A new museum is set to brighten up the Little Apple.
The Museum of Art and Light hosted its inaugural gala Saturday night for business leaders and members of the community, which served as the opening showcase for Manhattan’s new state-of-the-art space.
Museum executive director Erin Dragotto said her mission was to combine 21st-century technology with the visual and performing arts.
“We used the fine art of the founding collection to capture the attention of the 21st-century audience member and also embrace digital art,” Dragotto said. “Because we also wanted to be creating, not only housing and preserving art, but also creating with artists as well.”
Erick “Snowfro” Calderon is one of the artists who has work featured at the Museum, and was in attendance Saturday to speak with guests.
Calderon said a few years ago he started an online platform called “Art Blocks” to help people promote art made with computer coding.
He added that the turnout for the event was unlike anything he’s seen before in his art career.
“This is the most people that have ever seen my art,” Calderon said. “Definitely the most non-crypto bros that have ever seen my art. It’s very special just to have this much space and this much thoughtfulness go into my work. So it feels pretty special.”
Calderon and Dragotto said the new space represents a shift in museums and art.
Dragotto said the Museum of Art and Light is “laying the groundwork for what museums could and should be.”
“… artists are expressing themselves in new ways that I think are going to be more appealing to younger generations than some of your more traditional art practices,” Calderon said.
The public opening for the museum is Nov. 8.