MoMA PS1 — Attraction in New York

I went for a job interview a few years back at this location. I was interviewed by 3 white women who were very skinny (two brunettes & a dirty blonde). Two of the women seemed friendly and one was staring at me and rolling her eyes with an attitude on my left, as I was answering questions. The blonde asked me about the MOMA PS1, and I asked her what she knew of the history there and she didn't know anything. I finished the interview which was recommended by my school at the time, LaGuardia Community College. Now, I mentioned they were white and very skinny women above because I am a plus-sized Hispanic woman, and I gained weight due to a lot of stress and a funeral that happened which I did not mention to them (who would during an interview?), but the point is that when I was escorted by one of the women to see the museum (which I already saw and mentioned it), She told me if "Stairs were okay for me?", (and she was one of the friendly ones, or so I thought) when we were walking towards the stars and I literally just got on the first step. I was in shock, upset, but tried to stay professional and I said "Yes, I can walk up stairs, and its fine its great exercise", and I ran up the stairs just fine because in college we often all go up the stairs, so I was used to it. But, her comment was very rude and disrespectful to ask me something like that because just because I am fat does not mean I am not capable of walking up stairs, or having any mobility, or doing my job (because all my professors, family, friends, and the people I volunteered to work with know how hard I work, and I move fast for my size on campus, which many of my peers have stated themselves).

I felt discriminated against on my weight in this place and who knows if race was an issue too (but IDK), but it was very unprofessional of her to ask me if stairs were okay for me when I was also in my mid 20s. And when she said those words to me, I automatically knew I was not going to be hired because of my weight and all of them were judging me based on that more than anything. Those women really need a reality check on what plus-size people can do, because if they have ever seen YouTube videos or any social medias, even articles of Plus-Size Athletes, Yoga Instructors, Dancers, and more, I don't think that lazy, fat, incapable people would be a bias in there minds anymore (maybe).

On top of that, before the interview I was waiting on a bench where big Roaches were running around (which was gross) and I nearly got the fright of my life using the restroom to come out and find a man there near my stall. So, those unisex bathrooms are not okay and should never exist. Separate bathrooms for each sex's privacy should be mandatory, no exceptions, because that was uncomfortable. Also, I think employers or the interviewers at this location, should give plus-sized people a chance at least and not judge them based on their size, but on what they can do. At least give plus-size people a test run to see what they are capable of, because you never know if you just gave away a blessing that could have made things better for this place.

With all honesty, it took me a while to even complain about this because I was still in shock that someone would even ask me that question, and I was too busy with school to write a review until now. And I know personally I would never ask such a question to anyone of any size, because it also feels a lot like bullying (verbally). Overall, I am just happy that I did not end up working here because I realized in that moment those are not the kind of people I want to be around, nor work with or even get to know at all, if there going to be that biased and negative. I think this place should really work on its staff and how to professionally treat and communicate with people, especially during the interview process, and to be more knowledgeable about the place they are working in. I honestly hope many changes are made in this location, but whether they are or not, I will never come back to this place again, nor would I recommend...

Despicable how they treat kids and never apologize.

I had an upsetting experience at PS1 with my son (a regular visitor since birth). As a longtime MoMA member and PS1 supporter, I’ve always loved the museum, and my son has adored Stage since its installation. I also know Rashid personally, making it even more special to see my son engage with his work.

One evening, my two-year-old was on Stage, happily singing and talking as usual. Visitors loved it, coming up to tell me how much they enjoyed watching him. Then, a young security guard approached, saying my son couldn’t interact with the piece because his voice "bothered" him. My son wasn’t screaming—if anything, the installation’s loud audio frightened him at first—so I can only assume the guard simply didn’t like my son’s voice. He even exaggeratedly held his ears as if in pain, while everyone else was enjoying the moment. This is the same PS1 that once blasted music so loud my home three blocks away would shake.

To make matters worse, when I explained the piece’s participatory nature and how Rashid would likely appreciate my son’s engagement, the guard dismissively asked, "Who’s Rashid, and who cares what he thinks?"

I spoke to the head of security, who asked what I wanted. I requested an email—either an apology to my son or an explanation. It’s been four years. I have followed up and emailed + called so many times. But no one feels the need to respond, and no apology.

From PS1 about the installation in question: "Stage is meant for public expression, inspired by protest and activism. MoMA PS1 invites visitors to make their voices heard."

Yet, when my 2 year old son did just that, he was aggressively silenced.

We used to visit at least once a week, but needless to say, we have not been back as I do not want them yelling at my son again. I cancelled my MoMA membership as well since they were no help.

They do not care about doing the right thing—all I asked was for someone to apologize to my son, but I guess that was asking too much since they ghosted us. I kind of got the feeling that they were happy about this. Maybe they do not like Jewish people or something. Not sure, but since they are MIA, it makes you think why we were singled out and the other people were not.

BTW—this is the PS1 that has or had (not sure if they still do it as we avoid that place now) ear-shattering raves in the summer that used to make our apartment shake. Not to mention all the projectile vomiting, all the drinking and drugging, and mountains of garbage all over the neighborhood from...

I don't usually write reviews and especially not bad ones but this time, I deem it pretty necessary.

My family and I love art and museums but I have never experienced something as abhorrent as this museum and it's under the name MoMA? This review is no disrespect to the artists, I know art is subjective and art can be anything and we weren't able to see all of it anyways. Regardless, the staff is extremely rude (besides those at the ticket counter). They constantly hound you to keep your distance which is understandable, but they also yell at you if you touch the empty walls and if you're not in a straight line to wait for the other exhibits. Finally, one of the women in charge of monitoring the flow of traffic into the Julie Becker exhibit wouldn't allow our whole family to go in all at once. She insisted on letting other parties of two behind us to go in to fill up the open space, when we were patiently waiting for enough people to come out so we could go in. Note that before this, we had no problem getting in to the other exhibit across the hall, all together. When we asked her why she let in other people go in before us, she said "i had told you that two people could go in, but you said 'these are my kids'", and proceeded to tell us to go home. After that, an argument ensued, which we didn't want to be apart of, where she was very disrespectful and then told us that she was allowed to talk to us in that way because she wouldn't take being disrespected. All the while I was trying to usher my family out of the hall because they shouldn't have the experience this on their first trip to America. When she realized that I was being the adult by walking away, she told my mother to "listen to your children and leave." She obviously wanted to continue arguing with us. We were just trying to get into an exhibit where you work to get us in. Ridiculous. MoMA PS1 needs to teach their staff on how to talk nice or at least decently towards visitors.

Overall, just go to a different art museum, there are definitely better ones here...