Solomon R.
Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Avenue (between
88th and 89th Streets)
Manhattan
(212) 423-3500
click for full-size (34K)
Summary: The museum is
housed in Frank Lloyd Wright's
world-famous spiral design, which itself
is considered one of the greatest
masterpieces of the Guggenheim
collection. This collection of modern and
contemporary works was inspired by such
non-representational artists as Kandinsky
and Mondrian.
Each of our visits to the
Guggenheim has been a completely
different experience, a result, we
suppose, of the museum's habit of totally
reconfiguring the main gallery space for
each new exhibit.
Quite frankly, we are fond
of many of the works in the Guggenheim's
core collection, particularly Vasily
Kandinsky's emotion-filled, color-infused
canvases, and wish that we could count of
viewing them each time we stop by. But
missing a few old favorites is probably a
small price to pay in return for the
constantly changing, frequently
thought-provoking, and sometimes
controversial shows at the Guggenheim.
Seeing the Museum
Our usual advice for seeing
the Guggenheim is to ride the elevator up
to the top and work your way down. But
before you pursue this strategy, make
note of how the curator planned the
exhibit: sometimes it is worth the extra
effort to walk up the rotunda's ramp to
view the exhibit in chronological order.
A Historical Note
When Solomon Guggenheim
first opened his art holdings to the
public in 1939, the collection was called
the "Museum of Non-Objective
Painting." It was originally housed
in a former car showroom, which had been
given an elegant air via grey pleated
velour wall coverings and classical music
emanating from a phonograph. The name was
eventually changed as the collection
became larger in scope, particularly with
gifts from Justin and Hilde Thannhauser.
Their holdings included works by Degas,
Gaugin, Manet, Picasso, Renoir, and van
Gogh. Shown in ornate, gilt frames, these
representational paintings seem almost
out of place amidst all of the
abstraction in the rest of the
Guggenheim. As you look around, though,
you will get a feeling for how
Impressionism and the schools that
followed it set the stage for
abstraction. Particularly interesting are
the works that show Picasso's evolution
from the purely figurative to more
abstract painting.
The Building Itself
As you walk through the
museum, be sure to notice all the
circular components included in the
building's design. In addition to the two
rotundas, the circular theme is repeated
on the floor, on the sidewalk outside,
and in the round grey hassocks that are
scattered here and there for those who
need a rest.
The rotunda of Thannhauser 4
is a particularly nice spot from which to
consider the museum's design, since from
this area you can see both the large and
small rotunda elements, the oval
supports, and, through the window, the
wonderful setting that was chosen for the
museum.
The Guggenheim Museum is the
youngest structure ever to be designated
a New York City landmark.
Museum Events
The Guggenheim offers
frequent gallery talks -- stop by the
information booth on the main floor to
find out when the next tour is available.
The museum also presents a variety of
public programs.
For additional information
about special events and programs, plus
the (ever-changing) hours and admission
fees, we recommend visiting their web site.
Getting There
To reach the museum by
subway, take the 4, 5 or 6 train to 86th
Street. By bus, take the M1, M2, M3 or M4
bus on Madison or Fifth Avenue.
Site
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