The much anticipated opening of the New Whitney Museum ended April 30, 2015 when distinguished museum guests including members of the Board of Trustees of The Whitney Museum of American Art, Architect, Renzo Piano, NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Michelle Obama gathered at the Dedication Ceremony in front of the newly completed museum. The museum, at the south end of The High Line, officially opened to visitors on May 1, 2015. It is a stunning addition to the south end of The High Line. It neighbors the swank hotel The Standard, views of the Hudson, and completes the reinvention of the Meatpacking District in Manhattan.
I was thrilled to be able to spend an afternoon at the new Whitney taking it all in. The approach is omniscient with the soaring 10 story modern building punctuating the end of The High Line. Upon entering you are whisked up to the 8th floor in an oversized freight style elevator to begin your tour of the massive American Art collection. The current exhibit America is Hard to See features some of the very best in modern and contemporary American Art.
As I moved through the indoor galleries, I was drawn to the outdoor spaces. Each floor has it’s own outdoor gallery with sculptures located on each rooftop. The galleries were tiered which provided the feeling of being on another rooftop for each gallery. People have always been drawn to rooftop views in Manhattan. Restaurants, apartments, bars, and even The Met have rooftops tempting visitors with their expansive views of the island. From the New Whitney you can see north to The Empire State Building, south The World Trade Center and west to the Hudson River. I was not alone as prolific photographer, the opportunities were irresistible. Finally, be sure to take the stairs. Both the stairwell on the perimeter of the building and the interior of the building are worth taking up or down. The western stairwell has floor to ceiling windows begging you to stop and stay a while. The interior stairwell has the most spectacular light installation.
With a cafe and restaurant at the museum, it truly makes this art center a destination in itself and the perfect punctuation at the end of The Highline.
A personal American Art Collection, visiting NYC with kids, NYC sans kids.
Image Credit | Top image by Karen Jobst | Image of gallery interior and ground floor exterior by Nic Lehoux. All others are my own.
