Exactly one week ago I did something (to me) very, very exiting: I got up early on a weekday and went to the museum before work. The Museum of Modern Art (or short: MoMa) was hosting its last so-called “Quiet Mornings” in the month of October. Supposedly this had been a new idea for them and they tried it out throughout that month. The idea was to open up the museum every week on Wednesday at 7:30am until about 9am for people who wanted to experience the art by itself (without the nifty crowds and loud noise in the background). I don’t think I’ve ever seen MoMa this empty before.
For a peaceful hour you were able to stroll through the 4th and 5th floor galleries, look at amazing paintings, short films, and sculptures and simply be present in the current moment. Being discouraged to talk loudly or make a lot of noise certainly has its advantages when living in a city as busy as New York, where you are usually surrounded by both 24/7.
If desired, you were able to meditate on your own terms throughout the entire time.
At 8:30am a guided meditation took place on the ground floor level. Chairs, pillows and other comfortable seating options were provided to make this experience one of a kind. My mind was ultra-relaxed after a peaceful 30 minutes of not letting too many thoughts interfere with experiencing the present. It was certainly a great way to start off the day and go to work shortly thereafter.
This event was hosted by Flavorpill, who has many more yoga and meditation events in the works. I can’t wait to see another museum on their list.
[…] day 2 I wrote about quiet, meditative mornings in the MoMa, an experience I had about two weeks ago. I was so impressed by not seeing a quazillion amount of […]