Pictures at an Exhibition

Back from a great trip to NYC over New Years weekend. So many things to comment on after my first extended stay in Manhattan in years, but first this.

Spent New Year's Day at the Museum of Modern Art which was absolutely packed to the gills. I believe the entire continent of Europe was visiting MoMA that day because English was definitely NOT the lingua franca. Standing in line to check coats and backpacks I chatted with Brazilians and Italians, overheard Dutch, Danish, Japanese, Romanian and Russian speakers. 

It is just beyond cool that museums like MoMA now allow visitors to take pictures of their collection. Everything in the museum collection is digitized anyway, so there's a sense of freedom and generosity about this that I love. 

All over the museum there were people taking photos with cellphones and cameras.  As long as you don't use flash, or use a tripod it's basically OK.

Atlanta's High Museum allows picture taking with many more conditions.  First you need to get a permit.  Still photography is limited to the permanent collection galleries, but you cannot shoot works of art in special exhibition or on loan to the museum.  I have a feeling this is rather standard.

What did I take a picture of at MoMA?  Matisse's "The Red Studio." But alas, I cannot share it here because "no photographs or videotapes may be reproduced, distributed, or sold without permission from the Museum."

Comments

[Jennifer]

Did you get to see the Tim Burton show?! I'm IN NY and a MoMA member I still haven't managed to get over there (shamefully). Hopefully now that the holidays are over!

[Maureen@IslandRoar]

Whoa, haven't been to MOMA in years; did not realize the picture rule had changed. Way cool.