Museums, galleries, and other cultural institutions in New York have been forced to take precautionary measures due to the smoke blowing into the city from raging wildfires in Canada. The air quality levels reached alarming levels, with New York and other North American cities ranking among the worst in the world, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index (AQI).
In response to the situation, city officials issued warnings advising residents to stay indoors, wear masks, and minimize exposure to the outside air. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, known for its seasonal roof garden, made the decision to close it temporarily on Thursday, along with the closure of the Met Cloisters gardens. However, the museums’ indoor spaces remained open for visitors to enjoy. Similarly, the Noguchi Museum, which features a renowned sculpture garden dedicated to the work of Isamu Noguchi, decided to close altogether due to the poor air quality in the city.
Socrates Sculpture Park in Queens also experienced a delayed opening, eventually admitting the public on Thursday afternoon. Another affected artwork was Charles Gaines’ Moving Chains, a public installation on Governors Island, which remained closed on both Wednesday and Thursday. If conditions fail to improve, the installation might continue to stay closed throughout the weekend.
The adverse air quality also impacted scheduled art events in the city. LGDR, an Upper East Side gallery, postponed the opening reception for its new show, “Gego: Lines in Space,” citing concerns for the safety of visitors and staff due to the poor air quality. However, the exhibition was opened to the public on June 8. Similarly, Crossing Art Gallery postponed a panel featuring artist Moyosore Martins until Thursday.
The effects of the smoke even reached the museum sector, with the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum closing early on Wednesday. Additionally, the outdoor 9/11 Memorial closed on Thursday, although the nearby museum remained open. The Chelsea High Line, a popular public park built on an elevated historic freight rail line, experienced a delayed opening on Thursday.
Amidst these closures and postponements, one art event proceeded as scheduled—the Museum of Modern Art New York’s annual Party In The Garden benefit gala on June 6. However, approximately 15 protestors picketed the event, using the occasion to demand that MoMA distance itself from board chair Marie-Josée Kravis due to her and her husband Henry Kravis’s investments in fossil fuels.