I went to visit the New Museum of Contemporary Art on a recent Thursday evening, when admission is free from 7PM-10PM if you're looking for something to do later tonight.
I loved the bright minimal building designed by Tokyo-based architects Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa/SANAA. The the super-tall, slim metallic elevator doors that open up to a lime green interior were a fun dramatic surprise. While cruising up to the fourth floor I noticed even the LED readout on the number panel was lime green. Very matchy-matchy. About 8-feet up on the wall elegant silver letters announce that the elevator had been paid for by a sponsor. As I toured through the museum it seems every possible available space was sponsored, from hallways to stairwells to random niches between floors. I've never quite seen this level of paid sponsorship in a building before and found it both impressive and inspiring. If you can brand a hallway - you can probably brand just about anything. Makes me think there is much fertile ground to till for my favorite charity.
I was less enthusiastic about the exhibit Unmonumental which my friend aptly suggested should be called "college dorm room" and I thought "inside a dude's locker" was equally fitting. I always love a good museum Gift Shop and this one while small is well stocked. In fact I regret not buying the set of miniature Japanese tea cups, which I think warrant a return trip.
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