MoMA

MoMA Broadway Boogie Woogie – Piet Mondrian 

Made in 1942-1943 Mondrian created Broadway Boogie Woogie to showcase how he viewed New York. Mondrian moved to New York in order to escape World War II like many other European artists, New York became the new hub where artists were free to express themselves in any form they desired away from the strict rules that Europe had set for artists. This piece was part of the De Stijl movement, the De Stijl movement was about using purely primary colors, constructing art as well as architecture only using straight lines and rectangular planes creating a stripped down effect which was impacted by the First World War and rationing, Mondrian was the key artist of the De Stijl movement. The painting is constructed using horizontal and vertical lines from primary colors; blue, yellow and red although he also used grey too, whilst leaving the canvas bare in parts. Mondrian was heavily influenced by American Jazz music, in particular, boogie-woogie. Boogie Woogie originated from Blues music and went on to influence the rock and roll movement. He enjoyed the syncopated beat, the unpredictable lyrics and the improvisation the artist would use to create the piece and therefore used the dynamic rhythm he heard to influence the piece that would be Broadway Boogie Woogie. Other than musical influences Mondrian was fascinated with incorporating the city in which he lived, New York. The painting reflects the vibrant city lights by keeping with the key ideas of the De Stijl movement as well as following the grid system of which the city is constructed on. Furthermore, he used the stop-start nature of the constant traffic throughout the city which is shown by the short color changes in the grid. The title is very fitting for the piece and showcases a binding of two things that were a personal joy to Mondrian, New York, especially Broadway, and boogie-woogie. Go take a look at it on the fifth floor of the MoMA.

By Olivia Russell

Charles White exhibit 

What stuck out at me those most when visiting the MoMA was the entering Charles White exhibit. I passed through the paintings, the artwork and you really get a feel of black lives through his work. The reason why I loved this exhibit so much is that I took a class in high school called Race and Identity. It was truly my favorite course I ever took. I learned so much about the history of African American history. I got a glance of the emotions, thoughts, struggles that African American's would go through just in one class and me being a Dominican and African American woman, that really meant a lot and drove me into a direction of knowing who I am. So when I passed by these paintings and really observed them I really felt the emotion and you could even see how hopeful they were when they were going through those struggles. Found hope through prayer, music, family. Charles White represented black culture through his paintings and a time like now where black lives and the culture are being acknowledged and becoming an awareness, you can see why this exhibit is important and why I found it very touching and something that will stick with me for a long time.

 By Kiara Sutson

Vile, Gothenburg, Sweden 2015 

The Museum of Modern Art-- a place where contemporary art can become something more than life. Every single piece had a meaning to it, a sort of pull to it, where not one piece had me uninterested. However, among all piece, one particular piece caught my eye. That being the Vile, Gothenburg, Sweden 2015. This piece caught my eye more than others because of her gaze. The artist Zanele Muholi is an artist that portrays hundreds of black lesbians and trans people in Muholi’s native South Africa. In this picture, you can see that the women photographed are covered in tape. Tape covering her arms, her nipples, a tape collar, and even her eyebrows. Where the women in the photograph give a deep, searching gaze and from what I know about the artist, I figure that since trans and lesbian is harshly frowned down upon in native tribes such as Muholi, that the tape represents the pull she has on her that keeps her back from being who she really is. Either a trans or lesbian, who cannot breathe as in the tape collar but if anything is said or done she will be shamed. So she searches for answers with her eyes. Many cultures do not approve of trans or lesbian and I know Muholi’s native South Africa is one of those. I just think that it’s not fair to the people to be shamed for loving something different, cause what exactly is wrong with being different? I like how Zanele Muholi portrays a series of women that are lesbian or trans because it shows how they would be shamed for this in their culture and how they are searching for ways to make it right. Above all, the Museum of Modern Art was unlike any other, with the most contemporary pieces. I would most definitely attend again.

By Nethma Iddamalgodage

The Starry Night New York girl 

In the big city, a girl wonders for peace of mind. The girl is new to the city scene and would have never thought she would end up in such a loud place, for she is quiet and reserved. Back at home, she spent her time reading and going to art galleries, enjoying the silence she had while taking in life's fine works of art. She longed for this silence within the city but was always dragged out with girls to go clubbing in the nights of NYC. One night out on the town, she spots a boy reading about her favorite painting that she has been wanting to see, “Starry Night” by Vincent Van Gogh. She approaches the boy and asks him all types of questions about the painting and how much he knew about the beautiful artwork. He asks the girl to meet him the next day on 53rd street. The girl was scared, but she ended up in front of The Museum of Modern Art. Her heart filled with joy as she rushed in not waiting for her date. She was overwhelmed seeing the deep and vibrant exhibits filled with pieces from her favorite artists Picasso, Alvar Aalto and Rodolfo Abularach. She lost all track of time slowly walking from white room to white room that seemed so colorful from the beautiful artwork draped on the walls. Finally reaching the 5th floor of The MoMa she sees a crowd of people around one painting, she’s curious as to what it is. Finally, after the crowd dies down she reaches the white wall with a centered painting filled with tiny stars and sea blue swirls to find it is her favorite painting, Starry Night. She looks to her right to see the guy she met at the club taking in the beauty of the artwork right next to her, he smiles at her and says “here it is, welcome to New York.” She felt at home within the quiet atmosphere of The MoMa and she had known at that moment she can finally call New York home.

By Sierra Joyce