Whitney Museum of American Art

8/26/2012

While I'm not keen on museum crowds, I don't mind them here because the IQs seem a little higher than average. That may be because these folks better appreciate the history of American art that the Whitney traces. I've been a member and visit often, especially for the opening/closing receptions. Normally I go to museums just to see art art & learn art history while zoning outeverything/everyone else. But I actually enjoy conversation here.

2/23/2009

Guess what? They have a free Friday, too! Not as crowded, but the guards! Oy. My cell phone rang. I'm fairly aware of art viewing etiquette, s I quietly answered and waked towards the elevator. Before I could get to the door, some diminutive Filipino man started shouting at me -

'Get Out!'
'GO'

He was far louder than my conversation. So, I'm at the elevator, and a 2nd guard walks over and points to a stairwell. Who gets reception in a stairwell? Fine. If I missed the signs stating no cell phones (like @ the Met), then mea culpa. But, the guards' behaviour is better suited for visitation day at Rikers or TSA.

12/13/2009

Meh.

Half the floors of this museum were closed (from what I heard that's always the case) and the others showed paintings of Georgia O'Keeffe's queefs.

4/10/2011

Go to this museum once you have confirmed what is is on display and checked the on-line reviews.  I think it must be struggling to define itself and the art does not always sing out to you-saying oh i want that on my wall or in my house.

1/18/2011

Instead of the pieces which generally are a snoozefest...I found it more amusing to watch rich pretentious art snobs try to find the meaning behind "art pieces" like a soda bottle sitting on a pedestal. Seriously?

Go to the MOMA instead.

10/2/2012

This was my first time visiting the Whitney Museum and I had high hopes. Unfortunately I was very disappointed and probably would not visit a second time.

I don't think the admission price reflects the quality of the experience at this museum. Putting aside the fact that there is a 1min time limit to view the Kusama exhibition Fireflies, which you can only do alone, after waiting hours for a ticket to see it, the $18  price for admission is just too high-the museum is small and there are not many exhibits.

I also witnessed a poor girl getting yelled at by a security guard for attempting to take a photo of a sculpture. The rooms are so small, I think that a discreet "No photos please" would have sufficed.

4/17/2011

Culture, we all like to imagine we have it and living in our fair city gives us more opportunities to see it than most however, I cannot pretend to be the cultured woman I would love to be, or that Jane Austen would have approved of.

I could sit in the Guggenheim or Met all day, for days on end however, when you slap me in a modern art museum, I turn into a five year old.

My friend and I took our first trip to the Whitney for the Hopper exhibit on it's last day in town. Both being huge fans, it did not disappoint as I got to stare longingly into some of my favorites as well as pick up some new ones, such as George Bellows and John Sloan. While this floor alone was worth the price of admission, we ventured upwards to see what the next four floors held.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a wonderful Robert Maplethorpe exhibit, who I had first experienced in Florence aside the Statue of David in the Galleria dell'Academia and instantly fell in love for the way he captured man's body in black and white. However, besides from that, it all seemed to be beyond my level of culture. From a room with a light projection to Glenn Ligon's light installation of the word America, it all seemed something I would not spend $18 nor my Sunday morning to see.

The space and exhibit were welcoming and as lovely as a NYC museum can get however, if staring at a white room filled with hanging ropes isn't your idea of a good time, I'd skip the heftier admission price and donate $2 for a view at the Met.

8/21/2011

One of the best things about going to an art museum is how much everybody can disagree on it.

I went there this past Friday and enjoyed myself to no end.  Cory Arcangel's exhibit, which will be gone by mid-september (So Hurry!) is one of those rare exhibits that is actually a little bit fun.  

I was taken in by most of what was on display though, and I highly recommend it all.

Of course, because everybody's got their opinion, my friends didn't feel the same way.  My friends weren't as unimpressed with the Whitney itself as much as they were a lack of art they identified with and felt "spoke" to them.  It made for a great late night dinner conversation afterward.

While we were there we got to see a free concert on the lower level which was a total highlight.

A tip- elevator up to the top floor and then stop on each floor as you make your way down the stairs to the bottom floor.  The stairs are less crowded and have cool art in them.  The Whitney is a small-ish museum and it's moving soon to a bigger space in Chelsea, so you should go soon-ish.

One thing I really love about The Whitney is that it's not the marathon tidal wave of art you see in the massive blockbuster museums like the Met and MoMa.  MoMa and The Met are both incredible but they can be very overwhelming.  The Whitney is something you can do in an hour if you're so inclined and not feel like you missed seeing anything.  

Go get your thoughts provoked.

8/13/2012

I came here for the special exhibition of Yayoi Kusama. Be sure to come early since they restrict traffic flows to the Firefly installation. I arrived at 2:30 pm and it's too late to get in unless I became a member.
Even so, the rest of the Yayoi was memorable still. Get the multimedia guide which is free.

3/21/2009

I had known Whitney for quite some time before I actually went. We had a couple prints from different exhibits in my house growing up. My parents traveled to New York for trade shows and usually came home with a print from one of the many museums. It's a beautiful building and a nice part of the city. Definitely worth the trip uptown.

I saw an exhibit of Edward Ruscha here: Los Angeles Apartments. Very simple black and white photos, but those are my absolute favorite. I hope to make it back to (the) Whitney soon and take Whitney (sister) with me.

5/5/2013

We had a wonderful visit to the Whitney.  We took a tour with Jan and it was the best museum tour I've been on.  He was so knowledgable and enthusiastic about the exhibit and the museum.  Beautiful artwork - they have an incredible collection.

1/14/2011

The museum has 5 floors, but only 3 were open at the time of my visit.  Wasn't told this before I bought my ticket and I'm pretty sure I paid full price.  Very much a gallery feel with less crowds, which provides amble standing space.

Was recommended to start at the top floor with their "signature exhibition," the Biennial.  Very modern and unfortunately wasn't very impressed.  That could very well be just me however, it's art.  Took my time and walked around, at which point, I discovered the 4th floor was closed.  Great.

Headed to the first floor which was also indicated a gallery floor.  They have a small room with some works, but not really enough to include it in their map of gallery halls.  Walked up the stairs to the 2nd floor to find out it was closed.  Awesome.

Walking now to the third floor, I'm pretty disappointed in my visit, and my ~$20 or so spent - I've been here for maybe an hour and was hoping to spend a while here.  Stepping onto the third floor, my experience changed drastically.  Charles Burchfield was given an exhibition and although I've never heard of the artist previously.  If it weren't for this, I wouldn't have enjoyed my visit nearly as much.  The museum did a good job of laying out the artist's works, progressing the exhibition with the artist's life and phases.

Will certainly go back but will be sure to check out the website before going!

5/2/2012

They have an interesting collection of American contemporary art. I thought the current exhibits were more interesting than those at the Guggenheim.

1/22/2009

When I lived on the UES I loved the Whitney - especially on those days/times when it was free.  They get alot of great exhibits like a few years back on the art of the '60's prychadelic movement.  

Great place to go.

1/9/2009

Modern American Art museum, on multiple floors and with some interesting permanent and rotating displays as well as decent explanations and an audio tour that actually does make sense to have if you would like things explained to you.

Ground floor cafe and shop is available, and exhibits with varied looks at American history, culture, and art styles.  Sometimes the displays were more interesting in regards to how they were set up rather than the actual materials and purposes of the artist.

For the most part, only a great museum for those who really appreciate modern American art.

2/2/2011

I was thoroughly impressed by the Whitney. For my Philistine ways, the Whitney is just the right size, a 2-3 hour visit with a healthy stop at each piece. The current exhibits (Hopper and LeDray) were well curated. Will be back.

4/11/2011

Loved the Edward Hopper and Charles Burchfield shows. Love the Whitney's scale-- big enough to encompass many artists and moods, small enough to feel intimate and manageable, even with a young child.

My daughter and I attended one of their classes for kids and had a great time. The young staff is enthusiastic and fun, and give the kids just enough context to help them feel a part of the work they're seeing.

10/17/2010

To be honest, I feel really muted toward the artwork shown here. It's been a while since I've last went and they never have all floors accessible to the public, there's always some installation still going on.. Do I come at the wrong time or what? Also it's been about a good 5 months since I came and they still have the same pieces.. nothing new really, maybe at most an entire floor that has new stuff up but the 5th and 5M floors are pretty much the same stuff..

1/31/2011

I find most of the reviews of this museum extremely pretentious but most things involving the city, Brooklyn, and art fall prey to this illness (haven't checked the reviews on other museums but I'd guess that this is a systemic problem). A great example of this are the reviewers that can't help themselves from dispensing a diatribe on the history of the Whitney including its purpose (my guess is that those are the Brooklyn hipsters). "The Whitney opened in 1930 to celebrate American Art ...", oh just shut up; it's all in the museum guide for which I'm surprised they didn't charge a fee.

Anyway, at the urging of my sister, I went to the Whitney. We went to see the Edward Hopper stuff. Truth be told, I thought this was about Dennis Hopper. Laugh, sure, but bear in mind the MOMA has a great collection of films on the wall including a young and surprisingly to me, outrageously hot Dennis Hopper. There was a "tour" going on. This involved about 60 people crowding around to listen to the "tour guide", who if she were in a contest for the amount of times a person could utter the word "um", would have easily won said contest.

This place is a mess, is over priced, and the art sucks. I've no idea how they have the nerve to charge 18.00 (even the Met is just a suggestion; I can see timeless priceless works for a dollar and at least at the MOMA, the art is interesting and has an interactive feel to it (tourists should pay the Mets suggested rate). Shredded rope hanging on a wall is not art (I'll be pretentious too and add that this is by Eva Hesse and doesn't even have a title; it's called "Untitled (Rope Piece)". The architecture of the museum itself is horrible. This is not comparable to the Guggenheim. There are no windows and it feels like an asylum.   I almost developed a tick and needed a straight jacket, but I'd have risked being pinned to the wall and referred to as art.  The elevators are packed and the stairs are endless.

Go to the MOMA, but just pay the 20. as the "pay what you wish" night could not possibly be worth the 2 hour line I've passed on my way to other pretentious-striving events. That, or go to the Met, and pay your own fee and write a complaint letter if that snotty trust fund bitch at the counter gives you a dirty look if you can't afford their suggested rate.

3/7/2011

It was a great experience.
It's small, especially after the MET... but worthwhile if you are really into contemporary art.
The price is not small 18$.
Unfortunately no photos... which for me is a great deal. Nothing you can do about it.
NO wifi.
I started from the 5th floor and down.
The 5th floor is a unique concept
one art piece = one room
to be able to fully live the experience
great concept

The 4th floor - is various contemporary art pieces of great level

The 3rd floor was closed opens on march 10th

The 2nd floor is Edward Hopper - great and also very well presented - you can follow a track easily

The 1st floor (ground) has entrance ticketing etc... and a small room with an installation

Free tours daily

11/14/2009

Georgia O'Keefe is an American legend....mainly because of her bold erotic florals ...which I LOVE ! It was very exciting that the Whitney opened up an exhibit for her...so I had to go! Thanks to my friend we had 2 free passes! Yay!

The whitney has an interesting exterior...very much modern in the middle of Madison Ave. I really liked their trapezoidal windows...it's so creative, you look at them from the inside of the exhibit floors and you feel like you're in a toy box :)

I think that the entrance fee is a little steep for the size of this place compared to the Met, the MoMA and the Museum of Natural History, but I guess it's their way to make money to keep up with the costs....but I shouldn't complain, I was blessed.

OkOk....takes you about 1.5-2 hours to get through the 5 floors...all comprised of modern art...It was just right, not too mentally draining like the Met. I definitely enjoyed coming here.

5/14/2010

My favorite museum (disclaimer, I did intern here as a high school student) in NYC. Amazing collections and friendly staff all around. Loved this year's Biennial!

9/27/2010

The whitney is such a consistently relevant institution that it makes quite a few other museums look bad by comparison.

To be fair, their shows are not ALWAYS good, but every time I've been, I have experienced something new and exciting.

Membership seems a little steep considering how infrequently the shows are changed, but I suppose that could just be me being cheap.

Bottom line: Put it on your short list of NYC museums along with MoMA

4/26/2009

Hands down, my favorite art museum in all of America.

I love the fact that the museum is dedicated solely to American Art.  I have always found it that much easier to relate to.

Plus, they have one of the largest, if not the largest, collection of Edward Hopper's painting.  He's my all time fave.

When I lived in New York I was a member here and probably still should be.

8/11/2010

They have a gorgeous collection of American Art. After the Met this is my second favorite museum in the city.

Sure some of the stuff is abstract and bordering bizarre, but I like that. I like to try to figure out what the hell was this person thinking when they made that? But then they have classics from O'Keefe, Bourke-White, Lichenstein, Stella, Hopper, Sheeler and more.

3/29/2010

Personally I don't give a goddamn about Georgia O'Keefe so I'm going to ignore whatever millions of commentaries on it. I have such varied opinions of this museum that I think a solid 3.5 describes it best, but I'll give it 4 to be nice.

The Whitney is crazy imbalanced. They have good things like Dan Graham, the Whitney Biennial (which is always a mixed bag), Claes Oldenburg. And then they get some random vague artist sculptures that are presented like they're in a fancy hotel lobby instead of a museum.

Their performances by artists like Meredith Monk I understand, but then they get random rock groups which seem pretty irrelevant. I paid for one thinking it was going to be part concert, part visual experience, it wasn't and I was pissed.

Also, crazy expensive. The costs to maintain a museum are expensive but the point is you want people to come to your museum. Plus the rigid coat check people checking for your sticker are frustrating, most museums don't pull that nonsense.

4/20/2011

This review is a focus on the Glenn Ligon exhibit.

While entering the Glenn Ligon exhibit on the third floor at the Whitney Museum, I am first welcomed by his work "Hands" (1996). It is a black and white image of a crowd of hands reaching up towards the sky on an unstretched canvas, made with silkscreen ink and gesso. This tame picture is a false advertisement to the controversial display about to unfold in the following rooms.

Starting at my right, I walk into a blank room filled with nothing but three signs on each wall. It is the word "America" in black ink inside glass tubing. One of the America signs titled "Ruckenfigur" (2009) flashes in an uneven rhythmic pattern. It is made with neon and black paint in luminescent glass tubing. The last America sign has some of its letters backwards. Ligon once compared the two sides of America as "a shining beacon and a dark star." Perhaps this display demonstrates the uncertainty of fulfilling the American dream.

Moving forward, colorful canvases surround the walls of the next room. These paintings are actual interpretations of children's coloring book pages from the Walker Art Center in the year 2000. At the event, attended by Ligon, children were given drawings of significant and historic members of the African American community. Inspired by the bright crayons used, Ligon painted these pictures in a similar style. In the room, there is a canvas of Malcolm X. Instead of his usual serious composure, he is sporting pink clown's paint on his cheeks and lips. His eyelids are lined with bright blue, the color matching his shirt. On the wall next to the images, it is noted that some of the children had never even heard of these famous icons and innocently painted Frederick Douglas's eyes blue. This comical and adorable room demonstrates the innocence of children and their lack of ability to see race.

After the coloring pages, Ligon's well-known text paintings take up the space of the next few rooms. The majority of the canvases are painted with oil stick, gesso, polymer and even graphite. The latter material has a sparkling effect on the works, which captivate my gaze for a good ten minutes. The text of the works vary of segments from an essay by James Baldwin titled "Stranger in the Village" (1933) to lines from Richard Pryor's 1970's standup comedy routines. The more serious texts are in black ink on white linen; the satirical ones are in gorgeous, bright and memorizing hues of green, blue, red, yellow and orange. Two colors are chosen to layer the text on one canvas. The brightness disrupts the comedic quotes by Pryor, almost causing my eyes to pop out of their sockets from straining to read the text. I am regrettably unable to finish reading why "black people are frightened to death of a therapist." In another observation, the "N" word has been thrown around in many of these works. Ligon appears to adore controversy and detest censorship in art.

Walking away from paintings, Ligon displays his art through other unique tactics. He adds onto Robert Mapplethorpe's infamous Black Book (1986), a book of 91 photographs of African American men, many of whom are naked. Ligon contributes to a variety of criticism of each photo, polishing off the final project. In the middle of the wall, these same photos with commentary are neatly lined in chronological order. Perhaps the images represent the celebration of the beauty of black males. Or perhaps the pictures of huge black men depict a hint of racism. The subject seems up for debate.

Contrasting completely with the use of image, in his work "To Disembark," Ligon teases the observer by using three wooden shipping boxes that blast the music of Billie Holiday and Bob Marley. On each box, the word "fragile" is painted in black above a picture of a wine glass with a lightning bolt shaped crack. These boxes, at first, seem to have no connection to this African cultural parade; however, the description on the wall tells the onlooker the true story of Henry Brown "Box." This Virginian slave packed himself in a wooden crate and was shipped to Philadelphia in order to escape slavery in 1849. Though there is dangerous risk in shipping one's self to another state, I cannot suppress laughter when imagining this circus act and viewing Ligon's wooden crates. Moreover, I cannot keep a straight face when seeing the "Runaway Slave" sketches of Glenn Ligon, featuring a description of his fashionable clothing, in addition to his Rolex watch.

Overall, I would consider Ligon a creative genius who is never shy to controversy. His uniqueness and sense of humor may also appear political.  It may even be considered beautiful. Regardless, I am very contented with my introduction to this talented gentleman's diverse works. Though not appropriate for minors, I would recommend anyone else with an open mind to visit this place.

1/17/2009

Walking into the Eggleston exhibit I knew it was going to be good. First, I arrived at the Whitney on the tail end of a rather vigorous Friday happy hour. Second, it cost me $1 to get in. And, most importantly, Eggleston's photos are stunning.

Walking through the gallery, you're flipping through a road trip scrapbook of pals and places, of freaks documenting how the other half lives. It's a vicarious vacation, the thrills and pains of days on the road...

I was studying the faces of strangely dressed people I wished I'd had the pleasure of drinking with. Gazing at 3am into the freezer of the person whose house I'd crashed at. Ordering shakes and burgers at a roadside shakeshack on my way to better places. Staring up at a big blue sky. Sitting in the parking lot fiddling with my camera as my friends picked up liquor at "The Bottle Shop". Thinking about a forgotten blonde, on a forgotten curb somewhere. Channeling Elvis' depression, staring at his gold-plated piano in Graceland. Gently stirring ice cubes in my Jack & Coke at 30,000 feet.

GO SEE THIS SHOW, before it closes on the 25th of January, to get in touch with your inner American spirit. Here are a few of my favorite images:
masters-of-photography.c…
masters-of-photography.c…
frieze.com/images/front/…
nymag.com/images/2/daily…
artknowledgenews.com/fil…
artnet.com/Magazine/pict…

The Calder exhibit is also worth a look for its playful, circus-inspired whimsicality. Do not miss the mobile that, when in motion, gently clinks, rings and knocks a perfectly positioned glass bottle, gong or wooden box.

1/2/2010

The best place to spend a rainy day outside of one's bed is a museum. I met up with a friend of mine here to see the Georgia O'Keefe exhibit. I am not too familiar with her work besides that  there was a Lifetime movie about her recently (don't judge me). Needless to say in addition to catching up with my friend I stood to learn something.  The exhibit took up an entire floor and everywhere you turn there were more of her paintings.  I didn't learn as much as I could have but I was catching up with my bf.  I really enjoyed interpreting the  different paintings and reading the blurbs about O'Keefe's life.  

I am not going to lie I think that this museum is a wee bit over priced.  But you can't beat spending a rainy day at the museum.

1/2/2010

I wish the Whitney looked like the Guggenheim, but alas.  It was freezing this morning and i felt bad as i passed all the people waiting in line outside to get in as I walked straight up the ticket counter and flashed by corporate membership with unlimited guets.  Ahh corporate america........at least you have one perk.  The O'Keefe exhibit is there until Jan. 17th and is really worth a visit.  Mostly her abstract stuff, but a few photographs by Ansel Adams that really shaped her career and how she was perceived.  The permanent exhibit is always a treat.  Not impressionist at all, differentiating itself from the likes of MOMA and the MET.  They have my favorite Pollak painting and the famous George Bellows boxer painting that my parents have a knockoff of. The gift shop is eh, but having Sarabeths in the basement is always a plus.

7/29/2009

The greatest art Museum in the world!

Well one of the greatest but a personal greatest even though it's remit is only American artists. The building is one of my favourite pieces of architecture. Marcel Breuer set the standard here and dare I say it but the New Museum is a poor, poor great grandchild of this great form and function product of a genius. Enough of my strong adversarial views. Inside this magnificent building are some great contemporary and historical exhibits from the classics of Hopper et al to the Photo conceptualism exhibition featuring the great Bruce Nauman to the exhibition of superb Claes Oldenburgh. Featuring some of his pre collaboration work. Including some illustrations that I found inspiringly beautiful.
And a mention for Sadie Benning, who's 29 minute film piece made me smile and kept me seated for quite a while.
If I could give 6 stars the Whitney would get them.

11/22/2008

"Oh, I'll just go up to the Whitney and see that show on one of the free Friday nights that they have," said Michael D. to his friends, while eating madeleines and sipping Viennese coffee. "I can see it anytime. I'll get around to it."

Meanwhile, time passes...

The pages of the calendar turn, an "X" drawn across each day's square. One season gives way to another. The frosts of winter thaw and are replaced by the tender buds of spring, which are, in turn, replaced by stalks of summer corn.

Prizes are awarded -- Oscars, Tonys, Grammys, Bookers, Nobels, Pulitzers. Wars are fought. Presidents are elected, serve their terms and relinquish power to new presidents. Each morning, millions of individual computers are turned on, and then off each evening.

Legislators hold hearings, grapes are crushed to make wine, calves are born, raised, their steaks served at fine restaurants in New York, Tokyo, Buenos Aires. Convicted felons walk into prison cells one year and walk out some years later, financial portfolios wax and wane, indices rise and fall and are anxiously studied.

Planets, many times larger than our own Jupiter, are discovered orbiting distant stars at great speed...

All right, fuggit!!   I'll buy an ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP to the Whitney!

It only costs $75.00/year (whereas, a single visit costs $15.00!!). I missed the Buckminster Fuller show...I don't want to miss the Calder and William Eggleston shows going on now.

And, they have an ongoing film program, too, by the way.

3/2/2010

"Excuse me, where are the restrooms?" "Second floor, sir"

Enter elevator..exit elevator..enter free exhibits. Pardon me if I throw around artistic terms incorrectly...Wasn't a fan of the avant garde style of most of the pieces, but the video room was pretty sweet. Sure, I didn't have a tacky yellow sticker on my breast, but all the guards just assumed I was a big deal in my bright orange t-shirt. The rest of you can learn something from an expert like myself...

10/8/2011

I really liked alll the exhibits and it is not as stuffed as Moma is.

1/4/2010

I'm giving the Whitney 4 stars simply because the O'keefe show was utterly amazing.  Being an amateur art historian and a legit museum professional, I was really impressed with this retrospective.  I don't know Ms. Georgia's paintings beyond the vivid, flowery portrayals that most interepret as va jay jays... but this show provided a sneak peek into the plethora of other images she created during her lifetime.  

The museum itself though did not impress me.  I was disheartened that on this particular day, there was a line of about 100 people waiting to seek refuge from the bitter cold temps outside and yet there were only 2 cashiers letting people in.  That is just bad museum etiquette.  Especially when you should plan for crowds of people considering admission was FREE for all Bank of America card holders this past weekend*  I didn't appreciate that I stood in line for the same amount of time that it took me to traverse the O'Keefe show.

I'd like to come back and check out the permanent collection at some point, but I certainly hope I don't have to wait in a line that crazy ever again.

*Yes- it's true.  Bank of America has a program called "Museums on Us" which allows bank card holders to receive FREE admission to participating museums on the first weekend of every month.  Check out the website : museums.bankofamerica.com

10/12/2012

Today we went to the Whitney Biennial Show 2012. The show was pure trash. You will never convince me that just because the pieces are in the Whitney, they represent ART. Most are just gimmicky stuff that any grade-school student could come up with. I will never accept most of these phony, pretentious "things" as ART. The artist has no feeling or vision to convey. He is just thinking: Hmmm -- what stupid outrageous thing can I quickly toss together to make a buck??? Junk lying on the floor, and whole rooms that look just like my apartment -- messy ... is this ART??  NO!! These artists have no talent. The Whitney might do just as well to haul some trash bags and garbage pails from Madison Avenue into the museum and stack them in a room. I'm sure their gullible patrons will stand there admiring the subtle message of the work. Forget trying to read something into this pretentious trash which the Whitney is attempting to make you believe is ART. MOST of it needs to be swept into the incinerator! Go elsewhere. Don't waste your time and money!!!

12/26/2009

One of my favorite contemporary/modern art museums in the country. Their permanent collection is amazing. The Jenny Holzer exhibit from the spring of 2009 was superb. I loved that they had a Sadie Benning video, too.

I've never encountered the mass crowds you find at MOMA, which makes the experience here much more peaceful and enjoyable.

4/2/2010

One of my favorite art museums. I always leave feeling like I've seen something interesting, beautiful and unexpected.

Pay what you want Fridays are a lovely way to wind down the work week.

3/14/2011

I had a lovely rainy Sunday here and particularly enjoyed the short film screening.  They may have the best screening room I've seen in a museum lately.  I also like the Whitney because it's smaller and more manageable than some of her larger sister institutions.  It's actually possible to see everything in one day.  My only complaint is that the cafe is currently under rennovations, but I'm sure it will be worth it once they've finished.

5/12/2009

Love modern art and fond of American modern art. The Biennial is worth checking out to see what's going on in contemporary art. 2008 Biennial didn't push my buttons, but it was still fun. Big plus for keeping pay-what-you-wish Friday nights! Museums in this neighborhood are a reason to get me up to UES, a part of Manhattan I mostly avoided. But ladies, Louboutin boutique is VERY nearby...

Minus a star for needing an upgrade, upgrade - the facility overall is dated, cramped in several areas (most galleries), and difficult to get around. Ventilation/cooling was not good on a warm May evening. Avoid the crowds if possible.