MoMA PS1 facts for kids
PS1 in 1994
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| Established | 1971 |
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| Location | Long Island City, Queens, New York City, New York, United States |
| Type | Contemporary art |
| Visitors | Over 200,000 per year |
MoMA PS1 is a special place in Long Island City, Queens, New York City, where you can see amazing contemporary art. Contemporary art means art made in our time. It's like a big art center that shows new and exciting artworks.
Besides showing art, MoMA PS1 also has cool events. These include the Sunday Sessions, which are live performances. They also have the Warm Up summer music series and the Young Architects Program. MoMA PS1 has been connected with the Museum of Modern Art since 2000. Each year, about 200,000 people visit this exciting art space.
Contents
History of MoMA PS1
How MoMA PS1 Started
MoMA PS1 began in 1971. A person named Alanna Heiss created an organization called the Institute for Art and Urban Resources Inc. Her idea was to use old, empty buildings in New York City. She wanted to turn them into places where artists could work and show their art.
New York City was a popular place for artists. Alanna Heiss believed that regular museums didn't have enough space for new kinds of art. So, in 1971, she started this new art group. She worked with a critic named Brendan Gill. They began fixing up abandoned buildings in the city.
In 1976, Heiss opened the P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center. This was in an old public school building. The building was built in 1892 and was the first school in Long Island City. It closed in 1963 and became a warehouse. By using this building, the art center had much more space for art shows and studios.
In 1997, P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center reopened after a big renovation. The project cost $8.5 million and took three years. The building became much larger, with new galleries and spaces for art.
Joining with the Museum of Modern Art
In 1999, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center and the Museum of Modern Art decided to join forces. This partnership was planned to take 10 years. The goal was to keep P.S. 1 as a place for new and experimental art. The two museums officially became partners in January 2000. New York City, which owns the MoMA PS1 building, supported this merger.
The main goal of this partnership was to help more people enjoy and understand contemporary art. They wanted to reach a wider audience. They started working together on art shows, educational activities, and special projects. This allowed both museums to use their strengths and resources. They also combined their teams for things like fundraising and marketing.
To celebrate 10 years of working together, the museum changed its name in 2010. It became known as MoMA PS1.
Recent Developments
In 2008, Alanna Heiss retired as director of P.S. 1 after 36 years. In 2009, Klaus Biesenbach became the new director of MoMA PS1. He had worked at PS1 since 1997. He left in 2018 to work at another museum.
In 2019, Kate Fowle was announced as the museum's new director. Also in 2019, a new restaurant opened inside the museum.
In June 2020, during the George Floyd protests in New York City, MoMA PS1 helped protestors. They joined an initiative called "Open Your Lobby." This program asked businesses to offer shelter or resources to people protesting.
Programs and Events
Art Shows and Artist Programs
From the very beginning, MoMA PS1 has supported new and experimental art. The first exhibition, called Rooms, happened in 1976. It showed art from 78 artists. Many artists created art especially for the old classrooms. For example, artist Alan Saret made a small hole in a wall. This created a beautiful light effect in the hallway.
The museum has shown works by many famous artists. These include Janet Cardiff, David Hammons, Kimsooja, and Franz West. In 2013, they had a very large show of Mike Kelley's art.
MoMA PS1 also focuses on outsider art. This is art made by people who are not formally trained artists. They also have a show called Greater New York every five years. This show features new artists working in New York City. Many of the exhibitions from MoMA PS1 travel to other museums around the world.
MoMA PS1 has also organized art shows outside its building. These include street performances in New York City. They also have projects in the Rockaways and international exhibitions.
Here are some important exhibitions MoMA PS1 has hosted:
- Rooms (1976)
- Afro-American Abstraction (1980)
- New York/New Wave (1981)
- James Turrell: Meeting (1986 - ongoing)
- David Hammons: Rousing the Rubble, 1969 - 1990 (1990-1991)
- Jack Smith: Flaming Creature (1997-1998)
- Greater New York (2000)
- Disasters of War: Goya, Henry Darger, Jake and Dinos Chapman (2000-2001)
- Mike Kelley (2013-2014)
- Maria Lassnig (2014)
- Marking Time: Art in the Age of Mass Incarceration (2020-2021)
- Niki de Saint Phalle: Structures for Life (2021)
Young Architects Program
The Young Architects Program (YAP) is a yearly contest. MoMA PS1 and The Museum of Modern Art host it. Young architects submit ideas for MoMA PS1's courtyard. The winning design is built and becomes the setting for the summer Warm Up music series. The program took a break in late 2019.
Some past YAP winners include:
- 1998 – untitled? by Gelitin
- 1999 – DJ Pavilion by Philip Johnson
- 2000 – Dunescape by SHoP Architects
- 2004 – Canopy by nARCHITECTS
- 2007 – Liquid Sky by Ball-Nogues Studio
- 2012 – Wendy by HWKN
- 2015 – COSMO by Andrés Jaque
- 2017 – Lumen by Jenny Sabin Studio
Warm Up Music Series
Warm Up is MoMA PS1's summer music event series. It takes place inside the special art installation built by the Young Architects Program winner. This mix of music, art, and exhibitions creates a unique experience. It's great for music fans, artists, and families.
Warm Up started in 1997. It was a summer-long dance party. The goal was to bring new people to MoMA PS1 and Long Island City. The series happens every Saturday from July to early September. Thousands of visitors come each day.
Many famous DJs and music groups have performed. These include Afrika Bambaataa, Richie Hawtin, Kid Koala, Scissor Sisters, Solange, Jamie XX, Grimes, Cardi B, and Lizzo.
Long-Term Artworks
MoMA PS1 has several artworks that stay in the building for a long time. These are called long-term installations.
- Richard Artschwager, Blips, 1976. You can find these throughout MoMA PS1.
- Richard Serra, Untitled, 1976. This is on the rooftop.
- Alan Saret, Hole at PS1: Fifth Solar Chtonich Wall Temple, 1976. This is on the third floor.
- James Turrell, Meeting, 1986. This is on the third floor.
- Pipilotti Rist, Selbstlos im Lavabad (Selfless in the Bath of Lava), 1994. This is a video installation in the lobby.
- Sol LeWitt, Crayola Square, 1999. This is on the basement floor.
- William Kentridge, Stair Procession, 2000. This is on Staircase B.
- Saul Melman, Central Governor, 2010. This is in the Basement Boiler Room.
Museum Management
In 2010, the board of directors for MoMA PS1 included artists like Cindy Sherman and Mickalene Thomas. It also had art historian Diana Widmaier-Picasso and fashion designer Adam Kimmel. Art collectors Adrian Cheng and Peter Norton were also on the board.
New York City helps fund MoMA PS1. The city owns the building and provides about eight percent of the museum's yearly budget. Art shows at MoMA PS1 are paid for by donations from trustees.
See also
In Spanish: MoMA PS1 para niños
