Whitney Museum of American Art, New York
Address
99 Gansevoort Street
New York, NY 10014
Telephone
(212) 570-3600
Website
About the Museum
The Whitney Museum moved to its new building and location in May 2015. This museum has always been an exciting place to visit, focusing on American art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Their exhibitions, biennials and their enormous permanent collection were and are well worth a visit.
Highlights of artwork of famous artists, from Edward Hopper, Georgia O`Keefe, Jackson Pollock, Jasper Johns, David Smith, Andy Warhol to the most contemporary artists will capture the attention of many art lovers.
On May 1st, 2015, the Whitney Museum reopened, after leaving its old building, designed by Marcel Breuer, at 75th Street and Madison Avenue (now the new Met Breuer, on the Upper East Side) in its new landmark building, in the lively Meatpacking District next to the High Line - an absolute hot spot in New York City. Situated between the Hudson River and the High Line, this amazing piece of architecture, designed by Renzo Piano, offers fantastic views of the neighborhood and the Hudson River. It certainly is a “must see” for all visitors to New York City.
The new building with its enormous space for its art additionally features terraces for outdoor sculptures. These give the view a special beauty which changes with the time of day and the seasons.
Open 5th floor gallery
Verbal Description Tours
I am a regular guest at the verbal description tours that the Access Program of the museum offers. Once a month the visually impaired and blind community is invited to join a verbal description tour of either the current exhibition or the permanent collection.
An educator, specially trained in verbal description, explains and describes a selected artwork in great detail and tries to evoke an image in the group’s mind’s eye. The verbal description lets paintings, sculptures and installations come to life for me. I can perceive and understand artworks much better with the help of verbal imaging.
For me these tours are a true pleasure. I do not miss out on details I would not have been able to see on my own. The description allows me to understand the artwork in question in greater depth, including what the artist meant to communicate. These tours make my art experience more fulfilling. I simply love them.
During these tours we are being helped by several volunteers. They make sure that every one of our group can access the galleries safely, they provide folding seats, listening devices, wheelchairs, and act as guides to people who need assistance in navigating the premises. On many occasions the educators prepare touch objects, model reproduction of integral parts of an artwork, even 3D prints. These are a treasure chest for visually impaired and blind people.
Top: Sculpture by Frank Stella
Bottom: 3D printed touch object for verbal description tours by Frank Stella
Entrance
But what happens when I visit the museum on my own, without a sighted person at my side?
From the street you can access the museum either by a ramp or up some steps to two revolving doors and a door especially for baby strollers and wheelchairs. Enter, and you are in the lobby.
The lobby of the museum is a beautifully designed glass palace allowing for much natural light.
You will find the museum shop to the left of the entrances. The ticket counters are further down, also to the left and the membership desk is on the right.
At the entrance where they check your ticket, and at the coat check (downstairs), there are barriers to mark walkways. These are well designed ropes, but invisible to me. I find myself tangled up in these ropes every time I go there. Fortunately, they are soft and you do not hurt yourself.
I asked for printed material for visually impaired and blind people (VIP) in different places (membership desk, ticket office, audio guide booth), but the staff could not provide any special information or large print material.
I happily accepted the free audio guide and headed towards the elevators. Each elevator is a piece of art in itself and fortunately the buttons for the floors are big and clear enough for me to see. I could find the right floor easily.
Line up ropes in entrance hall
In the Galleries
The galleries are very spacious. For every new exhibition the location of the inner walls are reset to best display the artworks. The museum has a versatile concept of moving walls and lighting throughout the building. The galleries are usually well lit (for me) without too much glare. There are sometimes exhibitions that I find too dark for me, but rarely.
The flooring is made of recycled wood and easy to walk on. There are no steps between galleries to have to watch out for.
The doors to the cafe and to some of the restrooms are of transparent glass and hard to see, you have to be very careful not to bump into them.
Glass is a special feature of the architecture of this building. Glass walls (ceiling to floor) separate the open terraces from the building and offer magnificent views of the neighborhood and the Hudson River.
Painting by Stuart Davis with label on the right side
Art Labels, Audio Guide, and Signs
In the galleries the artwork is well displayed, but for me it is VERY hard to find the labels. And if I find them, they are hard to read. The font of the text is too small and especially the number for the audio guide is too small and hard to find.
I had to take a photo of the label with my phone, and read it on its screen with the zoom on, to be able to get any information at all.
The audio guide is a huge problem for me. For each floor there is a list of numbers with the name of the artwork next to it- I had to read it with my magnifying glass to be able to handle it as there is no zoom function on the device.
Imagine: first taking a photo of the label (after you found it) to be able to read the number, and then having to use a magnifier to use the audio guide. It is hard work!
I was told that they are working on an app – I can´t wait for it to be here!!
The signs for the restrooms are overhead, once you know where to look for them, they are easy to read.
The navigation in the museum is simple enough. The floors can be reached by elevators and stairs. A big cheer for the stairs! All staircases have a sturdy handrail and you can walk up and down safely.
Audio guide display
Last, but Not Least
A visit to the Whitney is a great experience, even when you go there on your own as a visually impaired person (VIP). In general it is easy to navigate, only the Audio Guide may represent an obstacle.
Please don´t miss the Studio Cafe on the 8th floor - delicious food and great views from the terrace. The restaurant “Untitled” on the lobby level offers contemporary American food in a beautifully designed setting.
Painting by Wayne Tiebaud and label
Tip
Before you actually visit the museum go to the Whitney website to check out current exhibitions, hours and schedule changes.
Make sure you allow enough time to explore this spacious museum.