To Go Or Not To Gogh

If you are contemplating whether or not to see the Van Gogh exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, my suggestion is to Gogh. Yes, the exhibition is timed entry due to very large crowds, but it's well worth the wait.

I went during the free Friday evening hours (4-8pm), when lines are the longest. The line to get into the museum extended from 53rd street all the way around the block onto 54th street. However, at 4:00pm the line moves steadily, and it took about 30 minutes. I was probably a quarter mile back in the line, so don't let the length of the line deter you from going. Along with your museum entrance ticket, you get a separate ticket for the Van Gogh exhibition with an entry time. Mine was 6:30pm, so figure 2 hours later from the time you enter the museum. You can see the rest of the museum and just show up at the exhibition entrance when it's your time to go in. I even arrived 15 minutes early and went straight in.

It's probably a once in a life time opportunity to see this collection of artwork. The exhibition is titled "The Colors of The Night", and is a compilation of paintings done during the evening hours. Some are day scene paintings, so he was doing them partly by memory rather than entirely en plein air.

"The Starry Night" might be his most famous painting, but the largest crowd was around "The Starry Night Over the Rhone". It's the highlight of the show.

"The Starry Night" - 1889



"The Starry Night Over The Rhone" - 1888



While you are waiting for Van Gogh, visit the Joan Miro - Painting and Anti-Painting exhibition on the top floor. It's a collection of experimental works from 1927 - 1937. The series includes paintings on unprimed canvas, paintings on cardboard, collage & sculpture, small paintings on masonite & copper, pastel works on paper, and many more.



Museum Info:
Museum of Modern Art - www.moma.org
Free Fridays: Every Friday from 4:00 - 8:00pm


Van Gogh Exhibition - Thru January 5, 2009
Joan Miro Exhibition - Thru January 12, 2009