Rachel Harrison's 'Perth Amboy' Installation at MoMA Explores Faith and Perception
From March 19 to September 5, 2016, Rachel Harrison's installation titled 'Perth Amboy' (2001) is showcased at MoMA's Dunn Gallery. This marks its inaugural exhibition since its acquisition in 2011. The artwork reflects a 2000 incident in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, where an apparition of the Virgin Mary was said to have appeared in a window at 103 Washington Street. The installation comprises a maze of corrugated cardboard, monitored by a guard. Visitors must navigate freestanding components, while items displayed on pedestals include a 'Becky, Friend of Barbie' doll and a plaster bust of Marilyn Monroe. Harrison's photographs depict onlookers at the window, delving into themes of belief and perception. The gallery is situated at 11 West 53rd Street, New York.
Key facts
- Rachel Harrison's 'Perth Amboy' (2001) is exhibited at MoMA
- Exhibition dates: March 19 to September 5, 2016
- MoMA acquired the work in 2011; this is its first display there
- Installation includes a cardboard labyrinth in the Dunn Gallery
- Features photographs Harrison took in Perth Amboy, New Jersey in 2000
- Documents the Virgin Mary sighting at 103 Washington Street
- Includes paired objects on pedestals, like a Barbie doll and Marilyn Monroe bust
- Explores themes of faith, perception, and the act of looking
Entities
Artists
- Rachel Harrison
Institutions
- Museum of Modern Art
- MoMA
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Perth Amboy
- New Jersey