How to Make the Most of Your Day at Rochester's Memorial Art Gallery!
For well over 100 years, the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester has been an important part of the fabric of the city, and now boasts an impressive permanent collection spanning over 12,000 pieces, not to mention the seemingly endless array or temporary exhibitions, lectures, workshops, and more.
Not unlike the George Eastman Museum, I don’t think a trip to Rochester is complete without dropping by the Memorial Art Gallery.
Ever since I can remember, I’ve relished the opportunity to visit museums. I’ve always been fascinated by the notion that you can enter a museum and leave hours later a little changed. It may indeed be a slight, almost infinitesimal difference, but there’s something I find moving about the idea that a visit to a good museum can irrevocably change us, and in almost all cases for the better.
With museums, I’m struck by the notion that we can’t move forward unless we understand from where we came.
As I’ve noted elsewhere, I also do feel that museums, particularly museums such as the Memorial Art Gallery, serve as a microcosm for the city at large. You get an eye into what is coveted and valued enough to be placed on a pedestal. What, ultimately, a city or institution feels that people should engage with and set eyes upon.
What is worth knowing and internalizing.
As of late, I do think we’ve also collectively come to realize that it’s kind of a wonderful thing to fill a block of time with something purposeful. What a treat it is, upon further reflection, to know that you can go somewhere and spend a day feeding your mind and soul.
I’ve had the good fortune of visiting the MAG each time I’ve come on down to Rochester, and I’d love to share how I feel you can get the most out of a visit there.
The Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester
The Memorial Art Gallery at the University of Rochester, or “The MAG” for short, aims to present a wide breadth of the world’s art that spans the last 5 millennia. It’s a very eclectic collection where you’ll find a little ancient Egypt in one area, but you’re likely just a short walk away from the work of a contemporary local artist.
Part of what makes a visit to the MAG fun is that it covers a ton of ground. I’d like to think that might also make it more fun for kids and families.
I’ll go over how I’d approach spending a day here in detail below, but it’s worth noting that they’ve got a few 21st century masterworks from the likes of Monet, Rembrandt, and O’Keeffe.
The gallery’s permanent collection houses over 12,000 objects, so this museum is no slouch, trust me. In fact, I Love NY (New York State’s official tourism website, for those who are unfamiliar) sums things up rather perfectly when noting that it’s “considered one of the finest regional art museums in the country,” and is “known for its comprehensive, well-balanced collection, and dynamic schedule of exhibitions year-round.”
It’s more than just a building though - it’s a 14 acre campus, and that “campus” just got a whole lot better thanks to the fairly recent addition of the Centennial Sculpture Park.
This civic art museum was originally founded in 1913, and it’s technically part of the University of Rochester. In fact, it occupies the southern half of what used to be the Prince Street Campus.
So, How Should You Spend Your Day at the MAG Rochester?
To make things easier for you, and for reference sake, let me first include the floor plan for the Gallery.
I’ll try to include to variety of ways that you can experience the MAG below, and then you craft an ideal itinerary for yourself for your visit.
Enjoy a Bistro Brunch at the Brown Hound Downtown
Can anyone actually focus on anything other than food when they’re hungry? I know I can’t, which is why I planned my last visit on a weekend so that I could eat the Bistro Brunch before my viewing even began. For reference, their hours are Saturday and Sunday from 9am-3pm.
Besides being a lovely atmosphere, the Brown Hound Downtown is known for their focus on the fresh and the hyperlocal. They do more than just brunch (they also offer lunch and dinner), the record.
On the brunch menu, there’s a whole bunch that’s exciting (yes, food literally excites me, and I won’t apologize for it), but I thought the Country Style Benedict was on another level. It features a cheddar-scallion biscuit, country ham, 2 eggs over easy, spicy hollandaise, and home fries. I didn’t know how much I loved spicy hollandaise until it arrived on a plate for me at the Brown Hound!
Throughout the meal (and after), I was also in caffeination mode (they’ve got you covered in that regard too, of course), so that when the meal finished, I was ready to wander the galleries.
Take Note of (and Visit) The Current Exhibitions
It seems almost self-evident to me to mention that you might want to start with the current exhibitions because, by their nature, they’re time sensitive. The permanent collection is of course rather…well, permanent.
The Memorial Art Gallery keeps their page on current exhibitions nice and up-to-date, so you can use that link to see what will be on for your visit, as well as how long it’ll be on for.
Remember when I described this museum as eclectic up above? Well, I’d like to think the exhibitions on when I visited exemplify that to a tee. I’ll run through them quickly so you see what I mean, and you’ll get a flavour for just how wide a net the MAG casts in their exhibitions.
“Faithfully Thought Out: The Artistic Collaborations of M. Louise Stowell and Harvey Ellis” (through January 5th): Inspired by a cache of paintings and drawings acquired by the Memorial Art Gallery in 2016, this exhibition illuminates Rochester artists M. Louise Stowell and Harvey Ellis and their friendship and collaboration during their years in Rochester. It recovers Stowell’s contributions to their playful artistic partnership and demonstrates their patient forethought and characteristic shared techniques.
“Drawing as Discovery: 500 Years of Drawings and Watercolors from MAG’s Permanent Collection (through January 12th): This exhibition showcases 100 stellar works selected from MAG’s holdings of over 2,000 drawings. Organized by artistic intent, it unites work across a breadth of cultures and time periods by the common principle that the very act of drawing is at the heart of artistic creativity. Significant work by well-known artists such as Lesley Dill, Edgar Degas, Georgia O’Keeffe, Francisco Goya, Rembrandt van Rijn, and Kara Walker is displayed alongside drawings of equally striking quality by lesser-known or unknown artists.
“Avinash Kumar’s Illusionary Odyssey” (ongoing): Illusionary Odyssey traverses both walls of the corridor and creates a sense of environment by using the architectural pillars in the space. The elements in the artwork show the process of life from creation to destination as manifested by a bird of paradise searching for its ultimate home. Geometric forms within a three-dimensional space show the ups and downs of the journey create the landscape for the entire composition.
You can visit them all on your visit, or spend time in the current exhibitions that align with your interests. However, due to the fact that they may not be there on your next visit to the MAG, it’s worth knowing what’s on, and when the exhibition will be finishing.
If you want to get an even greater sense of what sort of exhibitions the Memorial Art Gallery prioritizes, you can also see their past exhibitions. Finally, if you know exactly when you’ll be in Rochester, then you can see their future exhibitions right here.
Pop Into the Store @ MAG
What I like about the Store @ MAG is their focus on sourcing products from the local art community. Think unique pieces of handmade jewelry, and artsy items that you can bring back to your place to add some colour or zest to your home.
Beyond supporting artists with your purchases, you’re also providing funding for future exhibitions and educational programs.
The store is open Wednesday-Sunday from 11am-5pm, Thursdays until 9pm, and select $5 Fridays. If you don’t know, $5 Fridays are themed Friday nights where you can visit for just a 5 dollar bill. There’s live music, film screenings, tours, lectures and more.
The Store’s Instagram account if a great place to stay up to date on what they’ve recently got in.
Keep Your Eye on Upcoming Lectures, Concerts, Tours, and Family Activities
A performance that Bri and I attended in 2019.
The easiest way to do this is by taking a peek at the MAG Calendar. You’ll find pretty much all the comings and goings of the museum there, but you might be particularly interested in taking a docent-led public tour. Tour times are Thursdays at 6:45 pm, and then Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11:15am. In the summer (July-September), just the Thursday tour is running.
If you get a chance to see the organ in action, you absolutely should take advantage. Typically, they have a Third Thursday Concert (which you’ll see on the calendar) where you can see the remarkable 18th century organ in action.
Not this past visit but the one before, I happened upon an Eastman School of Music student playing one afternoon, and it was absolutely sensational. Longtime readers will know that I’m borderline obsessed on taking advantage at destinations of what you could not do elsewhere. Well, I don’t know that many other places in the US that have this kind of opportunity on offer. Even if you can’t hear it in action, it’s still beautiful to set eyes upon.
Explore the Outdoors
Many people don’t realize that the Memorial Art Gallery is, in its current form, much more a complex than a single building or “classic” rendition of a museum.
That is perhaps best exemplified by the Centennial Sculpture Park which first opened in 2013 to mark its 100 year anniversary. Since they broke ground on this project (quite literally) the progress has been steady and impressive. You’ll now find work commissioned by major artists around Centennial Sculpture Park, including work like Wendell Castle’s Unicorn Family which includes a table, chairs, and even a lamp - ultimately inviting guests to sit down for a moment and appreciate their surroundings.
You’re best to take your time and discover things of your own accord, as opposed to me guiding you. That being said, don’t miss Soliloquy, the 25 foot stainless steel sculpture at the Goodman Street entrance.
You’ll also want to take a moment to look a little more carefully at Argentum: Double-Positive. It’s the bronze statue in front of the MAG’s 1913 building. The real magic with this piece is that the cylinders light up at night and project onto the surrounding landscape.
Rashid Johnson’s “Broken Pavilion”, Photography by Andy Oleniks/Fotoworks
Most recently, Chicago-born artist Rashid Johnson created "Broken Pavilion," a monumental 90-foot-long sculptural installation for The Memorial Art Gallery's Sculpture Park. This abstract U-shaped wall, covering around 1,600 square feet, features mosaic artwork on all sides, crafted from hand-cut tiles by the award-winning mosaic designer Artaic. Their proprietary software, Tylist, translates Johnson's original work into mosaic designs, which are then produced by American-made robots into 1’ x 1’ sheets for installation.
Inspired by interactions with students during his visit, Johnson's "Broken Pavilion" serves now as the park's focal point, inviting visitors to engage with the space. The artwork showcases a series of characters referred to as the "broken men," often depicted as an audience. Thanks to the durable nature of the mosaic, "Broken Pavilion" will stand as a lasting piece of art in the park for years to come.
Give Yourself Time to See the Permanent Collection
Simply put, it would be a mistake to come to the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester and not take ample time to soak in the permanent collection, which is widely considered to be one of the great treasures of the city.
The floor map up above actually serves as an adequate guide for navigating the museum, at least on a cursory level, but I’m going to quote some of what they note on their site to guide visitors.
Firstly though, I found this page invaluable for browsing the collection. It’s organized by subjects, time periods, types of art, geographic regions and so much more.
“On the first floor, the Arts of Africa, Oceania and the Americas gallery brings together objects created for both ceremonial and everyday use…The collection of American art ranges from the colonial period to the present and includes 19th & 20th century masterpieces of American landscape and realist painting.
On the second floor, the Helen H. Berkeley Gallery of Ancient Art showcases Greek, Etruscan, Roman, and Egyptian works. One highlight is an important set of Egyptian coffins…Just a few steps away, the At the Crossroads gallery brings together works from the ancient Middle East and the Islamic world. The nearby Asian Art gallery showcases paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts of all eras, including a rotating selection of works on paper.
The medieval gallery includes textiles, sculpture, painting, and metalwork from European Christendom.
Newly conserved tapestries are a highlight of the Renaissance Gallery, and the adjacent Fountain Court features an Italian Baroque organ.”
Here’s a list what the museum considers to be their MAG Favourites:
Interlude by Maxfield Parrish
The Organ
Memory by William Ordway Partridge
Oxen on the Beach by Joaquin Sorolla y Bastida
The White Bridge by John Henry Twachtman
The Ships by Maurice Prendergast
Girl with a Tricorne (Vénitienne) by Henri Matisse
Black-Figure Kylix with Dionysian Revelers by Unknown
Court Musicians from a Tomb by Unknown
Tapestry: Trellised Garden with Animals by Wilhelm de Pannemaker
Dancers by Edgar Degas
Torso of a Young Man by Unknown
Early Moonrise in Florida by George Inness
The Apparition of the Virgin to St. Hyacinth by Domenikos Theotocopoulos
William H. Macdowell by Thomas Eakins
The Artist's Studio in an Afternoon Fog by Winslow Homer
Election Night by John Sloan
Bodhisattva Guanyin on Mount Potala by Unknown
Sullivan Street by Everett Shinn
Evening Group by George Bellows
What Else Do You Need to Know About This Beloved Rochester Museum?
Those who have been reading along with me for ages will know that I am nothing if not thorough, so here’s a few other things I think you should consider/know or order to maximize your visit.
They offer a ton of classes and workshops for people of all ages. If you live in Rochester or the surrounding area, don’t miss what’s on offer.
They’re committed to accessibility. If you require designated parking, want to bring a service animal, will be arriving with a wheelchair, are hearing impaired or have vision loss or have other special needs, please use this link to find out more information.
They’re open Wednesday, as well as Friday-Sunday from 11am-5pm, Thursday from 11am-9pm, and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Prices may change by the time you read this article, but currently general admission comes in at $20, the senior rate is $18, college students are $9, children ages 6-18 are $11, and it’s free to University of Rochester students and faculty, as well as MAG Members. Half-Price admission is also available Thursday after five.
I’ve tried to share everything you might want to know to make the most of your visit. At the end of the day, this is why I do what I do - I love the idea that the work I put in now might help you with your future explorations. So, I hope this encourages you to visit this museum again, and I’ve armed you with the tools to make memorable, lasting memories.
I want to humbly thank Visit Rochester for hosting me as media. All opinions are completely my own.
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