Accessible Guide to Queens Museum

Supporting Artists with Disabilities!

The art installation sits within a bright, modern gallery space. At the center is a white circular platform adorned with numerous colorful flowers arrayed in shades of red, pink, and burgundy. Long ribbons in purple and red drape from the ceiling, converging on a single white pole—a symbolic white cane—at the circle's center. Three white dog figures, sculpted in a human-like form, are positioned around the platform. They interact with the pole and ribbons in what appears to be a dynamic and possibly celebratory fashion, injecting life into the scene. The wall art around the installation features stylized trees with leaves in shades of dark and light green, a blue crescent moon, and a full orange circle representing the sun. The ambiance is one of serenity, with the installation drawing viewers into its playful and colorful space. Lakshmee and Annie are in the back of the room on separate ends.

Finally reaching the Queens Museum was a triumph! We've faced numerous transportation challenges over the years because it's situated in Flushing Meadows Park without a clear building address. Navigating transportation has been one of our biggest challenges to exploring, but that's a story for another day. There's something quite extraordinary about stepping into a place you've longed to visit for a while, which for us included both the Unisphere and the Queens Museum.

Upon arrival, we were immediately greeted by Glori Tuitt's mural, "Black, Trans, & Alive (Qweens Song)." This piece is a vibrant celebration of the Black trans community, highlighting their resilience and contributions with both boldness and beauty. It created a welcoming atmosphere for our visit, starting us off with visible disability representation—a serendipitous discovery.

With Annie being an artist, supporting the work of other artists with disabilities is important to all of us. This made the extra effort we put into getting transportation to Queens even more meaningful, as it ensured that we could experience Emilie L. Gossiaux’s “Other Worlding”.

Emilie L. Gossiaux is a blind artist and with this exhibit, she imagines a world where disabled and non-disabled beings, including animals, live together as equals. Inspired by Donna Haraway's idea of a fair society without hierarchies, Gossiaux creates an art installation featuring her guide dog, London, as a life-sized figure dancing around a huge white cane. This cane, a symbol of independence for blind and low-vision people, is made three times larger, drawing attention to its role in providing freedom. In this space, London is free from her leash, showing a world where everyone can move freely. The exhibition, with its mix of fantasy elements like dog-women and an oversized cane, celebrates the joy of disability and autonomy.

While we came for the art, we were captivated by another unexpected highlight: The Panorama of the City of New York. This expansive miniature offers a glimpse into the city's architectural history. As we walked around it, we enjoyed spotting as many landmarks as possible, marveling at the creativity on display. Make sure you check this out as it's quite unique!

We spent a significant amount of time in the gift shop, delighting in the wide selection of books that celebrated a variety of identities and stories (quite possibly more than we had seen in any of the museum shops in the city). Dining out is always a treat, and our infrequent visits to Queens made the discovery of various culinary delights in the spacious cafeteria all the more enjoyable. From the sweet Vietnamese coffee and tasting the rich Kuro Goma (Black Sesame) Latte for the first time to the savory Halal pastrami and the array of gluten-free desserts, these treats captured the diverse spirit of Queens. Our time was enriched by engaging conversations with the welcoming staff.

Our excursion to the Queens Museum transcended a mere outing; it was a collective celebration of the arts honoring diversity and disability inclusion, challenging perspectives on who can be an artist (power to Emilie!), and fostering local community connections. Coupled with the discovery of unexpected treats, it was precisely the type of day we treasure in our city, filled with new experiences and lasting memories.

Suggested Duration:  approx. 2 hours

Accessibility Information: 

• The entire museum has an airy feel with couches and benches scattered throughout the open areas. Some of the gallery rooms are smaller but the pathways are all wide enough for a wheelchair user.
• Wheelchair accessible restrooms and changing table available on the first floor.
• Service Animals are welcomed.
• The museum offers a comprehensive accessibility information, click here to view.
• The museum offers ArtAccess Guided Tours and Workshops, click here for more details.

Location: 
Queens Museum
New York City Building
Flushing Meadows, Corona Park
Queens, NY 11368
Phone: +1 718-592-9700 ext. 130
Website:https://queensmuseum.org 
Email: artaccess@queensmuseum.org 

Admissions:
Free for Caretaker

Suggested Admission
Adult $8
Senior $6
Student $6 with ID

Transportation:  It is complicated to get to because of its location in the park. Their website provides detailed information,  click here to view.

Dining: There is a cafe on premise and we enjoyed their small selection of local treats. There are a few hot items offered and a majority pre-packaged treats. 

An unexpected delight, Accessible Resource Materials!
After our return home and during the writing of this blog post, I realized that there were accessible materials available for Emilie's art. We were able to order a braille description package and a Tactile graphic of Emilie Gossiaux's "Londons Dancing with Flowers" (11 x 16"), easily a framable piece of art!

Important: Information is subject to change, please visit their website https://queensmuseum.org/ for the most up to date details.
Oct 2024