The Center for Contemporary Art P.S. 1 is a non–profit organization that not only holds exhibitions featuring fine art in various genres, but also organizes performances Sunday Sessions, a summer music series Warm Up. A competition for young architects is also being launched here.
History of creation
The institution was founded in 1971 by Alanna Heiss, a graduate of Lawrence Appleton University. Initially, it was not a museum, industrial buildings were restored and repurposed in this place. After 5 years of successful work, in 1976, an art center was opened in an abandoned Romanesque public school in Long Island City.
In 1997, after a 3-year renovation, the art center opened to the public, the project was implemented by the architectural company Frederick Fisher & Partners. In 1999, the merger of the organization with the Museum of Modern Art was announced. In 2010, it changed its name to MoMA PS1. Despite this, many residents of the United States and tourists use the old name – the Center for Contemporary Art P.S. 1.
Short description
The P.S. 1 Center for Contemporary Art attracts approximately 200,000 visitors a year, and is unofficially called the oasis of intellectual recreation in New York. Workshops and other events are often held that attract the attention of those who are interested in art. Students and seniors receive a discount when buying tickets. 8 exhibition venues have been opened. It should be noted that there are no permanent exhibitions in the Center of Contemporary Art P.S. 1, therefore all exhibitions are temporary, including long-term ones.
Artists can start their career by collaborating with the center. As a rule, most of them experiment with techniques and styles to bring their skills closer to perfection. In addition to displaying paintings, photographs, and sculptures, there are video, audio, and mixed media works. Talented aspiring architects can participate in the Young Architect Program. In 2019, it was suspended for a year. The winners get the opportunity to implement their project.
What decorates the building
The 15 installations and large-scale installations integrated into the Center for Contemporary Art P.S. 1 are a continuation of the original architecture of the facility. The focus is on James Turell's "Encounter." We are talking about a rectangular cutout in the ceiling that frames the waning light. The installation closes in bad weather, it is synchronized with sunset. The special feature is that the LED bulbs are gradually getting brighter. It looks contrasting against the darkening sky.
Sol Melman's "Central Governor" is installed in the basement where the boiler room used to be. The artist created this masterpiece using gold leaf. A small section of pipes and a boiler is only partially covered with gold: the work is not completely finished, but against this background it has not lost its charm.
How to get
The nearest metro stations are Court Sq – 23rd Street, Hunters Point Ave. You can arrive at the Center of Contemporary Art P.S. 1 by car or take a taxi. If you take the Q67 bus route, you need to get off at Jackson and 46th Aves, if you take the bus B62, the stop is 46th Ave.
Gallery
