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Rashid Johnson’s Innovative Exhibit at the Guggenheim

Naomi Beckwith, the deputy director and chief curator of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, expresses enthusiasm for the museum’s resurgence as a hub for artistic innovation following the disruptions caused by the COVID pandemic. “We hadn’t seen these grand gestures since before the height of the COVID pandemic, so we’re all so excited to have the museum return to form as a building that inspires artists to take risks and play with the architecture,” she notes. Beckwith co-curated the exhibition titled “A Poem for Deep Thinkers,” alongside Andrea Karnes, who serves as the interim director and chief curator of the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth in Texas. This exhibit is set to run from March 8 to October 4, 2026, before moving to the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago.

Beckwith highlights the significance of Rashid Johnson’s contributions to the exhibition, stating, “Rashid Johnson’s particular intervention is a wonderful echo of Frank Lloyd Wright’s desire to always have living plants in the building. Like Wright, Rashid believes that a museum is a living, breathing entity that can house vivacity and life—not just still objects.” This perspective emphasizes how contemporary art can transcend the traditional boundaries of museums.

One of the distinctive features of the exhibit is the inclusion of a piano nestled within the lush greenery of Sanguine. This instrument will serve as a focal point for a series of performances scheduled throughout the exhibition’s duration. In addition, the exhibit will include a range of public programs hosted in collaboration with cultural institutions such as the Academy of American Poets and the Harlem School of the Arts, all taking place on a stage specifically designed by Johnson for the Guggenheim’s iconic rotunda.

Johnson emphasizes the importance of community engagement in art, stating, “I’ve thought a lot in my work about platforming. I’ve had many opportunities to have my voice amplified as an artist, and I really like the idea that you can create a stage for people in different communities to have a voice.” He previously explored these themes in 2022 with a participatory installation called Stage at MoMA PS1, which examined the historical significance of the microphone in protests and public speech. Johnson’s ties to the Guggenheim run deep; he is a former board member and has supported its internship initiatives.

With an array of thought-provoking works and performances on the horizon, Johnson invites visitors to visit multiple times for deeper engagement: “Just give me two days,” he challenges. “Two visits.”

“Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers” is on view at the Guggenheim through January 18.

Source
www.vogue.com