Rendering of new El Museo del Barrio entrance and courtyard. Courtesy of El Museo del Barrio.
El Museo del Barrio is getting a makeover and with a new look comes a new focus: community. The museum, reopening October 17, 2009, is undergoing massive renovations, which they hope will enhance its role within the community. As Julián Zugazagoitia, the director of El Museo, put it, all the renovations made to the museum were aimed at creating an increased feeling of openness. The building that houses El Museo was formerly an orphanage. Through these renovations, the walls of this closed off building were punched through to create a more open and welcoming atmosphere. The courtyard is being completely redone, and the solid wall entrance of the building is being replaced by a glass façade, allowing people to see directly into the museum. A new café is also included, which will spill out into the courtyard in warm weather, creating an inviting atmosphere to stop for lunch or a coffee after a walk across the street in Central Park. The welcoming atmosphere of the new courtyard has the potential to serve as a gathering place, much like the steps of the Metropolitan Museum. With its convenient location at the cross section of “El Barrio” and Museum Mile, El Museo’s courtyard will, however, be uniquely placed to cater to locals. The café itself will actually serve as a multi-purpose room. The space has been built so that walls can be put up to maintain the café in part, but allow for other sections to be devoted to various public programming. Another addition, attached to the newly renovated foyer, is a larger museum shop.
One of the most exciting additions to El Museo is the inclusion of a dedicated gallery for the permanent collection within the renovated galleries, highlights of which will rotate roughly once a year. This will be a vital change, as it allows for the museum to have something available for visitors year round. In the past when a temporary exhibition was being de/installed, the museum had to close. When the museum reopens this fall, the installation will display work from the permanent collection reflecting the history of El Museo. The work will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the museum by exhibiting artwork from its founding (in 1969) through to the present. From the permanent collection galleries, one can easily pass through to the renovated temporary collection galleries. The inaugural exhibition will be Nexus New York: Latin/American Artists in the Modern Metropolis, which will explore Latin American modernists working in New York and investigate American artists with whom they had dialogues. This promises to be an innovative exhibition, which looks at unknown and previously unacknowledged connections between the American modernists and their Latin counterparts.
The Education and Public Programming Department will also play a key role in establishing the openness of the museum and its accessibility to the community. In addition to the multi-purpose space mentioned in connection with the café, the courtyard, roof, and theater will also be used for various public programs and events. There are monthly events, such as film screenings every first Wednesday, as well as exhibition related events, such as symposia, that will be planned in connection with specific shows. Many public programs are free and people from the community are encouraged to attend on a regular basis. In addition, there are various Latino cultural workshops and celebrations that encourage everyone in the community, regardless of ancestry, to come out and celebrate his or her inner Latino/a. With everything that El Museo has planned, it might be impossible to choose. However, you’re in luck. Beginning November 21st, Target is sponsoring “Super Sabado,” a free event on the third Saturday of every month, which includes many of the various public programming events and activities, so that one can fully experience everything El Museo has to offer.
Walking through El Museo del Barrio today, it is obvious the renovations have a long way to go before October. However, it is already apparent, that a gem is being built for our community, one that hopefully everyone will take advantage of and enjoy.
El Museo del Barrio, 1230 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, reopens October 17, 2009. Inaugural exhibition: Nexus New York: Latin/American Artists in the Modern Metropolis October 17, 2009 – February 28, 2010.
