La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
The Guggenheim exhibit I saw in New York with my cousin Al, Going Dark, was one of the best compiled and curated exhibits I’ve seen. The Guggenheim sums up the exhibit as… “a multigenerational, multiracial group of artists who address pressing questions around what it means to be seen, not seen, or erased in society, through formal experimentations with the figure.”
The works were fascinating and the messages were powerful. And everything fit as a part of the greater exhibit. I hope you can get an idea from what I’ve shared below. I have always loved this building but I don’t think it’s an easy place to display art. Some of these worked really well in the space.
After enjoying the entire exhibit, Al and I had a late lunch in the cafe and sat and talked for another hour. He then headed for Penn Station and his train back to Washington, D.C. while I enjoyed my 15-minute walk back to the subway (“the wrong subway” as The Kid Brother would tell you). I should have taken the A Train.
Right now, I’m kicking myself with my right foot because San Geraldo just popped in to ask me what my calendar was like for the next two weeks and, when I looked, I saw that my appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon about my left foot was today at 11:10 and not tomorrow as I had thought. I missed it. And the voice in my head says, “Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.”
La exposición del Guggenheim que vi en Nueva York con mi primo Al, Going Dark [Oscurecer], fue una de las exposiciones mejor compiladas y curadas que he visto. El Guggenheim resume la exposición como… “un grupo multigeneracional y multirracial de artistas que abordan cuestiones apremiantes sobre lo que significa ser visto, no visto o borrado en la sociedad, a través de experimentaciones formales con la figura”.
Las obras fueron fascinantes y los mensajes poderosos. Y todo encaja como parte de la exposición mayor. Espero que puedas hacerte una idea de lo que he compartido a continuación. Siempre me ha encantado este edificio, pero no creo que sea un lugar fácil para exhibir arte. Algunos de estos funcionaron muy bien en el espacio.
Después de disfrutar de toda la exposición, Al y yo almorzamos tarde en la cafetería y nos sentamos y hablamos durante otra hora. Luego se dirigió a Penn Station y tomó su tren de regreso a Washington, D.C. mientras yo disfrutaba de mi caminata de 15 minutos de regreso al metro (“el metro equivocado”, como te diría The Kid Brother). Debería haber tomado el tren A.
Ahora mismo me estoy pataleando con el pie derecho porque acaba de aparecer San Geraldo para preguntarme cómo estaba mi calendario para las próximas dos semanas y, cuando miré, vi que mi cita con el ortopedista por mi pie izquierdo fue hoy a las 11:10 y no mañana como había pensado. Me lo perdi. Y la voz en mi cabeza dice: “Estúpido. Estúpido. Estúpido.”
• “Guardianes Espectrales”, 2020. Sandra Mujinga, República Democrática del Congo.
• “Ponerse a Cubierto”, 1974. Song Burnsoo, Gongju, Corea.
• “Resplandor absoluto”, 2017. Farah Al Qasimi, Abu Dhabi, Emiratos Arabes Unidos.
• “Un millón de segundas oportunidades (Los hombres invisibles)”, 2018. Hank Willis Thomas, Plainfield, Nueva Jersey. Esta primera imagen era invisible a excepción de la bandera. Nos ordenaron tomar una fotografía con flash para resaltar el resto de la imagen. Desafortunadamente, alguien había “destellado” mientras tomaba mi fotografía sin flash, por lo que parte de la imagen es visible.
• “Bendición mixta”, 2011. Rebecca Belmore. Upsala, Canadá.
• Maldito indio/maldito artista. En forma de cruz para significar la intersección del racismo, la falta de reconocimiento y la explotación que enfrentan las artes indígenas.
• “Serie de retratos de chocolate”, 1998–2006. Lyle Ashton Harris, Washington, D.C. Retratos de familiares, amigos, y otros artistas.
• Cousins. Being visible.
• Primos. Ser visible.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Many powerful images. I’m especially drawn to the Canadian one. Too bad you missed your appointment — I hope you don’t have to wait too long for another one.
Debra:
I loved that art and made sure to include it thinking of you. I already have another appointment for Thursday of next week. I just hate inconveniencing the doctor and screwing up his schedule.
Boud. Thank you for a terrific tour of a powerful show. The Guggenheim is an artwork itself, but an awful place for other artworks. This show has overcome that, great.
I hope there won’t be a lengthy wait for a new doctor appointment.
Boud:
I agree with you about the Guggenheim. There were some pieces in the show that would have shown better in another space. But they made most of it work well. I’m already scheduled for Thursday of next week, so the only problem is that I feel awful about screwing up the doctor’s schedule.
Thanks for sharing this. Drawn to the ‘Mixed Blessing’ (powerful Raven reference), and ‘Chocolate Portrait Series’.
JIm:
I wish I could have shared it all. There were so many powerful pieces and messages.
A great show in a great space. Call the docs and reschedule, don’t be hard on yourself.
David:
Already rescheduled. I just hate being a no-show and inconveniencing someone else.
You and cuz Al have the same smile ~ hmm ~ the visit to the Guggenheim stopped me in my tracks, there are so many people being seen now after so many years of being put down. I do have a feeling of renewal and rejuvenation with so much happening though.
Ron:
Al and I have never heard comparisons. Interesting. It doesn’t help that I’m a foot taller than him.
The older I get, the more invisible I feel. Not necessarily a bad thing.
Frank:
SG and I have talked about that for years.
Very impressive pictures, Mitch, thanks a lot ;-)!
Anonymous is Jan from Perth
Jan from Perth:
It was an exceptional show. And so moving.
I enjoyed looking at the photos from your visit to the Guggenheim. Sorry about the missed appointment. I hate when I do things like that myself. On your previous post, thanks for the laughs watching your cats play with the mouse. That made me smile!
mcpersonalspace54:
The cats are good for comic relief. And we all need that at times. It was easy to reschedule the appointment. I just hate doing that to someone else. I keep apologizing in my head.
I have never had cats as I am really allergic to them. I do enjoy viewing cats from a distance though! Shirley provides me with a lot of comic relief too.
Each one of those pieces grabbed me. All of those ways of being/not being seen. A very fine exhibit. I think I would have come away from seeing it with my mind a blur. It would take a very long time to process.
You and your cousin are darling. Is it okay to say that?
And yes, don’t beat yourself up. We ALL do that same thing with our appointments. My husband recently went to an appointment a day early and felt ridiculous. We are human.
Can I just call myself Mary instead of Ms. Moon now?
Mary [Moon]:
I usually don’t spend as much dedicated time on an entire exhibit, but this one was so well put together that I didn’t miss a thing. And, yes, I like being called “darling.” Do you mind signing off as Mary Moon? I have another friend who also signs off as Mary. As for the appointment, I feel badly about possibly screwing up the doctor’s schedule.
I just read this! I will be Mary Moon from here on out.
Mary Moon:
Thanks. I love the sound anyway.
Missing an appointment is just another senior moment in my book.
Shirley:
I did it when I was a junior, too!
Some interesting artworks! I like the ones by Sandra Mujinga, Farah Al Qasimi and Rebecca Belmore, all beautiful and thought-provoking. But the one by Hank Willis Thomas steals the show, in my opinion. What a GREAT idea, to make an artwork that people can interact with using their omnipresent camera phones, and with such a great “melting pot” theme! I love it.
Steve:
I hadn’t read the label yet and was shocked when a person behind me took a flash photo. I muttered to Al and he said, “They tell you to.” Oh… Fortunately, I didn’t snap at the flasher.
Interesting stuff – especially the one that’s only revealed by flash… Jx
Jon:
The flash images (there were 2) were something I’d never seen before.
This looks like a fabulous exhibit and I love your photo showing how it’s displayed. Someday I hope to see the Guggenheim (and whatever is being exhibited at the time). I hope you were able to easily reschedule!
Kelly:
Rescheduling was no problem. Now I’m just reeling through apologies to the doctor for being a no-show.
Amazing space and amazing art. What do you think of the “new” wing?
Walt the Fourth:
The 10-story one from 1992? I didn’t give it much thought. Actually, now I think it’s better than trying to mimic what was already there. It simply falls into the background.
Yes, and I agree.
I’ve seen pictures of the Guggenheim building before but it looks smaller here. Maybe it’s the angle you took the picture. Still an eye-catching building. Did you know that Frank Lloyd Wright spent the first 33 years of his life in the 19th century? Hard to get my head around that and building he designed.
Kirk:
I don’t know why I was in such a rush to get that photo after I left. It’s not the best lens setting or angle. But if you consider that the Metropolitan Museum of Art goes from 80th St. to 84th St. and the Guggenheim runs only between 88th and 89th, it’s not huge. Yeah, it is incredible to consider when Frank Lloyd Wright got his start.
I miss NYC; I used to go regularly to see the sights like these.
I am glad you and your primo had such an experience.
Urspo:
It’s so great to experience the museums when I’m there. So many I haven’t been to in years.
That Going Dark exhibit looks and sounds like something I’d really enjoy.
I bet the voices in our head would get along famously!
Sassybear:
The exhibit was exceptional. As for the voices in our heads, I’m so sorry!