Compared
to the Metropolitan or the MoMA, the Whitney Museum’s aim of
showcasing twentieth-century American artists may seem limited,
but the Whitney is arguably the most dynamic and exciting art
museum in the city. Founded in 1931 by Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney
(of the railroad and shipping Vanderbilts--the jeans money came
later), the museum is blessed with more artwork than it can
possibly show in its five floors at any one time. Popular
permanent exhibits include the largest stockpile of Edward Hopper
works and the definitive collection of Alexander Calder mobiles,
along with works from such diverse artists as Georgia O'Keeffe,
Willem de Kooning and Agnes Martin.
The
Whitney Museum is housed in an imposing granite building designed
by Hungarian-born, Bauhaus-trained architect Marcel Breuer. Breuer’s
monolith, like much of the daring art shown within, was not
universally loved by critics when it was completed in 1966, but it
has won landmark status and praise for its innovative and daring
design.
Every two years, the Whitney holds its world famous Biennial
exhibition of new art and artists. A walk through this survey of
painting, sculpture, installations and video art can be jarring as
well as enlightening. Of course, that broad range of emotions is
exactly what the Whitney means to evoke in "presenting
vanguard developments in contemporary art to the general
public."
Tours and seminars are available to the public--call (212)
570-3600 for information.
