28 Jun The View from Here

MoMA launched a fantastic program this past spring as a way to enjoy the museum while they remain closed to the public.

Virtual Views takes place every Thursday evening via live stream (and is made available shortly thereafter on YouTube) and highlights artists who have current exhibitions or individual works that are part of the permanent collection.

Flavin Judd discussing his father’s work.

Each program features a curator in discussion with the artist themselves; a close family member if the artist is deceased; or a knowledgeable patron of the museum. Afterwards they invite questions from the viewing audience and the topics raised are just as interesting as the planned discussion.

The artist Faith Ringgold discusses her seminal 1967 work “American People Series #20 Die.”

The conversations are lively, informative, educational and insightful, especially if the artist is present and can speak directly to either their exhibition or their individual piece selected from the permanent collection. It’s especially enjoyable because you so rarely hear directly from an artist discussing their works.

The subjects have varied widely, from artists Neri Oxman and Faith Ringgold to famed French collector Félix Fénéon to a comprehensive exploration of the museum’s outdoor sculpture garden.

Neri Oxman on her MIT Mediated Matter research group.

Virtual Views is a terrific alternative to an in-person visit to MoMA and, in some ways, is even more exciting because of the up-close-and-personal aspect of experiencing the artist and their creative ideas, impulses, themes, perspectives and great love for their discipline.

The enduring work of photographer Dorothea Lange.

Virtual Views will next showcase the evolution of video as art form with Stuart Comer, chief curator of Media and Performance, and celebrated artist Joan Jonas on July 2. It promises to be a compelling dialogue and one you won’t want to miss!