saturday: the guggenheim

It was the second to last day of the Maurizio Cattelan's All exhibit at the Guggenheim. Because I am a woman with respect for the value of a dollar. I had planned all my museum visits to coincide with the museum's pay as you wish day or hours. I believe every museum in New York City has such a policy and for the Guggenheim that time is Saturdays from 5:45pm until closing. If you put together the closing Saturday of an exhibit, and pay as you wish, you come up with something that i did not anticipate at all,
a line-up! A disheartening line-up that went all the way down from fifth avenue to Madison Avenue, and around the block. New Yorkers line-up to go to museums like other people line-up to buy tickets to rock concerts. 

New York had its first major snow Friday night and it was Canada cold. Lucky it was not to last more than a day or so of my visit, but that night I screwed my courage to the sticking place! and made my way to the back of the line determined to stand strong with my countrymen, even in a light drizzle.

My hope was not misplaced. The line was really moving and within fifteen minutes I could see the entrance.

 view of the museum shop from outside

museum shop = favourite things

Inside I donated five dollars and picked up my included with admission audio guide. There was a small towns worth of people inside the building. I do not know what their capacity is, but I told Nails that I was sure it was the equivalent to the population of our entire town.

 view from the bottom

 This unusual exhibit hangs suspended from the ceiling of the Guggenheim in its entirety. You wind your way up the circular building for a 360 degree view from bottom to top, or top to bottom as you wish

 really long foozball table

This figure (the artist i believe) is actually tiny in spite of its appearance in this photo, perhaps only eight inches or so. The figures are an entertaining mix of the very small, life sized and enormous.

 what does it mean?

 people still pouring in at the admittance below

 view from the top