Editing Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (section)

===Messer era===
Sweeney resigned as the museum's director in July 1960, citing philosophical differences with the board of trustees,<ref>{{cite news |last=Lyle |first=David |date=July 21, 1960 |title=Guggenheim Museum Head Quits: Sweeney Resigns as Director, Issue Unrevealed |page=1 |work=New York Herald Tribune |issn=1941-0646 |id={{ProQuest|1327113702}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1960-07-21">{{Cite news |last=Knox |first=Sanka |date=July 21, 1960 |title=Guggenheim Museum Director Resigns in Difference of 'Ideals'; Sweeney Revised Wright's Design for Building Before Opening Last October |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/07/21/archives/guggenheim-museum-director-resigns-in-difference-of-ideals-sweeney.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and H. H. Arnason took over as temporary director.<ref name=NPS15/><ref name="nyt-1960-12-07">{{Cite news |date=December 7, 1960 |title=Guggenheim Fund Names Trustee |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1960/12/07/archives/guggenheim-fund-names-trustee.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He launched "the first survey of Abstract Expressionism in a New York museum" during his brief time as director.<ref name=NPS15/><ref name=Krens19>{{harvnb|Krens|1993|p=19|ps=.}}</ref> [[Thomas M. Messer]], director of the [[Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston|Boston Institute of Contemporary Art]], succeeded Sweeney as director in January 1961; he worked under Sweeney, who continued to run the foundation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Knox |first=Sanka |date=January 31, 1961 |title=Guggenheim Picks Museum Director; Thomas Messer, Head of Boston Institute, Named to Art Post Here |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1961/01/31/archives/guggenheim-picks-museum-director-thomas-messer-head-of-boston.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=O'Neill |first=Maureen |date=January 31, 1961 |title=Name Boston Art Expert Director of Guggenheim |page=4 |work=Newsday |id={{ProQuest|898266255}}}}</ref> Messer stayed for 27 years, the longest tenure of any director of a major New York art institution.{{sfn|Kumar|2011|loc=chapter: "Thomas Messer"}} Under his leadership, the museum's collection expanded significantly.<ref name=NPS16>{{harvnb|National Park Service|2005|pp=15–16}}; {{harvnb|Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum|1993|ps=.|p=20}}</ref> The collection pivoted toward more contemporary artists, including those from Europe and Latin America,<ref name=NPS16/> and expanded in scope to become "New York's second museum of modern art".<ref name="n162068271">{{Cite news |last=Armstrong |first=Kiley |date=1987-11-22 |title=NYC's Guggenheim Museum celebrates 50 years of art |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-journal-news-nycs-guggenheim-museum/162068271/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=The Journal News |pages=120 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Messer was not considered "an especially controversial director", though he also did not adhere to "the blockbuster school of exhibiting".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Weber |first=Bruce |date=May 16, 2013 |title=Thomas M. Messer, Museum Director Who Gave Guggenheim Cachet, Dies at 93 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/16/arts/design/thomas-m-messer-guggenheim-museum-director-dies-at-93.html |access-date=October 20, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==== 1960s ====
[[File:Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum skylight.jpg|thumb|left|The skylight in the center of the museum]]
When Messer joined the Guggenheim, the museum's ability to present artworks was still doubted because of the tilted and curved walls.<ref name=Russell1987a>{{Cite news |author-link=John Russell (art critic) |last=Russell |first=John |date=November 5, 1987 |title=Director of Guggenheim Retiring After 27 Years |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/05/arts/director-of-guggenheim-retiring-after-27-years.html |access-date=June 22, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Almost immediately after becoming director, in 1962, he put on a large exhibition that combined the Guggenheim's paintings with [[sculpture]]s on loan from the [[Hirshhorn Museum|Hirshhorn collection]].<ref name=Russell1987a/> In particular, there were difficulties installing three-dimensional sculptures because the slope of the floor and the curvature of the walls could combine to produce vexing optical illusions.<ref name=Canaday1962>{{Cite news |last=Canaday |first=John |date=August 17, 1962 |title=Museum Director Solves Problem; Guggenheim Official Faces Troubles of Architecture |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/08/17/archives/museum-director-solves-problem-guggenheim-official-faces-troubles.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Though the combination proved generally to work well in the Guggenheim, Messer recalled that, at the time, "I was scared. I half felt that this would be my last exhibition."<ref name=Russell1987a/> He had staged a smaller sculpture exhibition the previous year, where he learned how to compensate for the space's unusual geometry by constructing special [[plinth]]s at a particular angle, but this was impossible for one piece, an [[Alexander Calder]] [[Mobile (sculpture)|mobile]] whose wire inevitably hung at a true [[Plumb bob|plumb]] vertical.<ref name=Canaday1962/>

After Messer acquired a private collection from art dealer [[Justin Thannhauser]] in 1963,<ref name="Spiegler 1963">{{cite news |last=Spiegler |first=William |date=October 24, 1963 |title=Museum Will Get Major Art Collection |page=5 |work=Newsday |id={{ProQuest|913630157}}}}</ref><ref name="nyt-1963-10-24">{{Cite news |last=Canaday |first=John |date=October 24, 1963 |title=Guggenheim Gets Major Art Works; Gift Will Eventually Bring 34 Picassos to Museum |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/24/archives/guggenheim-gets-major-art-works-gift-will-eventually-bring-34.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> the Guggenheim hired Peters to renovate the monitor's second floor.<ref name=Pfeiffer37>{{harvnb|Pfeiffer|1995|ps=.|p=37}}</ref><ref name=NYCL12/> Thannhauser's collection was displayed within the monitor after the renovation was completed in 1965.<ref name=NYCL12>{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1990|ps=.|p=12}}</ref>{{sfn|Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum|1993|p=22}} The foundation auctioned off artwork from the 15th and 16th centuries, which was incompatible with the museum's modern-art collection.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 27, 1962 |title=Guggenheim Art to Be Auctioned; Works of Old Masters Will Be Sold in London June 27 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1962/05/27/archives/guggenheim-art-to-be-auctioned-works-of-old-masters-will-be-sold-in.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Rebay, who died in 1967, bequeathed over 600 artworks to the Guggenheim, although the museum did not receive the collection until 1971.<ref name="nyt-1971-05-15">{{Cite news |date=May 15, 1971 |title=Guggenheim Acquires 250 Works of Modern Art |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/05/15/archives/guggenheim-acquires-250-works-of-modern-art.html |access-date=October 6, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> To raise money for further acquisitions, such as the works in Rebay's collections, the Guggenheim also sold off some modern artwork, including several Kandinsky works.<ref name="nyt-1971-08-16">{{Cite news |last=Canaday |first=John |date=August 16, 1971 |title=Guggenheim Will Auction 47 Works by Kandinsky |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/08/16/archives/guggenheim-will-auction-47-works-by-kandinsky.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

To accommodate the expanding collection, in 1963, the Guggenheim announced plans for a four-story annex,<ref name="nyt-1963-10-10">{{Cite news |date=October 10, 1963 |title=Guggenheim Files Plans for an Annex On 13-Foot Stilts |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1963/10/10/archives/guggenheim-files-plans-for-an-annex-on-13foot-stilts.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> which the [[New York City Board of Standards and Appeals]] approved the next year.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 16, 1964 |title=Guggenheim Museum Will Expand |page=15 |work=Newsday |id={{ProQuest|913627428}}}}</ref> [[William Wesley Peters]] of [[Taliesin Associated Architects]], the successor firm to Wright's practice, designed the addition.<ref name="Goldberger x465">{{cite web |last=Goldberger |first=Paul |date=February 19, 1985 |title=Guggenheim Museum Plans to Erect an 11-story, $12 Million Addition |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/02/19/arts/guggenheim-museum-plans-to-erect-an-11-story-12-million-addition.html |access-date=January 2, 2025 |website=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The annex was downsized to two stories in 1966 due to complaints from local residents,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Raymont |first=Henry |date=November 8, 1966 |title=Annex of Museum Cut by 2 Stories; Guggenheim Drops Original Plans Calling for 4 Floors Because of the Cost |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1966/11/08/archives/annex-of-museum-cut-by-2-stories-guggenheim-drops-original-plans.html |access-date=October 3, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and was completed in 1968.<ref name=Pfeiffer37/><ref name="NPS pp. 7–8"/> This freed up space on the main gallery's top two levels, which had been used as workshops and storage space ever since the building opened. Museum officials opened the top levels to the public in 1968.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 7, 1969 |title=The Gallery: Art of Architecture |page=20 |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |issn=0099-9660 |id={{ProQuest|133395635}}}}</ref>

==== 1970s and 1980s ====
In 1971, with increasing costs and decreasing endowment income, the Guggenheim recorded a large [[Deficit spending|deficit]] for the first time in its history.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 4, 1972 |title=Admission to Guggenheim Raised From 50 Cents to $1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/01/04/archives/admission-to-guggenheim-raised-from-50-cents-to-1.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Additionally, although Wright had included space for a cafe at the southern end of the museum building, the space was instead used by the conservation and framing departments.<ref name=Pfeiffer37/> The foundation proposed adding a lobby and restaurant in the museum's driveway area in early 1973<ref>{{Cite news |last=Horsley |first=Carter B. |date=February 19, 1973 |title=Guggenheim Museum to Alter Facade |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/02/19/archives/guggenheim-museum-to-alter-facade-vision-to-be-maintained.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> but had difficulty agreeing on the plans,<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 15, 1973 |title=Guggenheim Museum to Review Plan to Alter Building's Facade |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/04/15/archives/guggenheim-museum-to-review-plan-to-alter-buildings-facade.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> which were revised that November.<ref name="nyt-1973-11-10">{{Cite news |last=Goldberger |first=Paul |date=November 10, 1973 |title=Guggenheim Modifies Alteration |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1973/11/10/archives/guggenheim-modifies-alteration-a-wall-of-glass.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> As part of the project, designed by Donald E. Freed, the museum closed its driveway and added a dining area and bookstore there.<ref name="nyt-1973-11-10" /><ref name="NYCL pp. 12–13"/> Facing a growing deficit and a shortage of exhibit space, the Guggenheim announced in 1977 that it would raise $20 million over the following five years.<ref name="nyt-1977-12-24">{{Cite news |last=Fraser |first=C. Gerald |date=December 24, 1977 |title=Guggenheim Starts Drive to Raise $20 Million |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1977/12/24/archives/guggenheim-starts-drive-to-raise-20-million.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Museum officials also planned to expand the annex on 89th Street.<ref name="nyt-1977-12-24" />

Messer became director of the Guggenheim Foundation in 1980 and continued to serve as the museum director, promoting two curators to directorial positions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 8, 1980 |title=2 Guggenheim Curators Promoted to Directors; 'Seemed Appropriate' |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/11/08/archives/2-guggenheim-curators-promoted-to-directors-seemed-appropriate.html |access-date=October 5, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The Guggenheim renovated the Thannhauser wing in the early 1980s.<ref name="nyt-1982-11-28">{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=John |date=November 28, 1982 |title=Art View; a Redesigned Wing Adds Luster to the Guggenheim |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/28/arts/art-view-a-redesigned-wing-adds-luster-to-the-guggenheim.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Following these changes, John Russell of ''The New York Times'' wrote that the Thannhauser Collection "may now be said to be the equivalent of [[Frick Collection|the Frick]] in the domain of modern art."<ref name="nyt-1982-11-28" /> "[[Works & Process]]", a series of performances at the Guggenheim, commenced in 1984.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/education/works-and-process |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206122056/http://www.guggenheim.org/new-york/education/works-and-process |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |url-status=dead |title=Works & Process |access-date=August 13, 2016}}</ref>

In 1982 [[Gwathmey Siegel & Associates Architects]] drew up designs for an 11-story annex on 88th Street, behind the existing museum building.<ref name=NYCL13/> The original plan, announced in February 1985,<ref name="Goldberger x465" /><ref name="n162091115">{{Cite news |last=Stevens |first=Elisabeth |date=1985-02-24 |title=N.Y.'s Guggenheim plans $12 million addition |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-nys-guggenheim-plan/162091115/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |work=The Baltimore Sun |pages=164}}</ref> would have been cantilevered over the existing building.<ref name=NYCL13>{{harvnb|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1990|ps=.|p=13}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Goldberger |first=Paul |date=October 10, 1985 |title=An Appraisal; Architecture: a Design for Guggenheim Tower |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/10/arts/an-appraisal-architecture-a-design-for-guggenheim-tower.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The design was downsized to 10 stories in early 1987 due to opposition from local residents.<ref name="nyt-1987-02-11">{{Cite news |last=Goldberger |first=Paul |date=February 11, 1987 |title=Guggenheim Museum Proposing Scaled-down Design for Addition |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/02/11/arts/guggenheim-museum-proposing-scaled-down-design-for-addition.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ladd |first=Scott |date=February 11, 1987 |title=Revised Design Proposed for Guggenheim |pages=35 |work=Newsday |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110706549/revised-design-proposed-for/ |access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> At the time, the building could only exhibit 150 pieces, about 3 percent of the museum's 5000-work collection.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ladd |first=Scott |date=July 6, 1987 |title=Guggenheim Look Still Arouses Passions |pages=27 |work=Newsday |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110706437/guggenheim-look-still-arouses/ |access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> In anticipation of the annex's construction and a wider-ranging renovation of the older building, Gwathmey Siegel also renovated the Thannhauser wing's second floor and the top level of the main gallery's ramp in 1987.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mays |first=Vernon |date=Apr 1989 |title=Revealing Wright |url=https://usmodernist.org/PA/PA-1989-04.PDF |magazine=Progressive Architecture |volume=68 |page=82}}</ref> The Board of Standards and Appeals approved the 89th Street annex that October,<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 21, 1987 |title=Museum Addition Approved |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/10/21/nyregion/museum-addition-approved.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lippman |first=Barbara |date=October 22, 1987 |title=Museum gets a variance |pages=141 |work=New York Daily News |via=newspapers.com |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110706605/museum-gets-a-variancebarbara-lippman/ |access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> despite continuing opposition.<ref name="nyt-1990-11-28">{{Cite news |last=Glueck |first=Grace |date=November 28, 1990 |title=Guggenheim Withdraws Design Change |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/11/28/arts/guggenheim-withdraws-design-change.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Messer retired the next month, on the 50th anniversary of the collection's founding.<ref name="nyt-1987-11-05">{{Cite news |last=Russell |first=John |date=November 5, 1987 |title=Director of Guggenheim Retiring After 27 Years |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/05/arts/director-of-guggenheim-retiring-after-27-years.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The [[New York City Board of Estimate]] approved plans for the Guggenheim's annex in 1988,<ref>{{Cite news |last=McGill |first=Douglas C. |date=January 15, 1988 |title=Guggenheim Expansion Plan Upheld |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/15/arts/guggenheim-expansion-plan-upheld.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> and the [[New York Supreme Court]] upheld the Board of Estimate's decision.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 23, 1988 |title=Guggenheim Plan Upheld |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/23/arts/guggenheim-plan-upheld.html |access-date=October 4, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>