Advance tickets go on sale today (April 3) for admission to the new Whitney Museum of American Art when it reopens on May 1, 2015 in its downtown location. Advance ticketholders can skip the admission line to check out the new building and see the inaugural exhibition "America Is Hard to See" featuring work pulled from the Whitney's collection.
The Whitney will now be located at 99 Gansevoort Street (at Washington Street) in the Meatpacking District in New York City. It will be open six days a week with late night hours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays through the summer. Admission is $22 for adults; $18 for seniors and students; and free for museum members and those under 18 years old.
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The Whitney Museum of American Art.
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INAUGURAL EXHIBITION “AMERICA IS HARD TO SEE” OPENS MAY 1, 2015
The museum will present the exhibition "America Is Hard to See" when the doors open on May 1. On Saturday, May 2, there will be free admission to the museum and a block party, sponsored by Macy’s.
"America Is Hard to See" aims to present fresh perspectives on the Whitney’s holdings and reflects upon art in the United States. The show will include over 600 works by around 400 artists, spanning from about 1900 to the present. The exhibition's title is taken from a poem by Robert Frost and also used by filmmaker Emile de Antonio for one of his political documentaries.
"America Is Hard to See" is one of the most ambitious display of art to date of the Whitney’s collection, according to the museum. It is organized by a team of Whitney curators led by Donna De Salvo, Chief Curator and Deputy Director for Programs.
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"Running People at 2,616,216" (1978–79) by Jonathan Borofsky installed on the West Ambulatory, 5th floor, the inaugural exhibition, America Is Hard to See (May 1–September 27, 2015). Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Photograph © Nic Lehoux.
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BLOCK PARTY ON SATURDAY, MAY 2, ON GANSEVOORT STREET
On Saturday, May 2, the Whitney takes it to the streets for a 10 1/2 hour block party. The family-friendly event is free and takes place from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Gansevoort Street between Washington and West Streets.
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Whitney Museum of American Art. Photograph © Nic Lehoux.
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Plans call for activities, participatory events and performances. Throughout the day, booths designed by contemporary artists and community organizations will offer a range of activities including karaoke, map making, and performance workshops. Large-scale acts on the main stage will include all-ages performances, including puppetry, dance, music and poetry. Visit whitney.org for more information.
Free admission tickets for Saturday, May 2, may be reserved online. Reservations are recommended.
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BASIC FACTS: The Whitney Museum of Art opens in its new building on May 1, 2015. The museum is now located at 99 Gansevoort Street (at Washington Street), New York, NY 10014. www.whitney.org.
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