The Masterpieces of the MoMA Part II: A Starry Night and a 5-Story Tapestry

Masterpiece. When one hears that word, it speaks of greatness. An original. Something so remarkable that it is set apart for generations to see.

When I as a kid, I didn’t have great appreciation for modern art. It was only when I took a class at the university level (about incorporating art into the classroom), that I began to appreciate the works of Van Gogh and Picasso. Today, I am a huge fan. For the 21 years that I taught in the classroom, at least one print of their works hung in my classroom. What brought us to the MoMA was a chance to see the original Starry Night. But there was so much more.

We saw multiple works of cubism by Picasso, the pastels of Monet, the many faces of Cezanne, the organized randomness of Jackson Pollack, the glowing neon of Glenn Ligon, and oil paintings of Gauguin to name a few. I was introduced to the works of Picabia – huge fan now. There is an original O’Keeffe hanging on one of their walls.

But my favorite was a five story tapestry by Otobong Nkanga called Cadence. It was complete with long chords suspended from the ceiling which had the sounds of humanity playing. I just sat down and enjoyed it. To the side, a description read, “My works connect us to our shared histories, not just through land and geography, but through emotions shaped by events and encounters. These are the cadences of life.” I wish I had written that. But really isn’t that what we want from the educational experiences that we plan(for our students) as teachers? Students are shaped through events and encounters in our classrooms – learning that sticks. There it is. A common theme from this blog -> experiential learning!!! Events and encounters are not standardized assessments. Events and encounters inspire us to be something more. Now, that will preach.

As we left, all of us were reminded of the value of modern art. And we did get to see what we came to see. It didn’t disappoint. Just a little bit at a time as we walked through each hall, we were inspired to greatness.

ProTip: As I was writing this, I am reminded that great classroom lessons are masterpieces. They are one-of-a-kind experiences which change those in their presence. Sometimes they are planned for, and sometimes they just happen. Those lessons(or sequences of lessons if you are lucky) stand alone as high water marks which immerse students in the wonders of learning. They will always remember them. Great works of art invoke a depth of connection which really can’t be described – just experienced.

Put the MoMA on your list of things to see in the Big Apple. Make sure to leave yourself enough time to enjoy it. You won’t want to rush through this. Savor every bit of it.