Muskegon Museum of Art — Attraction in Muskegon

I love the art museum, and it's such an asset to the local community. I don't mind paying for admission or buying something from the gift shop, but it always seems like I end up here on a Thursday when it's free, which works out in my favor. I love walking sitting among the art, either in the permanent collection with old friends or in the rotating collection (I'm glad they marked things as "do not touch" because I'm likely to touch a display as I sometimes think art can be hands on, so it's tricky sometimes, but it depends on the art piece.) The staff is wonderful, and I think they've started to remember who I am (I'm the lady that writes poetry about the art... haha. Oh no. I'm gaining a reputation.) But, I enjoy the art so very much. Art is a matter of perspective and a conversation between people about what it means. It's a matter of seeing and thinking and feeling. It is singular and whole. One can go and look at beautiful things, or look at things and be moved. Art speaks quietly, it catches up to you when you least expect it. It takes your breath away. It can start a riot in your soul and put a stranglehold on you, quite controversially. Art, in my opinion, even the most mundane of pieces, is anything but pedantic because it has a history. And you just...

Muskegon Museum of Art is the most beautiful, impressive art museum I've been to in the state of Michigan (I'm counting the Detroit Institute of Art on that list as well and the MMA beats it, hands down). The permanent collection is bigger than one can imagine and they switch it up regularly. The special exhibits are to die for. They always have cutting edge, stunning works. And the people!! I can't begin to say enough about them. Incredible, kind, friendly...exactly the type of wonderful people you come to expect to find in Muskegon. Charles Hackley left an endowment to the museum and they use that very well, purchasing and curating a beautiful collection. (Insiders note: in the permanent collection, there is a number and year on each plaque. These indicate the year purchased and the number in that year purchased. ie 5/1894. Gives even more impact, to me, of how dear Charles Hackley's endowment is to the city he loved.) There is also a lovely gift shop with lots of unique things and the programs they offer are wonderful. The MMA is the embodiment of the grace and beauty...

The museum was lovely but our enjoyment was ruined after being assailed by staff and forced to forego our, much safer, face shields for cloth masks. The face shields stop one from touching ones face - block all air-born droplets, both coming and going, and allow for unrestricted breathing. All this safety was given up for a cloth mask that one must constantly readjust after speaking, does not protect the eyes, nose or mouth against air-born droplets, and has one constantly touching ones face in an effort to keep it in place, and restricts breathing. The security director even when so far as to print an outdated CDC guideline (and it's ONLY a guideline) about full face shields to force us to switch to the much less safe nose/mouth masks. I will never return to this museum - have revoked my patronage, and will spread the word everywhere I can about forcing patrons to use a far less safe method of...