The New York City Traveler

Housed in a Romanesque-Revival building that was once a New York City public school, P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center is the answer for those who prefer avant garde art by little-known artists to the sterilized art found in many of today’s major museums.

P.S. 1 was founded in 1971 by current director Alanna Heiss and was primarily dedicated to transforming abandoned buildings in New York City into exhibition, performance, and studio space for artists. Today, P.S 1 operates two spaces for contemporary art: P.S 1 Contemporary Art Center, a huge hundred-room museum in Long Island City, Queens, and the Clocktower Gallery in Lower Manhattan which primarily contains production studios.

P.S. 1 does not collect art but rather has several long-term exhibits in addition to short-term exhibits. Currently featured is photography by acclaimed Butoh master Min Tanaka, as well as a dream-like constructive/surrealist environment created by Brazilian artist Tunga.

True to its desire for presenting “art of all media,” P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center has an Internet radio station, Art Radio WPS1.org. It features an MP3 stream of music, talk, and historical audio recordings as well as a free on-demand archive of over 1,200 programs.

Location: 22-25 Jackson Avenue (at 46th Avenue), Long Island City, Queens map (718) 784-2084

Subway: E or V to 23rd Street-Ely Avenue; G to 21st Street-Jackson Avenue; 7 to 45th Road-Court House Square

Hours: Noon – 6pm, Mon, Thurs-Sun. Closed Tue, Wed.

Cost: Suggested donation $5; $2 children and seniors. MoMA admission ticket holders receive complimentary admission to P.S. 1. The MoMA ticket must be presented at P.S. 1 within thirty days of date on ticket.

Photo Credit: outside, Flickr; 

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