MOMA Experience
On
our trip to MOMA I was expecting to just walk through the museum with a guide
not really getting a “behind the scenes” look. We met Steven Wheeler who is a
registrar at MOMA, his duties are to handle and care of the art works, and also
supervise any show that is being installed, right way we got to experience VIP
treatment. He took use to the Design
gallery, which is his specialty. He was showing us the new installation being
put up by a woman [] who acquires piece from around the world that have a
unique function and bring a new innovation to design. When looking at these
pieces I was reminded of the Bauhaus school. Steven was walking through with us
the whole installation processes; we went over the technology, the positioning
of the works, the lighting (ambient and natural) and how that factors in the
show.
Steve
also introduced use to this new feature and a first in the MOMA the integration
of video games as and aspect of art and design. He went on father by stating
technology and computers are being used so much that it can be in the arts and
its true the video game installation which are screens windowed into the wall
will either be on a loop or have viewer interaction. This was interesting to me
as is something galleries in the future might take part of more viewer
interaction and participation with the art.
I
appreciated the information he provided in terms of funding, that particular
Gallery was named after a collector/donor. He went to mention big corporations
and enterprises are big with the arts and are collectors as well that give
pieces on loan to MOMA. I was under the impression that MOMA was funded by the
city and admission but its main source of income are these collectors and
organizations that in turn get their name on a gallery.
Lastly
he took us to gallery dedicated to Dieter Roth, here I asked question to Steve
like display and casing and how the curator decides what piece gets displayed
in a frame on a wall or on the case, also the importance of no flash
photography in the gallery which he provided solid answers to.
Overall
MOMA is an established contemporary art museum, focusing on the community but
really trying to reel in collectors and buyers so there can be exchange to an
exhibit or collection. The job of the
curator is much more difficult due to high responsibility of pieces that are
being handled, however some pieces if damage can be touched up but like Steve
mention they try to avoid any accidents towards the art work. Being behind the
scenes I have a greater respect for the people who work in this million-dollar
industry.
Massoud Hassani (Dutch, born Afghanistan 1983)
2011. Bamboo and biodegradable plastics, 87 x 87 x 87" (221 x 221 x 221 cm). Gift of the Contemporary Arts Council of the Museum of Modern Art
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