Underground Biz

Shalom friends! Welcome to the Jewish Museum of New York. The Jewish Museum has the largest collection of Jewish culture outside of Israel! The museum Hours are Saturday through Tuesday: 11am – 5:45pm, Thursday: 11am – 8pm, Friday: 11am to 4pm and is closed on Wednesdays. Located at 1109 5th Ave (on 92nd Street) along Museum Mile way, it is also across the street from Central Park. (Museum & Picnic date anyone?) You can get to the museum via the 4, 5 and 6 trains.

Originally, the Jewish Museum was a ginormous Gothic Revival mansion belonging to philanthropist Felix M. Warburg and his wife, Freida Schiff Warburg. (Talk about having some dough!). After Felix’s death in 1937, Freida made a couple of attempts to sell The Warburg House. Finally in 1944, she donated the mansion to become what we now know as The Jewish Museum. It became public in 1947.

Besides the cool history, I have always had an interest in visiting the Jewish Museum. I decided to check out the Radical Camera Exhibit (November 04, 2011 – March 25, 2012) that has been advertised all over the New York City subway stations. After looking up some information about the museum and exhibit, I was excited to learn that Kehinde Wiley was also having his work featured in the exhibit called, Kehinde Wiley / The World Stage: Israel (March 9th to July 29th 2012) Seriously folks, his work is Phat. (Yes, with a capital “P”)

Upon entering the museum, I was surprised to see security guards opening purses and directing people to walk through metal detectors. (Guess the TSA movement is spreading like wildfire). Museums don’t usually operate in this manner however, I guess with all of the beef these days, you can never be toooo safe. Either way, I decided to ask one of the security guards why this museum needed such special precaution. “[It's for] Your safety, not for us.” Guess that’s 2012 for ya. Like many museums, cameras aren’t allowed past the entrance area. I did however find some of the pictures featured

The following photos are featured in the Radical Camera Exhibit:

Jerome Liebling, "Butterfly Boy"

Joe Schwartz, "Slums Must Go!" May Day Parade, New York c. 1936

Joe Schwartz, "Sullivan Midgets 1" Greenwich Village c. 1939

Aaron Siskind, "The Wishing Tree From Harlem Documented" c.1937

Jack Manning, "Elk's Parade"

Vivian Cherry, "Game Of Lynching"

Vivian Cherry, "Playing Lynched"

Marion Palfi, "In The Shadow of the Capitol" c.1948

Below is the fabulous work of one of my newly favorite artists, Kehinde Wiley

These exhibits are awesome so I suggest you check them out before they close! If you do miss them, you can always see the permanent collection located on the top floors Admission prices are as follows: Adults $12, Seniors (65 and over with ID) $10, Students (full-time with valid ID, although they don’t always check ) $7.50, Children (under 12) pay no admission and it is FREE ON SATURDAYS!! (Therefore, no excuses people!)

Enjoy!