How to Warm Up to Volkswagen

Warm Up
Warm Up in 2015. Credit: MoMA PS1

What can VW do to regain its customers?

Volkswagen certainly has a public relations nightmare on its hands. The German car company touted its clean diesel, then sold unwitting customers cars that spewed more noxious fumes in the air.

But beyond making financial amends, the company is continuing its support of The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and MoMA PS1 in New York, a five year partnership that brings art and culture to both New Yorkers and tourists.

Warm Up
Weaving the Courtyard, under construction for 2016. Credit: MoMA PS1

Experience the Summer Warm Up Series at MoMa PS1

Summer is a great time to visit MoMA PS1, the Long Island City, Queens offshoot of MoMA. The Warm Up series, an annual outdoor dance runs every Saturday from 3–9pm beginning June 11 through August 27. Each week features different musical genres. The event takes place in a courtyard designed by the winner of a site specific competition, the Young Architects Program, (YAP) to enhance the outdoor space with shade, water and seating.

This year, Mexico based Escobedo Soliz Studio won for its temporary installation, Weaving the Courtyard. The installation includes a wading pool and a textured canopy, or “cloud” made of colorful rope, that provides both shade and an interplay of light.

One of the design challenges for the installation is addressing both sustainability and recycling. So if you were upset about Volkswagen’s disregard for the environment in the diesel cheating, you can rest assured that the materials for the installation will be reused when the courtyard closes for the season.

Sponsoring Forty, the MoMA PS1 anniversary show

VW is one of the sponsors of the exhibit Forty, an anniversary show focusing on the 40 artists shown in the beginning years of MoMA PS1. Volkswagen also supports the arts in China, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and the Nationalgalerie – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin.

What do you think? Does the good outweigh the bad?

Judy Antell
Judy Antell

Judy Antell, who is TravelingMom.com's Free in 50 States editor, lives in Park Slope, Brooklyn, with her husband and three daughters. Between road trips to visit colleges, travel sports and seeing East Coast sights, she spends a lot of time on the road for a city girl.

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