The MOMA Interviews

All of the chapters in my soon-to-be-published book, The Magic of Modern Art: How to Love It, have been written, edited and fine-tooth-comb edited. Except one that is yet unwritten. It’s the one in which I share the most delectable verbal morsels culled from live interviews I conducted with fifteen different art professionals. 

They include artists, art teachers, professors, gallerists and art directors, all of whom share a profound love of Modern Art (by which term, I include Contemporary Art, as well). 

I inquired with each one into the ways that Modern Art engages and delights them. I asked them to expound on the issues I think I would want to hear about if I were someone who wanted to learn how to get the most I could from my experience of viewing Modern Art.

I asked them what they think about when looking at Modern Art, what they love about it and how they make the most of their art-viewing time. I asked them how they explore the art and what their main criteria are for determining how successful they deem a work of art to be.

I posed questions designed to reveal how they navigate the ins and outs of relating to Modern Art, like, “ Is there art that you consider successful but don’t like?” and, “How do you deal with Modern Art toward which you have an immediate negative reaction?”

Their candid, spontaneous responses provide insight into their powerful ways to approach being with Modern Art. Listening to them speak of their passion gave me a newly-kindled passion for seeing Modern Art, myself. 

In my book, I assert repeatedly that there isn’t any “right way” to approach, think about or experience Modern Art. Naturally, there’s some overlap in what the interviewees have to say but what stands out the most for me is that loving Modern Art is an individual, personal affair!