Week 03: ATSNYC 2020

Written By mary oleary

week three down! i was able to visit three institutions this week- two of which were with my monthly meet up galleryGRRRLS (which, just turned two years old, feel free to check out the 2018 and 2019 archives. if you’re interested in coming let me know!)

Aperture Foundation

Aperture foundation had a closing party of their chelsea location. they will remain in their offices for about a year. they will be looking for a new venue for their gallery while they figure how they want to position themselves in the photo landscape moving forward.

the exhibition i was really excited to see was The New Black Vanguard Between Art and Fashion curated by antwaun sargent. sargent, who is an art writer and critic, recently wrote book, which is the exhibition’s namesake. as promised, the exhibition was very editorial. i will say the exhibition seemed a little heavy on the fashion, and i would have liked to see a little bit more of the “between”.

noteworthy visitor info:

  • gallery closed at this time.

recommended reading/listening:

Fotographiska

fotographiska is new yorks newest photo institution opening december 2019. fotographiska is part of the sweedish museum of the same name. (they have multiple locations world wide) they do not have a permanent collection and are a for-profit museum. they mainly show contemporary art.

the museum is very focused on having an experience there. allowing visitors to bring their wine to the galleries (there are trays on every floor right by the elevator for you to leave your glasses). there are 6 floors and three DJ stations through out. some of the exhibitions have accompanying audio. and they are open til midnight thursday-saturday.

the lighting was really good. diffuse through out but spotlight works really well- being dramatic without being tacky. the wall text for art work labels in some of the galleries - was confusing and way too small for such dark colored walls. speaking of wall colors, they made bold wall color choices (at times too bold).

the two exhibitions i was really excited to see were i am excited to see Tawny Chatmon "Inheritance" and Ellen von Unwerth "Devotion! 30 Years of Photographing Women"

noteworthy visitor info:

  • closed: almost never. thanksgiving/christmas

  • admission: $28

  • restroom: yes- seriously nicer than my apartment.

  • cafe: a bar, a cafe and a restaurant Verōnika

  • bookstore: yes

American Museum of Folk Art

the american museum of folk art is is a very welcoming little museum thanks to the staff. one floor only, with one exhibition and was very accessible for persons with limited mobility.

the exhibition on view is Memory Places: Inside the Collection of Audrey B. Heckler. what was interesting about this exhibition is that it focused on the idea of "self-taught” (rather than “outsider” which can be a problematic term)- however while not in the exhibition text, the collector and writers on the collection use it frequently;

a few exhibition highlights were the wall color which was a dark robins egg blue and white walls. normally, i’m an all white wall kinda art viewer- but the blue complemented rather than distracted from the artworks. they also had hanging frames for double sided artworks which were minimal and did not feel gimmicky in-terms of framing.

give me any excerpt of the henry darger’s vivian girls and i am a fairly happy camper.

noteworthy visitor info:

  • closed: major holidays and open til 7PM most nights!

  • free - suggested donation

  • restroom: yes

  • cafe: no

  • bookstore: yes

recommended reading/listening:

Museum Goal Completed: 11/240

mary oleary
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Week 02: ATSNYC 2020