How deserted lies the city
May 5, 2015 9:24 AM Subscribe
New York's Museum of Biblical Art is closing June 14th, despite large recent crowds (NYT). Often confused for a evangelical organization, perhaps because of its name, MOBIA is something unique: a secular institution that is serious about placing religious art clearly in the context of the beliefs that inspired it. David van Biema explains what we are losing.
This really does seem like a failure of branding and marketing, rather than some inherent lack of interest in the subject. I had never heard of this place before despite actively seeking out museums in NYC to visit.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:31 AM on May 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:31 AM on May 5, 2015 [3 favorites]
....I've lived here for over 20 years and have never heard of this place. When did it open?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:31 AM on May 5, 2015
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:31 AM on May 5, 2015
What a goddamned shame. Thanks for posting, Pater Aletheias.
posted by clockzero at 9:33 AM on May 5, 2015
posted by clockzero at 9:33 AM on May 5, 2015
They had a strong show about vernacualr american bible exhibitions. i've wanted to show there for years.
posted by PinkMoose at 9:44 AM on May 5, 2015
posted by PinkMoose at 9:44 AM on May 5, 2015
This really does seem like a failure of branding and marketing, rather than some inherent lack of interest in the subject. I had never heard of this place before despite actively seeking out museums in NYC to visit.
Seconded. I'd have loved to visit this place on one of my regular jaunts, and have spent plenty of time hunting out obscure museums in the city (top tip: Visit the Elevator Museum) but I have never once encountered a reference to this place.
posted by garius at 9:51 AM on May 5, 2015
Seconded. I'd have loved to visit this place on one of my regular jaunts, and have spent plenty of time hunting out obscure museums in the city (top tip: Visit the Elevator Museum) but I have never once encountered a reference to this place.
posted by garius at 9:51 AM on May 5, 2015
Wow, had no idea this place was closing. I'm right there every weekend, and now I feel kind of guilty for never going inside.
posted by holborne at 9:55 AM on May 5, 2015
posted by holborne at 9:55 AM on May 5, 2015
Also the location was great cause it's close enough to things you might visit (Lincoln center, Columbus Circle, Central Park ) and serviced by subways but the actual block its on is dull so it's a pleasant surprise.
That's a custom made building its in too, I guess they'll have to knock it down.
posted by The Whelk at 10:00 AM on May 5, 2015
That's a custom made building its in too, I guess they'll have to knock it down.
posted by The Whelk at 10:00 AM on May 5, 2015
I had no idea this was nonreligious. I've seen it a dozen times but I figured it was a 'museum'.
I will absolutely try to get there before it closes.
posted by Skorgu at 10:25 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
I will absolutely try to get there before it closes.
posted by Skorgu at 10:25 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
I do remember thinking it was an evangelical "museum" when it opened but before I went to a show so maybe it was bad branding.
posted by The Whelk at 10:28 AM on May 5, 2015
posted by The Whelk at 10:28 AM on May 5, 2015
Yeah, I also never went because I assumed I'd be evangelized.
posted by ocherdraco at 11:07 AM on May 5, 2015
posted by ocherdraco at 11:07 AM on May 5, 2015
Count me as one of the people who passed this museum regularly, often thought the advertised exhibition looked really interesting, and never went in because I thought it was an evangelical/ proselytizing thing and didn't want to get pissed off at how they described the Jewish artifacts.
I only found out I was wrong over the winter, when they announced they had sold the space. Now I'm kicking myself.
Also probably slated for disappearance, this statue / bench which sits outside.
posted by Mchelly at 11:44 AM on May 5, 2015
I only found out I was wrong over the winter, when they announced they had sold the space. Now I'm kicking myself.
Also probably slated for disappearance, this statue / bench which sits outside.
posted by Mchelly at 11:44 AM on May 5, 2015
61st and Broadway is not a neighborhood I would expect to find a "real" museum in. And while I've been searching for free and cheap things to do in the city (There Are LOTS of free and cheap things to do), I have also not run across any mention of this.
If I had, I would also have been among those hesitant to investigate because I avoid evangelism at all costs.
So add me to the number that's got a new place to visit before June 14th. Maybe we should have a meetup?
posted by bilabial at 11:58 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
If I had, I would also have been among those hesitant to investigate because I avoid evangelism at all costs.
So add me to the number that's got a new place to visit before June 14th. Maybe we should have a meetup?
posted by bilabial at 11:58 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]
....I've lived here for over 20 years and have never heard of this place. When did it open?
May 2005.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:37 PM on May 5, 2015
May 2005.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:37 PM on May 5, 2015
I had never heard of the place, either (but then, I'm an uncouth Texan, so what do you expect?) until I happened to run across the van Biema article, and now I really wish I had known to go there on one of my few NYC trips. I hate hearing about something I would have loved just after it's too late for me to experience it.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:41 PM on May 5, 2015
posted by Pater Aletheias at 12:41 PM on May 5, 2015
What's funny is, the Cloisters Museum is almost entirely Christian or Christian-adjacent art, but it bills itself as 'medieval' and not 'Christian' and as a result, doesn't have this issue at all from what I can tell.
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:05 PM on May 5, 2015
posted by showbiz_liz at 1:05 PM on May 5, 2015
What's funny is, the Cloisters Museum is almost entirely Christian or Christian-adjacent art, but it bills itself as 'medieval' and not 'Christian' and as a result, doesn't have this issue at all from what I can tell.
People have also heard of the Cloisters. The other posters are right: this is a total PR failure. I also actively seek out new NYC museums to visit and never heard of this place. It seems like people either hadn't heard of it or thought it was some evangelical thing. Whoever did their marketing did an awful job.
posted by Sangermaine at 2:07 PM on May 5, 2015
People have also heard of the Cloisters. The other posters are right: this is a total PR failure. I also actively seek out new NYC museums to visit and never heard of this place. It seems like people either hadn't heard of it or thought it was some evangelical thing. Whoever did their marketing did an awful job.
posted by Sangermaine at 2:07 PM on May 5, 2015
How deserted lies the city
Now my heart's drowned in no love streams,
yeah
posted by Herodios at 7:20 PM on May 5, 2015
Now my heart's drowned in no love streams,
yeah
posted by Herodios at 7:20 PM on May 5, 2015
...to “argue from a secular perspective that the Bible is a culturally foundational text, which has greatly influenced artists historically and continues to inspire the creation of countless important works of art today.” You would think that would give even more people enough reason to read the book. Then again, it is still the world's best-seller, as it has been for decade after decade. Must be some good stuff in there, wouldn't ya say? <><
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 7:43 PM on May 5, 2015
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 7:43 PM on May 5, 2015
Sat on this for a couple of days, but it's still bugging me, so I apologize that I can't let it go.
I'm a fairly religious person, and Seekerofsplendor's comment is pretty much exactly why I didn't go into the museum - even when I was nearby and had time to kill and the window ad looked interesting. My version of the bible isn't a world's best seller. And popularity isn't an indicator of truth or wisdom. This is an art museum. No one who goes there should be raised-eyebrowed into being told to read a religious work for, you know, their own good.
It's possible that the museum is/was able to bridge that problem - how to talk intelligently about religion and the religious/evangelical underpinnings of explicitly religious imagery without drifting into preaching or, conversely, offending the believers. Walking the middle line sounds like an ideal approach. And I'm definitely planning to go before they close (would love to second bilabial's idea of a meetup). But the problem with a true middle is that it also contains an uncertainty of tone that automatically makes it harder for both religious people and atheists to know whether they would be comfortable there. Better PR might not have helped, if the problem was that you had to go to appreciate it.
posted by Mchelly at 8:02 AM on May 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
I'm a fairly religious person, and Seekerofsplendor's comment is pretty much exactly why I didn't go into the museum - even when I was nearby and had time to kill and the window ad looked interesting. My version of the bible isn't a world's best seller. And popularity isn't an indicator of truth or wisdom. This is an art museum. No one who goes there should be raised-eyebrowed into being told to read a religious work for, you know, their own good.
It's possible that the museum is/was able to bridge that problem - how to talk intelligently about religion and the religious/evangelical underpinnings of explicitly religious imagery without drifting into preaching or, conversely, offending the believers. Walking the middle line sounds like an ideal approach. And I'm definitely planning to go before they close (would love to second bilabial's idea of a meetup). But the problem with a true middle is that it also contains an uncertainty of tone that automatically makes it harder for both religious people and atheists to know whether they would be comfortable there. Better PR might not have helped, if the problem was that you had to go to appreciate it.
posted by Mchelly at 8:02 AM on May 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
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posted by The Whelk at 9:29 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]