Visit to the New Museum on Saturday, September 5, 2009

Yesterday, I visited the New Museum in Manhattan. Exhibits by David Goldblatt, Emory Douglas, and Dorothy Iannone were the most prominent. The three exhibits dealt with the similar time periods of the 1960's and 1970's. Racial issues were the subject of the photographs by David Goldblatt, as an observer. On the other hand, Emory Douglas was a participant in the Black Panther movement. Dorothy Iannone dealt with Feminist issues, particularly of sexuality.

In David Goldblatt's work, photographs were juxtaposed where an past black and white photograph was paired with a more recent color photograph. The black and white photographs were framed while the larger color photographs were without a frame but hung with clips. Because the photographs were relatively larger, they fit well with the voluminous space of the gallery. Works of David Goldblatt were exhibited on two floors. If all the photographs were to be placed on one floor, the exhibit space would not do the photographs justice. Each space had extremely high ceilings lit with fluorescent lights. Additionally, there were numerous spotlights. I thought the New Museum was a good venue for the works of David Goldblatt.

Best of all, the view of the New York skyline from the Sky Room on the seventh floor was spectacular.