I'm baaack
Hi again from MacFacts+
Approximately 7 months ago I created this Substack…and I never posted again until now. Sure we could blame it on the less than 24 hour tiktok ban, but for awhile now (like years lol) I’ve been feeling the need to write, let a little more of my thoughts out, and at the same time not worry too much about what it sounds like. I crave to connect with others, teach, and cultivate community and — per many a personality tests, aura readings, horoscopes/chart readings, etc… — I know it’s something I am meant to do. ANYWAYS, I’m just gonna start writing. And i’d be happy if you care to read <3
In 2022 I started keeping track of all the museums, galleries, and exhibitions I went to. Mostly to just have a record and remember when I first visited various institutions, but towards the end of that year I realized I was super close to 100, so why not just get to 100 visits?! Literally on December 31st I dragged my sporty boyfriend and bestie Reba to my last few visits: the Cooper Hewitt, the Neue Galerie, and just to top it off I went to 102 at the Morgan Library and Museum to see the Ashley Bryan exhibition, which I loved.
Since then I aim for 100 not because I need to reach a quota, or even that I care about bragging (…but like seriously who else do you know that goes to so many art places lmao), but because it keeps me accountable and gives me something tangible to reach for each year. When times have gone by where I don’t go to an exhibition for even a week, I feel not my best…more anxious, sad, and honestly a little stupider. So 100+ it has been for 2022, 2023, 2024, and I anticipate for 2025 considering I am already on 11 and it’s only 20 days in!!!!
Now, you may be wondering…how do I keep track of this? Notice I don’t say I went to 100 museums, because to me that is almost unrealistic. I did not go to 100 different museums, in fact I have some places I visited 5 or more times and I count seperately. I like to phrase it that I had “over 100 visits to museums, galleries, and exhibitions”. I count any museum or gallery (honestly…i’ll share more on my thoughts about galleries later) as one visit, even if I go to multiple exhibitions within that one visit. I also count sculpture gardens (think Socrates Park in Astoria or Storm King), alternative art spaces (such as Artists Space or the Drawing Center), historic homes, exhibitions elsewhere like libraries (my fav are at the NYPL’s Schomburg Center), and high scale public art exhibitions (hi Public Art Fund — I love you!)………..Did any of that make sense?
So for 2025 here is my list so far:
Jan 3rd: MoMA
I went for their Uniqlo Free Fridays with some pals. There was music, dancing, but no coat check :( We just wandered, but spent majority of the time with the Matisse’s Cut-Outs that would soon be in storage for 10 years!!! I also spent some time with Montien Boonma’s House of Hope, which “invites us into an immersive space filled with thousands of prayer bead strands hanging above a pyramid of painted wooden steps.” The artist created this work after his wife died from cancer in 1995.
Jan 5th: Morgan Library and Museum
I went to see Belle da Costa Greene: A Librarian's Legacy (on view until May 4th, 2025). The Morgan was actually my first museum job in the city (I worked in Visitor Services) and I actually LOVED the job. I was working there around the same time a historical fiction book about Belle da Costa Greene (called the Personal Librarian) came out and took the WASPy women by storm. I am glad the exhibition is out now and is putting some of the weird rumors started in that book to rest! I loved this exhibition and plan to visit again.
Jan 8th: The Met
My friend’s mom came in from out of town so I got to use my favorite perk of being a Met employee, which is bringing guests to the museum when it’s close to the public on Wednesdays. It was her first visit so we had to see William, and some other favorite sights of mine including the Astor Court Chinese Garden, the gallery beneath the main stairs, and the American Wing’s Engelhard Court.
Jan 8th: New York Historical
As a seasoned museum goer, two visits in a day is normal and in fact encouraged (got to use my days off strategically!!). We headed over to the west side to visit the newly named New York Historical (FKA the New-York Historical Society Museum and Library) to visit their Pets and the City exhibition and the Tiffany glass room. I’ll have to go back for the Pets show, because I was pretty sleepy at that point.
Jan 9th: Shin Gallery
Went to my most visited LES gallery for a private tour of their current exhibition, Drawing Life: Indigenous Amazonian and the Universal Eye (now on view until Jan 25th) and to see the gallery owner’s personal collection again, now with his newly acquired Van Gogh to see!
Jan 9th: Gotham, Bowery - High Thoughts by Stuart Lantry
Another double feature, this time heading to a more alternative art viewing space— Gotham, a woman-owned dispensary with two locations! The artist on view in their mezzanine was Stuart Lantry, a Philly based artist who I first met at last year’s Spring Break Art Show and actually purchased one of his unique, affordable works. Read more here: “This body of work is part of an ongoing attempt by the artist to document every thought he has ever had on hand-made steel Post-its. Through this laborious Sysiphean task, Lantry hopes to elevate the Post-it, one of the most humble and transitory physical containers of ideas, into an Art object that could potentially outlive himself…”
Jan 10th: the Schomburg Center - JIMMY! God's Black Revolutionary Mouth
I love the Schomburg Center’s exhibitions, programs, and gift shop. They have had many programs celebrating 100 years of James Baldwin at both this location and the big NYPL in Bryant Park. The staff here is so knowledgeable and friendly, and I have never ever had a bad visit here. I recommend you make your way up to Harlem to see this exhibition and go to Dinosaur BBQ on 125th while you’re at it. On view until February 28, 2025.
Jan 10th: Jack Shainman - Nick Cave: Amalgams and Graphts
The new Jack Shainman space in Tribeca is BEAUTIFUL. It’s in an old bank with amazing ceilings. Honestly I went for the opening of the show, but it was super, super crowded. Got to see a few works up close, but I should probably go back before it closes on March 15th. Nick Cave was there though, which was pretty cool. He was taking pictures with so many fans <3
Jan 15th: The Met - Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300-1350
Can never stay away from the Met for too long ;) Took my boss from the art studio to a special Wednesday visit to this exhibition. I was blown away by the colors pairings in the work, reflecting on how they had to use actual natural pigments to get the bright blues, deep reds, and everything in between. Did you know to get blue they used lapis lazuli, which was actually more than gold back then?
Jan 16th: Lévy Gorvy Dayan - Michelangelo Pistoletto: To Step Beyond
Had to support my friend who works at LGD for this big exhibition! It will probably be Pistoletto’s last big show, so it was cool to celebrate it at the opening. I did happen to see one too many people touch an artwork lmao
Jan 17th: Brooklyn Museum
Had my second visit to the Solid Gold exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum. This show is FILLED with amazing fashion, jewelry, and culture moments. Because it was my second time, I decided to indulge in a family-friendly scavenger hunt that was available for the exhibition. It was available at the ticket scan desk and once completed, you can use it at the gift shop for a 25% off coupon! I think it’s pretty special the exhibition is in tandem with the museum’s 200th anniversary and some of my favorite highlights from the show is the section dedicated to grills, Zadik Zadikian’s Path to Nine, and all the amazing designer dresses in the final section. It will be on view until July 6th of this year.
Would’ve gone somewhere Saturday since I had the day off, but I was too busy saving all my tiktoks smh. Anyways, follow along here for more art and art world writings and also on IG (macfactsnyc)* and tiktok (macfacts)
*I used to be maccumpian on IG (my name), but recently changed it to macfactsnyc since macfacts is taken…thoughts? I’ve been struggling
TTYL - mac
