- National Museum of Catholic Art and History
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East Harlem
The National Museum of Catholic Art and History, located in Manhattan's East Harlem neighborhood, is a museum that focuses on the many facets of Catholic art.[1] It was founded by Christina Cox in 1995.
According to Christina Cox, the museum's founder, she fulfilled her life-long dream of opening the first Catholic museum in the United States after receiving a blessing from then-Pope John Paul II.[2][3] The museum has received support from the Archdiocese of New York although there is no connection between the two.[4] Following controversy regarding the museum's status as a charity and its collection of funds, the diocese sought unsuccessfully to have the word Catholic removed from the museum's name.[5]
The museum's diverse collection, which is meant to focus on the many facets of Catholic art,[1] is believed by some to lack a unifying theme, relying instead on whatever donations are available.[6]
The museum's original location was in the Olympic Towers on Fifth Avenue, near St. Patrick's Cathedral, a location that allowed the museum to take advantage of other Christmas celebrations in the neighborhood. The museum moved several times, including to locations near Radio City Music Hall.[2] In 2002, faced with increasing rents, the museum moved to its current home on E. 115th Street, the former home of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine[7] which had recently been spared significant damage from a fire.[4] The museum received around four million dollars in grants from New York State, in the hopes that it would help revitalize East Harlem.[8]
The museum was credited with helping to shape and develop the so-called "new Harlem" that was evolving as a result of increased money and the gentrification of the neighborhood. Following an $8 million renovation, the museum also planned an exhibit on the history of East Harlem, acknowledging the role of the church that housed it in the formerly Italian neighborhood that is now known as Spanish Harlem.[1][9] The museum retains its commitment to the community, participating in initiatives including Harlem One Stop.[10]
The museum announced on 17 May 2010 that it is closing, and hopes to move to Washington, D.C.[8]
See also
- History of Roman Catholicism in the United States
- Roman Catholicism in the United States
References
- ^ a b c Dunlap, David W. (2002-02-10). "The Changing Look of the New Harlem". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E03EEDC173CF933A25751C0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- ^ a b Bell, Charles W. (1997-12-13). "From Musing to Art Museum". The Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1997/12/13/1997-12-13_from_musing_to_art_museum.html. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- ^ Wharton, Tom (2002-10-13). "New Museum Features Catholic Art, History". The Salt Lake Tribune. http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SLTB&p_theme=sltb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=100DF412D05692C9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- ^ a b Kissell, Howard (1999-05-31). "The Miracle on E. 115th Street". The Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/1999/05/31/1999-05-31_the_miracle_on_e__115th_st__.html. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- ^ Barrett, Wayne (2001-06-12). "Dark Angels of a Bogus Catholic Museum". The Village Voice. http://www.villagevoice.com/2001-06-12/news/dark-angels-of-a-bogus-catholic-museum/. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- ^ Joseph, Berger (2003-07-04). "Ethnic Museums Abounding". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E5D8113AF937A35754C0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- ^ "Our History". National Museum of Catholic Art and History. http://www.nmcah.org/about.htm. Retrieved 2008-08-17.[dead link]
- ^ a b Flynn, Kevin; Alison Leigh Cowan (17 May 2010). "Catholic Museum’s Angels Fail to Save It". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/18/arts/design/18catholic.htm?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1275941106-DT/VD0P+DnRzpFjYTcHTqQ. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ^ Berger, Joseph (2002-11-11). "Sit in This Chair, Go Back in Time; Barber Is Unchanged as Old Neighborhood Vanishes". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01E1DB1331F932A25752C1A9649C8B63. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
- ^ "National Museum of Catholic Art and History". Harlem One Stop. http://www.harlemonestop.com/organization.php?id=221. Retrieved 2008-08-17.
External links
Categories:- Roman Catholic Church art
- Roman Catholic Church in the United States
- Religious museums in New York
- Art museums in New York
- American national museums in New York
- Museums in Manhattan
- Museums established in 1995
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