On our last full day in New York, we made our first visit to the new Whitney Museum of American Art (to give its full name). Now located in the Meatpacking District a short walk from our apartment, it is in a stunning new building by Renzo Piano. For anyone who is familiar with Renzo’s other work, there are some recurring elements: lots of glass, metal staircases both internal and external, a public space on the roof, and a creative use of natural light. [I take the liberty of using his first name since I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know Renzo a bit in San Francisco and have visited him in both Paris and Genoa.] He was the architect for the California Academy of Sciences (2008) in Golden Gate Park and The Shard (2013) in London.
The lines for entry were long, but you can bypass them if you buy your tickets online or, like we did, buy a membership. With all the time we plan to spend in New York, it seemed a wise investment.
An exhibit of works by Frank Stella had just opened and we did that first. Colorful paintings and almost ornate sculptures, sometimes of found objects, dominated the galleries. These were all large works. Outside were several complex star sculptures, one metal and one made of wood.
The museum overlooks the High Line so while outside you can gaze down and watch the never-ending stream of casual walkers, commuters, and tourists.
The other exhibit we spent time in was a retrospective of the works of Archibald Motley (1891-1981), an African American artist who painted the jazz scene as well as portraits of black society, both high and low, in 1920’s and 30’s Chicago. I had never heard of Motley nor seen any of his works and was drawn in by the intensity of his images and his use of strong vibrant, almost neon, colors. Unfortunately for me, the works I wanted to photograph were the ones where no photos were permitted. But here is an example I found on the web.
Book of the Week
The Wall St. Journal reviewed it several weeks ago and the NY Times this past Sunday. The book is Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family by Amy Ellis Nutt. This is the absorbing, painful account of one young boy’s journey to becoming a female. Wyatt was one of two identical twins adopted by Kelly and Wayne Maines. From the age of two, Wyatt, unlike his brother Jonas, preferred dolls and girlish things. In a few years, he began to articulate his dislike of his “male parts” and his preference for female clothes and referred to himself as a “girl boy.” Eventually his parents allowed him to legally change his name.
This book is as much her parents’ story as it is Nicole’s. Her mother was tirelessly supportive, preparing teachers for her then son’s differences, getting him into counseling, seeking appropriate medical help, and then being there for Nicole to ensure her safety and emotional well-being as she outwardly and publicly became more of a girl. For her father, who envisioned teaching both his sons to hunt and shoot (pastimes he enjoyed growing up), the journey was a struggle and he left a lot of it to his wife. Over the course of Nicole’s growing up (she is now college age), society evolved and there is the beginning of greater acceptance of transgender individuals. Some of this change is due to a lawsuit filed by the Maines. All parenting brings a set of challenges, but these parents had an especially complex situation to navigate. Nutt’s inclusion of the latest studies on gender identity is helpful contextual information.
[Photos by the author unless otherwise indicated; some rights reserved]
