When we commit to live here and raise a family, we pretty much know what we’re signing on for regarding the cost of living- that just about everything will be more expensive (sometimes way more expensive) than in most other parts of the country. And, yet, even we can get sticker shock.
Consider museum admission prices, which at many of the biggies will run you around $20 per adult and $9-$12 per kid, unless you have a membership. (The typical U.S. museum charges $7, and 41% of American museums are free.) Well, tomorrow the Guggenheim will be free. “Guggenheim Free Day” celebrates the golden anniversary of the museum; 50 years ago, the doors of the Frank Lloyd Wright building were opened to the public. So carpe diem and catch the Kandinsky retrospective. Vasily Kandinsky, the Russian-born, abstract art pioneer, is one of the artists most closely associated with the museum. His work has been collected by the Guggenheim since its inception and is said to have “inspired the creation of the building.” The Guggenheim will be hosting an entire day of special activities, including:
Story Circle - Readings of picture books, including I’d Like the Goo-Gen-Heim. (Runs on the hour from 11am-3pm.)
Guggenheim Cookies - At 3pm, the museum will put out 1,000 free “GuggenheimKids” cookies, a sugar rush to reinvigorate kids after they’ve trekked up the museum’s giant spiral.
Just Drop In - Interactive stations throughout the museum where kids can view art and give an artistic response.
Anniversary Eye Tours - Interactive tours conducted by museum educators and offered in five languages.
Harry Winston Jewels - For one day only, HW’s diamond jewelry inspired by the museum will be on display in the Guggenheim Store.
Wed., 10/21, 10am-5:45pm, “Guggenheim Free Day” at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave. at 89th St., 212-423-3500, guggenheim.org.
Kandinsky photo credit: Red Spot II (Krasnoe Pyatno II), 1921. Oil on canvas, 137 x 181 cm, Stadtische Galerie im Lenbachhaus, Munich. Copyright 2009 Artist Rights Society (ARS), New York/ADAGP, Paris