Free Museums? Nah: Not Worthwhile!
I have learned a big lesson today: I should not ever go to free museums. While looking up for a list of free museums, I came across the Whitney Museum of American Art at Altria, so I then decided to give it a try. Well, it was not a smart choice.
I had problems getting into the museum – signs directed me from one entrance to another; it was more like uncovering a labyrinth. Once inside, I was both puzzled and disturbed. The ‘museum’ was the size of a small room. And that room only had a piece of modern art. After realizing this, I really thought I was crazy. I even thought that I had gone to the wrong place. However, after verifying this with both my friend and the security guard (the only employee there), I knew I was not out of my mind.
Because the entrance to the room was closed, I was only able to appreciate the piece of art behind two locked doors that were made of glass. After staring at the piece of art for a long while, I still did not comprehend anything. The only thing I saw before me was a bunch of weeds and grass spread around the room. I said to myself, “Is this even art? To me, this seems more like an abandoned place. Perhaps grass has grown over time.”
My friend and I were looking at each other, and I even scratched my head, to find a reasonable answer to this enigma. A while passed, and we made no progress. My problem was later solved when my friend gave me an article that explained what the piece of art was. I felt like a “retard” because there was a big stack of them paper somewhere near me, and I did not see it.
By reading the article, I found out that sculptor Tony Matelli made the piece of art. I also learned that the bunch of grass and weeds were made of bronze. If I had not read this important piece of information, I would have never understood that this was a real piece of art. Later on, I felt bad because the artist had deceived me so easily. As a result, I started to inspect the piece of work meticulously. In the end, I was able to appreciate it, but wondered, “How did the artist made the plants look so realistic when they were indeed made of bronze?”
The meaning of Art has been evolving, constantly, in my mind, especially after I have joined the IDC class. As a result, my appetite for the Arts, especially modern art, is growing hastily. Even though I appreciated Tony Matelli’s work of art, I would not recommend anyone to go to the Whitney Museum of American Art at Altria. It is not worthwhile to spend four dollars on a Metrocard ride to see one tiny gallery. Just remember to think twice before you go to a free museum.
October 11th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
I think many of us have unlimited-ride Metrocard. So I have a question for you: Is it worthwhile to visit the Museum given that you have unlimited card?
I have the same experience of going to free museum. I went the Financial Museum. I was disappointed when I was aware that the museum has only one room. But I learned a lot history of financial market by examining the valuable items, such as first copy of Wall Street Journal and the ticker machine. My point is that quantity does not matter.
October 12th, 2007 at 12:53 am
I understand your point, Ryan. However, I never said that I did not get anything out of my visit to the museum. I actually said that I was, in the end, able to appreciate the piece of art. And I indeed admire modern art since it is very unconventional. But I would really suggest you go to this free museum and see it for yourself. And perhaps, then, you might realize whether it is worthwhile or not.