Liz Lizo

Yesterday Liz and I took a stroll to the Meatpacking District to see what all the hype was about The Whitney Museum. As soon as we entered, we made a beeline for the very top floor. I was absolutely blown away by the breathtaking views on the rooftop. The Freedom Tower, The Standard Hotel and most of Manhattan were all in clear view from the rooftop. Stunning views aside, the architecture of the building makes it a beautiful addition to lower Manhattan.

The exhibition we saw is ‘America is Hard to See’ and it explores the dichotomy between artists and how they fit into the social and political context of mainstream America. The name, ‘America is Hard to See’, is based on a poem by Robert Frost and a political film by Emile de Antonio. One of the things I liked about this exhibit was the chronological organization of the works from 1910-1940. We started from the earliest 20th-century work on the top floor and as we descended the exhibit concluded with works from 1965 to present day.

With pieces from Jean-Michel Basquiat, William H. Johnson and Andy Warhol among many others the exhibition did an excellent job of offering a wide variety of artists with some different influences and styles. As I was strolling through, I found myself asking “does art reflect life or does life reflect art?” When I reached the end of the exhibit, I still hadn’t come to a concrete answer, but here’s what I take away from it: Art and life are symbiotic.

If you are ever in the area, I highly suggest you stop by the Whitney Museum and check out ‘America is Hard to See’. The exhibit runs to September 27, 2015.

Thanks for reading!

xo, Maya

“Depmsey and Firpo” by George Bellows

“Poker Night” by Thomas Hart Benton

“Children Meeting” by Elizabeth Murray

“Untitled #16″ by Lari Pittman