had a chance to view the modern exhibit (note, kids under 17 not allowed w/o parents because the showing was very graphic/sensational).

Music (house) and sound system rocked: almost reminded me of the SF Wet Parties way back when...not quite, but almost as it was an eclectic mix of artists, DJs, etc just out looking to dance like crazy from 3PM-9PM.

Tip: it is BLAZING hot and stuffy in the dance pit: do yourself a favour and wear as cool/comfy clothes as possible and try to leave your purse at home. They only serve beer/water which is fine cuz it's too hot to drink anything else, anyway.

I bought my tix ahead of time for $12/each, but ticker holders and ticket buyers all share the same line so there was really no point in that. Buy tickets when you get there for $10/each.

1/4/2010

It is always worth riding out to LIC to go to PS1.  The old school house is just a great place to see art in the same way (although completely different) that MASS MoCA's incredible spaces are part of the experience. In my experience and i've been there many times, it's always well-curated, (and perfect for winter viewing since you get a lot of art under one roof)  The permanent James Turrell Meeting/room is one of my favorite places to be in the city. So as not to spoil the magic of what goes on there, suffice it to say--it alone is worth the (bargain!) 5 buck admission. Go when you arrive and again, just before you leave  and it's two completely different experiences... After you leave, head to the wonderful Manetta's for dinner-- delicious, unpretentious, local. A great NY day!

4/11/2008

PS1 is an amazing collection of contemporary art.  I highly recommend you go there IMMEDIATELY.  I visited PS1 in November of 2007, and I enjoyed everything.  The work here is mostly installations, film work, and some traditional mediums as well.  

Of note was the long term installation by James Turrell called "Meeting", which is basically a room with a large square opening in the ceiling emitting this blue glow and fog and cold air, leaving you to wonder if it's a hole in the ceiling or a machine you can't see... or if its even a hole at all!  Also a huge installation by a Brazilian artist (whose name escapes me at the moment) made of enormous gold and black skeletons, ropes and canes, that takes up two floors.  Also, near the check in desk and barely noticeable, there is a hole in the floorboards and if you look into it you can see there's actually a small video screen playing imagery.  Some other stuff I personally thought was really cool was giant projected video montage of a crazy person talking and hanging out and interacting with people... it was completely insane, a really interesting glimpse into the mind and mannerisms of a crazy person.  There was also a giant bear covered with fluffy yellow feathers.  They had staff in PS1 shirts in various rooms that did nothing but stand in statue-like poses looking at the art... we tried scaring one of them, but he didn't flinch!

The gift shop is also really cool... only thing I would avoid is the bathrooms, but that sort of goes with any public bathroom in NYC.  

A really inspiring contemporary art experience for sure.

7/5/2007

I'm not a New Yorker, but a random visit to this place turned out to be the highlight of my trip!  We thought we were going to look at contemporary art and possibly have a beer or two in the outside area, but before we knew it DJs were playing music for six hours straight and the crowd was incredibly pumped up.  Everyone was dancing and having a great time.  The exhibit was wonderful too.  

I highly recommend this place, especially if you are lucky enough to nearby.  I hear they do this every Saturday until Labor Day, but again, I don't know much about this event!  Also a great place to entertain your out of town guests!

6/25/2006

I loooooove PS1. The idea of turning an old elementary school into an art museum and the experience of being there is surprisingly fun and exciting. (Probably because you are at a school, having a good time, instead of having the teacher be at your throat about the times tables). I'd totally recommend out of towners to visit PS1 than the MoMA.

This place is by no means a California flat outdoor school on a lot, but it's a big old brick building with 3 stories, a basement and lots of rooms. So when you get lucky and go on a day where all the installations are up, it's a fun artsy fartsy playground. Especially with the new media works. Last time I was there I was just kicking back on some bean bag chairs watching the video art of Kalup Linzy.

The John Lurie exhibit that's going until 8/14 is also worth checking out. I love his snarky, crude drawings and paintings.

I definitely can't wait until 7/1 when they kick off their summer parties, Warm Up.

3/11/2009

Seemed less like art than a lot of juxtapositions of already existing movies/photos/etc. Anyone can juxtapose. Where's the creativity?

2/16/2009

The exhibition space is so small, but the outdoor summer events are fun.

4/12/2009 Updated review

i was wondering if one of my 12 year old son's favorite pieces had been returned to it's rightful little nook by the front entrance. many people fail to notice this wry work of art, because it is embedded in what appears to be a knothole on the wooden floors. when you look into the knothole you see a slightly vexed diminutive woman looking up at you and imploring you to get her out of that spot. this fairy-like, rather persistent, woman is speaking in italian. i don't speak italian, however i am reasonably certain that she is saying something like, "get me outta this hell hole! whatsa mattah with ya," as she waves her arms up at you. did i also tell you that she's buck naked? i suspect that this could very well have something to do with my son's particular propensity for this piece. ssshhh, please don't tell him i told you this. yes this delightful piece, by pipolotti rist, is still in evidence if you know where to look.
i also enjoyed the cool, pool piece by leandro erlich.(also seen in the delightful yelper, chris r.'s profile.)
i was ambivalent about the work of yael bartana. there were some strange undercurrents i felt, perhaps i will revisit her work.
the other exhibits with the exception of a few pieces in the jonathon horowitz: and/or show really didn't excite me too much!

1/9/2009

I'm not such a fan of contemporary art, but I had a good time.  Creative uses of space in an old public school... as some have mentioned, the exhibits can be hit-or-miss, but the space itself is great, and lends itself to some really interesting installations.  Definitely go for a "swim" in the pool, and don't miss the basement boiler room -- this is not your average art museum.  Afterward, walk around the block across the street and get your fill of creative graffiti.

9/19/2007

Really, really, REALLY cool place with stuff you'd never see at your average art museum...Instead of the sterile environment that art is often presented in, this place provides an eclectic, organic, yet respectful atmosphere for art.  If you're into art, you MUST go check it out.  It'll give you an entirely different perspective on museums.

9/21/2005

A great summer party.  Every Saturday.  Get there early if you don't want to be overwhelmed by the crowd.  Starts getting packed around 7pm.  Dance to the outdoor house music.  Many renown DJ's have done their thing here, ie Fat Boy Slim.  Have a beer in a sandy, hut-style hangout area.  Watch bubbles fly through the air, and beach balls come crashing down from windows on the 3rd floor.  Stroll through the museum and see some "art" when you get tired of the craziness.  An experience you won't forget.

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  Oh, the glorious sky, so high...

  Oh, the glorious sky, so high...
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  P.S.1 culprits

  P.S.1 culprits

7/5/2007

A really cool place to visit, even if you're not into contemporary/modern art (which I'm not). If nothing else you will be amused by the various spectacles inside.

12/1/2008

right now ps1 contains a unicorn, a ship being tossed around on a sea of broken wood, and a trick swimming pool.  year after year, this is the only museum i've never been disappointed by.

6/20/2007

Warm up parties rock so get ready to boogie and have a smile on your face.  This MOMA offshoot restores my hope that the institution lost with the manhattan museum.  This is the place to see young, truly contemporary work if you are not a tourist.

6/28/2009

hottest dance party in NYC this Summer and every Summer. It's outdoors, there's food and beer and if you're looking for a respite from the loud house music run indoors and bask in three levels of artworks and installations. Could it get any better? The first year, I thought I was in heaven. PS1 programs eclectic music, this summer 2009 the accent is on house music with acts like Chez Damier and DJ Pierre. Show up early, the line gets very long very fast.

4/7/2007

Like Whoa.  $2 admission?  Rooms upon rooms of contemporary art?  Cool renovated elementary school setting?  This is a deal, y'all!
Despite the aforementioned pros, PS 1 did not quite live up to my long-held high hopes.  The layout of the museum, while seemingly straightforward, somehow morphed into a labyrinth of locked doors, dead-end halls, closed exhibits (James Turrell... tear...) and trick elevators.  The free map that I used to decipher my location did nothing but confuse me and turn my (uncannily precise) sense of direction on its head.  
Also, there was a serious problem with sound leakage... each piece that used sound bled into the next.  To me, that is equivalent to hanging two completely different paintings with one slightly overlapping the other!  To say the least, it was distracting.  
But!  I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from coming here.  It is a great place to see a wide variety of contemporary art at an unbelievably low price.  Although the museum may seem small, make sure you carve out a good chunk out of your day if you want to see everything.  Travelling down the same hallway about, say, eight times, can take longer than you think!

1/23/2007

This art museum was awesome. Its in a super huge creepy old school and exhibits are in the old classrooms. It wasn't stuffy or pretentious as museums tend to be. I went in the winter so I haven't gotten to experience one of the outdoor summer parties yet, but they sound amazing. I can't wait to go back later this year and see some different exhibits and rock the summer parties.

3/6/2007

Last month we had an AVN after party at our crib. I was talking about PS1 to an LA DJ. He told me to:
"Shut up because it's making me sad that there is nothing like that in L.A."
PS1 provided me an opportunity to see some amazing installations, photography, and a chance to see decline of the Western Civilization part 3. What makes this place shine are the DJs and the shows that kept me coming back for as many Saturdays as I could. I had an opportunity to catch DJ Craze, Afrika Bambaataa, The Scissor Sisters, and a gang of other great DJs.
This was always my "Launch Pad" which was followed by a bite to eat at Sea in the Willy B's then off to Park Slope's Halcyon (R.I.P), or D.U.M.B.O's Lunatarium, Maybe the L.E.S. for Direct Drive, or Mid-Town for Shelter. PS1 is a definitive NY experience as amazing as a walk on the Brooklyn Bridge. Maybe it's the command view of NYC's skyline? The vibe of all the hipsters? Perhaps it's the sheer Kookiness of this venue is actually an old Public School that makes the event so great.
When you go make some time to go across the street to check out Phun Factory or Five points or whatever they call it now. The entire building is a legal Graffiti spot. Also, invest in one of those little fans with the water mist(ers); you'll thank me for that tip.