Page 102 - Off The Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 2 of 2)

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ART AND CULTURE New York’s

Independent Galleries

vs MoMA

New York’s Museum of Modern Art is as famous as it is massive, but for more eclectic offerings, browse
the city’s unique cutting-edge galleries, where progressive art is on show and often on sale

collection features a great number of superstar Anything’s game – particularly in Brooklyn – from
NEED TO KNOW
paintings, from Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon taxidermy in motel settings to marshmallow
LOCATION New York City to Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night. It’s undoubtedly sculptures. That said, this being New York, plenty
is in New York State on the $"/"%"
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east coast of the USA impressive. But if you’re looking for a more eclectic of the art could also well turn out to be a sound
POPULATION /&8 :03, art experience, make for the city’s progressive art investment. As the saying goes: “If you can make
Around 8.3 million 4BO 'SBODJTDP galleries, both in Manhattan and farther afield in it in New York, you can make it anywhere.” It’s
8BTIJOHUPO % $
VISITORS PER YEAR the city’s boroughs. not just artists who get their start here – artistic
Around 40 million -PT "OHFMFT 6 4 "
Before – long before – an artist has a shot movements do, too.
DAYTIME
TEMPERATURES at showing at the Museum of Modern Art, it’s The home of contemporary art in New York
Jan: 32°F (0°C); Apr: 54°F (12°C); .&9*$0 likely they’ll exhibit in one of New York’s many has long been Chelsea, on Manhattan’s West Side,
Jul: 77°F (25°C); Oct: 57°F (14°C)
independent galleries or art spaces. And a tour though SoHo to the south features a number of
of these will give you the chance to check out big-name galleries wedged between its plush
MoMA – the name alone has become a synonym up-and-coming artists before they make a name shops. But the contemporary art scene is by
worldwide for modern art. In 2004, after an for themselves – to discover them as they’re nature migratory, and Brooklyn, with its high
ambitious building project, the Museum of discovering themselves, as it were. ceilings and low rents, has become the new artistic
Modern Art returned to its Manhattan home, For budding buyers on a budget, these frontier. A visit to the DUMBO Arts Center, for
reopening in a gleaming new space designed by galleries can be a boon, with potentially high-value instance, under the Manhattan Bridge, reveals a
Japanese architect Yoshio Taniguchi. The eye- pieces selling for low prices. But above all, they wealth of artist-friendly industrial structures and
catching building reveals spacious, sky-lit galleries make for a memorable visit. The art can be strange, warehouses, while nearby Williamsburg is
and an elegant sculpture garden. The museum’s sure. Bewildering? Probably. But boring? Rarely. crammed with galleries. For a unique take on
contemporary art in Manhattan, don’t miss the
glowing New Museum on the Bowery.
FORGET MoMA?
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
THE BUILD-UP MoMA offers a double draw:
the world’s largest collection of modern art and Getting There and Around a Midtown hotel with a
sculpture, along with a unique building that is a work New York City is served by three formidable literary and artistic
of contemporary art in itself. The collection major airports: JFK, LaGuardia, history, stay at the comfortable,
showcases most of the modern greats, from Matisse and Newark. You’ll find plenty Edwardian-style Algonquin Hotel
of transportation options (www.algonquinhotel.com).
and Braque to Picasso and Klimt. Surrealist fans, take
within the city.
note – Dalí’s The Persistence of Memory hangs here. When to Go
Where to Eat Spring and early fall usher in
Food in New York is very varied, the finest weather – sunny yet
THE LETDOWN Sadly, art loses some of its appeal
from high-end Italian and French breezy. For fewer crowds, aim
when you have to elbow others out of the way to view
to fiery Latino, with plenty of all- for October and November.
it properly. And the relatively steep entrance fee can
American burgers and hot dogs Budget per Day for Two
be tough to justify for those on a budget. in between. Union Square Cafe The sky’s the limit, but if you stay
ABOVE Lining to see one of the world’s most comprehensive (www.unionsquarecafe.com), in a mid-range hotel, eat out
GOING ANYWAY? Avoid the crowds by visiting the collections of modern art at MoMA a favorite with New Yorkers, once a day, and take public
museum midweek or early in the day. You can get features Italian-influenced fare. transportation, US$250-350
around the pricey entrance fee by going between 4 and 8pm on Fridays, when admission is free, though bear Where to Stay should be enough.
in mind that everyone else in the city will have exactly the same idea, so the place gets packed. New York City features a wide Website
array of accommodations. For www.nycvisit.com

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