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The Whitney's new 'eye-popping' pop up
As jackhammers are hard at work in New York's Meatpacking District readying a swath of land there for the new downtown Whitney Museum of American Art, an eye-popping shipping container has arrived on the scene at the Whitney’s uptown location.
What is it for? Designed by LOT-EK, the 472 sq ft structure, which will occupy half of the Whitney’s open Sculpture Court later this April, will house studio space for education programs for adults, families, and teens. Called the Whitney Studio, it will house a myriad of programs including, classes, studio demonstrations, and art making workshops. It will also function as an exhibition space to showcase work created by program participants.
The architecture concept employs six steel shipping containers stacked on two levels to for a single volume. A diagonal strip of glass cuts across the volume, allowing light to penetrate and accommodating views into and out of the studio.
Kathyrn A. Potts, Associate Director and Helena Rubinstein Chair for Education for the Whitney said: “The Whitney Studio will enable us to experiment with new ways of integrating art making and experiential learning with our more traditional work in the galleries. Coinciding with the 2012 Biennial, this is the perfect time to give our audiences the opportunity to learn for themselves how contemporary artists think and work.”
With uses ranging from a formal meeting space or seminar room to a screening room or messy art studio, the structure will provide flexible space for the Whitney’s signature education offerings, as well as new experimental programs.
Sharon McHugh
US Correspondent
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