It is that time again, the time to hit the roads and scramble unknown streets. This coming Friday I have to move out of my current lodgings, the basement of my best friends house. The plan from there is as follows. First I go by bus and spend three days in Berlin, from there I fly to New York and stay for five weeks. Its a mesmerizing city and I look so much forward to meeting up with old friends and see what they have been up to, since I was there last time September 2011. It is also an expensive city, so armed with banana bread, water, a map, my sturdy legs and a subway card, I am gonna do what I love the most – visit as many museums and second hand shops as possible. But not just Mahattans big old dinosaur buildings of modern art, no the mission is to find small museums, overlooked and hidden away, even difficult to access. And on the way hopefully do a few discoveries; find a nice coffee shop, be the curious observer, do a bit of writing and snap some photos. Researching for this trip has already provided, what looks to be really exciting day trips. Here is what I have found so far, but cannot tell you if they are any good yet. If you have tips or recommandations off the beaten track for New York, please write a note in the comments below – all suggestions are greatly appreciated!
The one I am most excited about, is Jackson Pollock‘s old house and studio, out in East Hampton. They are only open three days a week, May-Oct and is 5-10$ in admission fee. It takes 3 hours+ to get there by public transport from Manhattan/Williamsburg, and takes a cab ride (or good walking skills) to get the last 6 km to the house.
POLLOCK-KRASNER HOUSE
830 Springs-Fireplace Road
East Hampton, NY 11937-1512
Phone: 631-324-4929
Fax: 631-324-8768
http://sb.cc.stonybrook.edu/pkhouse/index.shtml
Also in the Hamptons you willl find The Dan Flavin Art Institute, one of Dia Art Foundation’s sites outside NYC. It takes 2-3 hours by public transport to arrive. Currently exhibits John Chamberlain: It Ain’t Cheap – Saturday, January 12, 2013 till Sunday, April 27, 2014. Admission is free.
DAN FLAVIN ART INSTITUTE
Corwith Avenue off Main Street,
Bridgehampton, NY
http://www.diaart.org/sites/main/danflavinartinstitute
Being a melancholic romantic at heart, it is a must to travel to Hudson and visit the beautiful mansion Olana. I do not yet know much about it, but have read on their page following description:
„Named for a fortress treasure-house in ancient Persia, Olana was the home of Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900), one of America’s most important artists, a student of Thomas Cole, and a major figure in the Hudson River School of landscape painting.“
It takes 2 hours+ from NYC by train and is a 9$ admission.
OLANA STATE HISTORIC SITE
5720 Route 9G
Hudson, NY 12534
http://www.olana.org/visit_directions.php
On a different note I am also keen on getting to experience The Noguchi Museum and garden in Long Island. It was founded and designed by Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988), and opened in 1985 for the display of what he considered to be representative examples of his life’s work of stunning sculptures. It takes app. 1 hour+ to get there by public transport from Manhattan/Brooklyn. Admission is 10$.
THE NOGUCHI MUSEUM
9-01 33rd Road (at Vernon Boulevard),
Long Island City, NY 11106
Phone: 718.204.7088
The Neue Galerie is a museum, devoted to German and Austrian art. Being European one might think it is better experienced back in Europe, but this place holds something quite spectacular. Housed in the former Fifth Avenue home of the Vanderbilt family, this lush institution is a project of cosmetics mogul and devoted art collector Ron Lauder. Its collection includes a top selection of works by Paul Klee, Egon Schiele, Josef Hoffman, Max Beckmann. By Gustav Klimt, is displayed one of the most famous and expensive artworks in the world.
Centrally located, but with a staggering 20$ general admission fee.
NEUE GALERIE NEW YORK
1048 Fifth Avenue (at 86th Street).
Manhattan, NY
http://www.neuegalerie.org/home
The Frick Collection is what one might call ‚an embarrasment of riches‘. Founder Henry Clay Frick was of a rare combination – he had both money and taste. The legendary museum is housed within his mansion. It has a special-exhibitions program, but the permanent collection in itself is breathtaking; Rembrant, Vermeer, Edgar Degas and it goes on. This is also a 20$ cold cash admission, but I am guessing well worth it.
1 East 70th Street
New York, NY 10021
Phone: 212-288-0700
Last, but not least, I would like to visit The National Museum of the American Indian (New York). It is a small museum tucked away in Lower Manhattan, that besides showing beautiful Native American (contemporary and historic) artwork, also has an ongoing exhibition Ramp it Up about skateboard culture in Native America.
NMAI NEW YORK
Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House
One Bowling Green
New York, NY 10004
Phone: 212-514-3700
http://nmai.si.edu/visit/newyork/
