The Queens Museum of Art is not a world renowned location. It does not house blockbuster exhibitions, nor is it even what most New Yorkers consider part of New York. We entered through a non-descript entrance, obscured from the path by trees. While one can voice many criticisms about the building, the location, or even the collections, the Queen Museum of Art (from now on QMA) has been the only institution we have explored so far that has had such a dedication to exploring, creating, preserving, and exposing culture of all kinds to the community.
We were able to meet with Tom Finkelpearl, the Executive Director of the QMA, who appeared lively in his striped shirt with contrasting striped tie. We also had the opportunity to explore the museum while it was closed, with Tom as our guide.
Right off the bat we were exposed to the mission of the museum without needing to have the mission statement clearly defined. To summarize, the mission of the QMA is to present amazing art and educational programming to the New York community, focusing on the “uniquely diverse ethnic, cultural, and international community” of the surrounding locale of Queens. This is done by creating exhibitions and educational experiences that are current and relevant to the community, that “directly relate to the contemporary urban life of its constituents while maintaining the highest standards of professional, intellectual, and ethical responsibility.” The dedication that Tom showed to the community was inspiring.
We were shown a few examples of the QMA’s mission statement in action. During our tour, the QMA was housing a reception for 60 highschool students with extreme special needs. These children were able to work with the art educators and art therapists that the QMA has hired full time. We learned about up-coming community activities, including the Inti Raymi Solar Celebration this Sunday, and were able to pick up handouts showing the best skateboarding locations in the city as put together by an independent curator (then marked on the Panorama, also known as the “jewel of the collection”). We viewed an exhibition created by artists currently in Rikers, and heard about the many offerings to immigrant adults, families, and even their children with autism.
Perhaps the most daunting task the QMA currently faces is the expansion of the museum, nearly doubling its space. The new wing will be as modern and effective in housing art as any other museum, but what again shines through is the ties to the community. The new wing will also house a library, effectively being one of the first museums to house a library open to the general public.
The QMA embraces the old model of museums, the “cabinet of curiosities” as Tom put it, but remains current in the offerings to the community. It was a pleasure and extremely inspiring to explore the collections with the Man with the Plan, and to learn how we all can engage with and create culture in our own communities.
-Lauren
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