Test your Design IQ

MANILA, Philippines - Who designed the Whitney Museum of American Art?

The Whitney Museum of American Art, often referred to as “the Whitney,” is an art museum with a focus on 20th- and 21st-century American art located at 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street in New York City. The Whitney’s permanent collection comprises more than 19,000 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, photographs, films, videos, and new media by more than 2,900 artists. The Whitney places a particular emphasis on exhibiting the work of living artists for its collection as well as maintaining an extensive permanent collection containing many important pieces from the first half of the last century. The museum’s annual and biennial exhibitions have long been a venue for younger and less well-known artists whose work is showcased by the museum.

The Museum’s founder was a well-regarded sculptor as well as a serious art collector. With the aid of her assistant, Juliana Force, she collected nearly 700 works of American art, which she offered to donate to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1929, but the museum declined the gift.               

Since the ‘80s the institution has tried to expand its landmark building, hiring star architects to design additions. But each time the effort was abandoned, either because of the cost or the design or both.

The museum displays paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, installation art, video, and photography. Every two years, the museum hosts the Whitney Biennial, an international art show which displays many lesser-known artists new to the American art scene. It has displayed works by many notable artists, and has featured unconventional works such as a 1976 exhibit of live body builders, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The original 600 works in the permanent collection grew to about 1,300 by 1954 when the second Museum building opened, and to approximately 2,000 with the opening of the Breuer building in 1966.

Today, the permanent collection contains more than 18,000 works of art from many renowned artists.

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Last week’s question: Who is the German American artist and educator, whose work in Europe and the US, formed the basis of some of the most influential and far reaching art programs of the 20th century?

Answer: Josef Albers

Winner: Raymundo B. Mendoza Jr. of Los Banos, Laguna

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Text your answer to 0915-6486414 with your name and address. One winner will be chosen through a raffle of texts with the correct answer. The winner will receive P2,000 worth of SM gift certificates for use at Our Home, SM Department Store, or SM Supermarket. They can claim their prize at Our Home in SM Megamall. Call the store manager at 634-1951.Bring photocopies of two valid IDs and a clipping of the Design Quiz issue in which you appear as winner.