Some of us spend our free time exploring the galleries of the Guggenheim, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the galleries on the Lower East Side. Many have benches to sit on and ponder the art. We think about the artist and what went through their minds when they were painting.
As a member of several, I’ve been fortunate to go to many opening nights for new exhibits and participate in other happenings at our city’s fine museums. “Thanks” to Covid-19 they were closed for far too long. They recently reopened. Sadly all are subject to potential new shutdowns.
I’ve been fortunate enough to go to the Guggenheim twice, the Jewish Museum and the Whitney. As always the artwork is spectacular. For the most part, all of the galleries are viewable. There are some sections of the respective museums that are closed.
I remember on many visits talking with a Guggenheim employee about a Monet. I didn’t see her in my two recent visits. The Monet has been pulled out of the gallery and substituted for another piece by a different artist.
When I was at the Jewish Museum on a Sunday, early afternoon, I was one of about five people roaming the museum. My first trip to the Guggenheim with mom the museum was deserted. That was on “Member Welcome Back Day.” The next time it was slightly busier. No different at the Whitney and MOMA PS 1, which only had one exhibit open.
Is this good? Well, I always wanted to feel like a king and get my own private tours of our world’s fine art. It is a pleasure to walk through the galleries and be able to view a Cézanne, Monet, Picasso or Van Gogh for a great length of time. And not have to worry about taking up too much time and forcing others to wait. For the most part over the last few weeks, it was just the art and me. Alas, that’s not how it should be. The museums should be bustling with New Yorkers and tourists from all over.
Prior posts are here.
Pandemic Watch: The spirit of Coney Island
Pandemic Watch: The spirit of Coney Island
Pandemic Watch: Essential Workers
Pandemic Watch: Essential Workers
Pandemic Watch: Rediscovering NYC
Pandemic Watch: Rediscovering NYC
Pandemic Watch: Gloves
Pandemic Watch “Gloves”
Pandemic Watch: Back to the City
Pandemic Watch: Back to the City
“Pandemic Watch: Facial expressions,”
Pandemic Watch: Facial expressions
“Pandemic Watch: What will we do with our masks and gloves at the end?”
Pandemic Watch: What will we do with our masks and gloves at the end?
Pandemic Watch, Staying in Shape,”
Pandemic Watch: Staying in shape
“Pandemic Watch: Community groups stepping up,”
Pandemic Watch: Community groups stepping up
“Pandemic Watch: Have masks replaced fuzzy dice in windshields?”
Pandemic Watch: Have masks replaced fuzzy dice in windshields?
“Pandemic Watch: How will we be entertained?”
Pandemic Watch: How will we be entertained?
“Pandemic Watch: Communicating via video,”
Pandemic Watch: Communicating via video
“Single Life”
Pandemic Watch: Single life
“Pandemic Watch: Seniors and lifesaving phone calls during the pandemic or other times,”
Pandemic Watch: Seniors and lifesaving phone calls during the pandemic or other times
“Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember.”
Pandemic Watch: There are places I remember
“Pandemic Watch: Creating a new fashion statement,”
Pandemic Watch: Creating a new fashion statement
“Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop,”
Pandemic Watch: Sitting on your stoop
“Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?”
Pandemic Watch: What does a four-year-old think about our situation?
“Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?”
Pandemic Watch: Will my nephew ever know how good it was?
“Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?”
Pandemic Watch: What will happen when I get released on parole?
“Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times,”
Pandemic Watch: We live in interesting times
“Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic,”
Pandemic Watch: Dressing during the Covid-19 pandemic
“Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday,”
Pandemic Watch: Yes, it is Monday
“How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic, “
How skills I learned as a teen in the scouts help during the Covid-19 pandemic
“How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits,”
How the Covid-19 pandemic causes us to rethink old habits
“Traveling on public transit and being outside during the Covid-19 pandemic,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/29/traveling-on-public-transit-and-being-outside-during-the-covid-19-pandemic
“Grocery shopping during Covid-19. Or anytime,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/04/28/grocery-shopping-during-covid-19-or-anytime
“I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…,”
I want to help restaurants during the pandemic. But…
“Masks and gloves,” https://mitchellthoughtsblog.wordpress.com/2020/03/30/608
“Trashy Parks,”
Trashy Parks
Mitchell's thoughts, photos, etc. 
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