Museum Musing

This morning we were greeted at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Art by Veronica Ocasio, the Director of Programming and Education along with her team. Like the National Museum of Mexican Art they have not charged admission from the start. There is a fascinating dichotomy here between the larger museums (The Shedd and Field) being paid while the smaller museums remain free even in the face of extremely difficult financial circumstances. Ignaik, the lead docent and manager of guest services, gave us a tremendous tour of the galleries. He was so personable and thoughtful that he made the artist’s stories come to life. You could see the care and passion he had, not just for the NMPRA but for the history and culture of the Puerto Rico and its diaspora.

Then we were whisked away to the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art where Elena graciously welcomed us into their kitchen for lunch. She spoke us of the founding of the UIMA by two Ukrainian artists who sought to create a community for like minded people and the struggle to get a permanent physical space. The second half of the afternoon was spent at the Ukrainian National Museum where Kseniia and Halyna welcomed us. Kseniia, despite her insistence that she was not the ‘wise’ one, lead our tour with charm, knowledge, and grace for hard topics.

With these smaller museums it really does feel like the staff are welcoming you into their homes. The joy and pride they exude while they show you around warms you nearly as well as hot coffee and pastries. Above all else today, this had been the thing that I want to bring with me into my museum practice. I want everyone who visits my site to feel at home and therefore comfortable enough to ask whatever burning questions they have. And if those questions have hard answers I would hope that the comfort I built allows those hard conversations to go smoothly with mutual respect.

A clay piece by a Black artist on display at the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art for the “Black Women and Clay” show. Demonstrating the platform for all artists the UIMA provides in Chicago.