MetEveryday

@Meteveryday in the Times

2011-10-24T10:06:00.000-07:00

I was in the New York Times "Fine Arts & Exhibitions" section yesterday! Several of my wonderful friends who work at various cultural institutions and I were featured in Jennifer Preston's article about social networking among young arts professionals. #ArtsTech, the reason that most of us went from Twitter acquaintances to a tight-knit group of like-minded colleagues and bona fide friends was founded by Julia Kaganskiy, who currently holds the position of Global Editor at The Creators Project, a global network dedicated to the celebration of creativity, culture and technology.

Indeed, I owe some of my closest New York friendships to #ArtsTech and I am proud to be part of a group of such creative, interesting, intelligent people! You can follow some of us on this Twitter list; and if you want to engage in the conversation, just use the hashtag #ArtsTech!

NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/arts/artsspecial/social-networking-among-young-arts-professionals.html?_r=2

Art Info article: http://blogs.artinfo.com/artintheair/2011/10/24/art-world-professionals-go-nuts-on-twitter-the-new-york-times-nails-a-trend/

Gorgeous Getty

2009-11-30T19:18:00.000-08:00

Because I have been on vacation, I haven't had time to write content/captions for this post — so I came up with a solution: Can you name the artists shown in the slideshow below? Leave a comment listing the artists in order and you will have the satisfaction of being right. Go!

Norton Simon Slideshow!

2009-11-27T23:32:00.001-08:00

Because I have been on vacation, I haven't had time to write content/captions for this post (and a couple more upcoming ones) — so I came up with a solution: Can you name the artists shown in the slideshow below? Leave a comment listing the artists in order (obviously, photos of scenery and my grandma don't count), and you will have the satisfaction of being right. Go!

My Home Museum

2009-11-23T14:42:00.001-08:00

Spending my first afternoon home in Pasadena at the Norton Simon Museum, where I first learned to love art!

The Fathers of Cubism in the Modern Art Wing

2009-11-21T09:54:00.001-08:00

Hanging side-by-side on the first floor of the Modern Art Wing are Pablo Picasso's Still Life with a Bottle of Rum and Georges Braque's Still Life with Banderillas.

The Last Week on the Roof and a Visit with Vince and Jimmy

2009-11-19T12:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, my friends Vince and Jimmy accompanied me to the Met. It's always fun to share with my friends all the things I've learned over the last year. I feel like I'm showing them around my home for the first time — don't I wish I lived in a million square-foot mansion with priceless treasures!

Since I've done several informal tours with friends and family, I've begun to highlight a lot of the same things each time. However, this time I broke away from predictability and steered Vince and Jimmy through spaces they hadn't seen before — and we didn't even go to Egypt at all! We started in European paintings, first with the American Stories exhibit (I'll have more on that soon), then to Medieval and Renaissance paintings, and, of course, the Rembrandts. Next, I took them down to see the Lehman Collection, through European Decorative Arts and Petrie Court.

Then we made the ascent to the roof, which sadly closes next week while I'm out of town for the holiday. I'll miss my favorite place in New York, but I'm already looking forward to the next installation. My experience of the roof changed between last year's Jeff Koons exhibition and Roxy Paine's Maelstrom this year, so I'm anticipating another exciting piece.

We finished up in Modern Art and strolled through Oceanic and Greek and Roman Art on our way out. It was another successful visit — I humbly enjoy impressing my friends.

Magnificent Mandalas

2009-11-14T11:16:00.000-08:00

Image from nytimes.com

Tucked away in the northwest galleries on the second floor, Japanese Mandalas: Emanations and Avatars seems simultaneously underemphasized yet perfectly constructed for its subject matter.

Though I have a deep appreciation for all of the treasures housed by the Met, my personal taste generally steers me toward more modern, vibrant, expressive pieces. However, I was moved today by the peace of the Japanese galleries and the most extraordinary pieces I have ever seen hanging in them.

Mandalas are not only beautiful, meticulously painted works of art, but also meditative tools. Looking at the incredible detail of each mandala, it was easy even for me to relax and begin to consider every little shape and line.

I can only imagine what it would be like to be spiritually invested. The highlights of this exhibition are the Mandalas of Both Worlds: Womb World and Diamond World, of which several examples are displayed.

Musing to Music

2009-11-13T10:30:00.000-08:00

Stopped by this concert in the European Paintings galleries today. I love how the music just wafts through the halls as I approach, surrounded by masterpieces.

Top Ten Things to See at The Met Museum

2009-11-12T10:44:00.000-08:00

Today is officially the one-year anniversary of MetEveryday! In the last year, I have visited The Met more than 150 times — I have learned so much and met some awesome people; and, most importantly, I have discovered in myself a true passion for art history, specifically museums that display it. As a mini-recap, I've developed my own list of Museum HIghlights — my Top Ten Things to See at The Met Museum:

1. The Roof: I know this is kind of unfair, since it is only open from May-October (and weather permitting, at that), but I LOVE the roof at the Met. It is my favorite place in the city. One of the highlights of my year at the Met was the Young Members Party, where we looked out over the park from the roof at night, and drank cocktails in Petrie Court. I love to go at sunset or just after nightfall — the lights of the skyline are so beautiful. And best of all, it's been extended this year, so it is open until November 29 — GET THERE, you won't regret it.

2. Egyptian Art: Obviously, the Temple of Dendur tops this list. It is the most impressive part of the museum (next to the roof, in my opinion). The Sackler Wing that houses the temple is a beautiful space bathed in sunlight with Central Park as its backdrop. Besides the Temple of Dendur, my personal favorite part of the Egyptian Wing is Tomb of Meketre, where archaeologists found dozens of little models of boats and everyday activities dating back to 2009 b.c.

3. Modern Art: For me two artists stand out above all the rest in Modern Art. The both have two major pieces displayed in close proximity to each other, and they have actually worked together as well. The first is Chuck Close; I remember learning about his work back in high school, when we were given the challenge of painting a portrait using a grid format. His painting, Mark, in the mezzanine gallery simply blows my mind (it faces Lucas, provides a juxtaposition with a more expressive style). The other is Stephen Hannock, whose Oxbow and Kaaterskill Falls paintings hang right in the southwest corner in front of the stairwell on the first floor. After posting about these pieces, Hannock himself actually contacted me and I was able to meet him at a book signing! It was so exciting for me to meet such an impressive living artist.

4. 19th-20th Century Painting and Sculpture: I love Impressionists, so I frequent these galleries to look at the museum's huge collection of Van Gogh, Degas, Monet, Renoir, and more. In the sculptures department, my favorite is Ugolino and His Sons by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux, which can be found in Petrie Court (and a bronze version resides in the Musée D'Orsay in Paris).

5. Asian Art: Astor Court Chinese Garden is a tranquil, beautiful place to sit and think.

6. African and Oceanic Arts: I like to call African Art the Dr. Seuss Wing, well, because so many of the sculptures look like Dr. Seuss characters. The Oceanic Wing is so fascinating to me, particularly because the a lot of the pieces are from the 20th century, even though they look completely primitive.

7. European Painting: Anything by Rembrandt, especially Man in Oriental Costume and Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, and of course, Vermeer's: Young Woman with a Water Pitcher.

8. Greek and Roman Wing: Ionic capital and shaft of a column from The Temple of Artemis at Sardis, Bronze Chariot Inlaid with Ivory.

9. European Decorative Arts: All of the period rooms are beautiful, period.

10. American Wing: The Palace and Gardens at Versailles by John Vanderlyn, The Roccoco Revival Room by John Henry Belter,, Vanderbilt's Herder Brothers' Library Table, and the Living room from the Little House, Wayzata, Minnesota, by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Read my very first post about a visit with my friend Megan here.

Happy Birthday, Vermeer!

2009-10-31T01:00:00.000-07:00

Johannes Vermeer was born on October 31, 1632 in Delft, Netherlands. To celebrate, check out Vermeer's Masterpiece: The Milkmaid at the Met!

Click here for my post on Vermeer (and ignore the comments section, so lame).

My Miró

2009-09-29T22:32:00.000-07:00

Joan Miró. Spanish, 1893-1983
Dutch Interior (III),1928
Oil on canvas

Joan Miró. Spanish, 1893-1983
Circus Horse,1927
Tempera on canvas

Born in the Spanish province of Catalonia in 1893, Joan Miró was deeply influenced by his country's native landscape and artistic heritage. During the early part of his career, he lived in Paris, where he was associated with the French Surrealists and its practitioners, but he returned to settle in Spain after World War II. This deliberate remove from the center of the art world is symptomatic of Miró's independence, a temperament that would mark his art as well as his life. Mining the possibilities of free invention encouraged by Surrealism, Miró developed a style that drew from highly personalized and psychological references. Often beginning with a recognizable starting point, Miró transformed his subjects through whimsical color and free play with form. (from www.metmuseum.com)

Still Life 1976 - Andy Warhol

2009-09-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

A new addition to the mezzanine gallery in the Modern Art Wing: this Warhol piece shares a wall with two other similar-sized paintings. The three look great together!

A Visit After Work with Lynzie

2009-09-26T21:06:00.000-07:00

After work today, my friend Lynzie and I headed uptown to the Met to take in my favorite treasures, and see the city lights from the roof. We took a nice stroll through Egypt and the American Wing, then up to the roof, down to European Paintings, through Modern Art, and out through Oceanic, African and finally Greek and Roman.

Kehinde Wiley at Deitch Projects

2009-09-25T10:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went to see "Kehinde Wiley: Black Light" at Deitch Projects in Soho. You may remember Wiley's "Veiled Christ" from the Met, when it was briefly on display in the Modern Art Wing, where Stephen Hannock's Oxbow currently hangs:

Rodin in Brooklyn

2009-09-23T22:50:00.000-07:00

In keeping withe the theme of "old friends" at other institutions, today I'll share something I came across in the lobby at the Brooklyn Museum. After admiring the finished piece in the Petrie Court at the Met and also at the Rodin Museum in Paris, I was particularly excited to see four sculptures comprising a study for Rodin's The Burghers of Calais!

The figures are a "rough draft," if you will - a study of nudes that were then draped in wet canvas for clothing before the final mold was cast - a glimpse at the artist's process, which I just love.

French sculptor, Auguste Rodin might be the most prolific sculptor in history - at least I've seen more Rodins than anything else when it comes to sculpture. And I'm not complaining! I LOVE his work. That man captured more emotion in bronze and marble than any painter I've come across.

Murder at the Met

2009-09-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening, my friend Elena and I refined our sleuthing skills on a scavenger hunt through the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Watson Adventures hosts hunts all across the country, with dozens right here in New York City — including six at the Met.

Watson Adventures says that Murder at the Met is its most challenging hunt, but that didn't stop me and Elena. We put our best foot forward, finishing the hunt in record time and taking the top prize! It wasn't easy though, without giving away any of the clues, I will tell you that the hunt had us power-walking back and forth across the museum, and racking our brains to decode the mystery answer. I had a slight edge, knowing my way around the museum certainly helped, but I was pleasantly surprised that a lot of pieces in the hunt were ones I hadn't seen before. Oh yeah, our hunt leader, Liz, was great and super nice, too.

Anyone looking for a unique, fun, and challenging activity should try Watson Adventures — I know I'm looking forward to my next hunt!

Yinka Shonibare at Brooklyn Museum

2009-09-20T15:21:00.000-07:00

Since I started this blog, I've been searching for a way to incorporate exhibitions I've visited at other museums and galleries to diversify my content and express my impressions of all art that I experience. Finally, I've come up with a solution. Since I am so familiar with the Met's collection, I can now apply that knowledge and recognize similar pieces and techniques elsewhere. So I had been dying to see Yinka Shonibare at Brooklyn Museum, and I finally went on the last day.

I was SO glad I did too, because I absolutely loved the bright colors and intricately crafted garments created by Shonibare. AND, I came across this piece:
which I recognized from a past exhibition at the Met (African Textiles: Design Without End):

I have to say, I was ecstatic! Without realizing it, I really have learned so much from visiting the Met for almost a year.

More Old Friends: Ugolino and His Sons

2009-09-19T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I brought up the point that I have begun to recognize "old friends" from the Met at other locations, so I thought I'd share another example. I first encountered Ugolino and HIs Sons, a beautiful marble sculpture (above, left), in the Petrie Court for European Sculpture at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. So I was thrilled to recognize a bronze cast (above, right) and a small clay model (right) by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux at Museé d'Orsay in Paris.

Calder Mobiles

2009-09-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

For me, one of the greatest things about doing this blog project is familiarizing myself with great artists, and recognizing their work outside of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (it's kind of like seeing an old friend for me). I flew to California (where I'm from) last weekend, and was pleasantly surprised to see an ENORMOUS Calder mobile in the ticket area of JFK (top). The Met's own Calder mobile, located on the second floor of the Modern Art Wing is pictured below it.

Alexander Calder (1898-1976), whose illustrious career spanned much of the 20th century, is the most acclaimed and influential sculptor of our time. Born in a family of celebrated, though more classically trained artists, Calder utilized his innovative genius to profoundly change the course of modern art. He began by developing a new method of sculpting: by bending and twisting wire, he essentially "drew" three-dimensional figures in space. He is renowned for the invention of the mobile, whose suspended, abstract elements move and balance in changing harmony. Calder also devoted himself to making outdoor sculpture on a grand scale from bolted sheet steel. Today, these stately titans grace public plazas in cities throughout the world. - from calder.org

The Met held a Calder Jewelry exhibition a while back, which highlighted his skills as a metalworker and showed his diversity as an artist. And, speaking of seeing "old friends," I came across a Calder sculpture in the garden at the Baltimore Museum of Art a few months ago. Also, "Alexander Calder: The Paris Years" came through The Whitney in New York last year, and I was able to catch it at the Centre Pompidou in Paris over the summer. It was a wonderful, whimsical exhibition, see the video below:

MetEveryday on MUG!

2009-09-17T13:10:00.000-07:00

MetEveryday was featured on Manhattan Users Guide yesterday and the traffic poured in! I discovered a great site out of it and got a bit of a confidence boost.

I LOVE what they wrote about the blog too: Girl meets museum, falls in love, stalks daily. We love the impulse behind visiting The Met Everyday and hats way off to the blogger who shares her experiences of, and insights from, its hallowed halls and galleries.

Vermeer's The Milkmaid

2009-09-10T12:53:00.001-07:00

The much-anticipated exhibiton of Johannes Vermeer's masterpiece, The Milkmaid, is now on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, along with other works by the Dutch artist and his contemporaries.

The gallery held a decent crowd for a Thursday afternoon, and rightly so. Not only is The Milkmaid stunning, the exhibition also displays several more of Vermeer's 36 known paintings, as well as beautiful depictions of Dutch daily life by other artists.

There is a reason, however, that the title of the show pointedly singles out one painting. As I said before, it is stunning. The Milkmaid clearly stands out above the rest, not in size or even complexity, but in vibrance. The colors are, rich, exquisite, mesmerizing - the sunlight glinting off the bread and its basket sucked me in, and the tiny highlights of the woman's earrings held me there in the painting.

I've marveled at the Vermeers in the Met's permanent collection, enjoying his exquisite pattern work in Young Woman with a Water Pitcher and A Maid Asleep, but now The Milkmaid stands as my unrivaled favorite painting of its time, by any artist.

Napoleon III and Paris

2009-09-04T11:41:00.000-07:00

You'll have to hurry if you want to see the photography department's exhibition, Napoleon III and Paris, which ends September 7 (the Met Museum is open Monday, September 7 for the Labor Day holiday). It's tucked away in a small gallery space off the main hall of 19th- 20th-Century European Paintings.

I had wandered through this exhibition once a couple months ago, but hadn't spent much time with it until today. I was again reminded how much more valuable an experience can be if you just slow down and take each piece in one at a time. I think it also helped that I have now been to Paris (I took my very first trip there in July). But even for those that haven't been, these photographs will spark the imagination, for many of them depict a Paris that no longer exists. Their historic value outweighs even the arresting imagery of burned-out palaces, rubble, and barricades equipped with cannons and guns.

Notably, there is a photo of the Vendome Column, which was broken down by a group of Communards led by artist Gustav Courbet on May 16, 1871; and a drawing by Édouard Manet, entitled Civil War, which depicts a fallen soldier behind the barricades. There are also two stereographs (which I love, because of their three-dimensionality).

MAP

Malian Jewelry

2009-09-03T13:20:00.001-07:00

Pendant (left) and Ring with Equestrian Figure
Mali, dogon peoples
19th-20th century
Copper alloy

I love horses, so these two little pieces from Sudan in the African Arts collection struck my fancy. I'd totally wear that ring!

You can find more info on the region from the Timeline of Art History.

Relaxing Friday Evening

2009-08-28T15:05:00.001-07:00

Just having a Crumbs cupcake and a cappuccino for dinner in the American Wing Cafe.

First Met Drawing

2009-08-19T12:17:00.001-07:00

So I've been meaning to do this for a LONG time. And since we all know I've suffered from some serious writer's block this summer, I decided to actually sit down and draw at the Met.

I made my way over to Petrie Court, where they have moveable chairs perfect for those, like me, without their own drawing stool. (The Court also has some of the Met's most beautiful European Sculptures — my favorite is Ugolino and His Sons by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux)...

I recognized my favorite Met resident artist, whose name I'm told is Dwight — though I've been inexplicably too shy to ever introduce myself. He seems to have picked up a couple of apprentices, one to whom he was giving a lesson today.

Anyway, instead of tackling Ugolino without having picked up a pencil in months, I found a smaller more manageable bust by the name of Marysas by Balthazar Permoser. I drew for about 30 minutes, and produced the sketch shown above. It was a relaxing and enjoyable way to spend a visit to the Met - I'll be mixing more drawing in from now on.

Claes Oldenburg

2009-08-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

Chuck Close

2009-08-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

If you've read my previous posts (here and here), you know how I feel about Chuck Close. So to see a self-portrait in this exhibition by the man who has dominated the genre throughout his career was unsurprisingly satisfying.

Charles Ray

2009-08-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

I'll admit, I've been really bad about keeping up my posts this summer — I seem to favor sunshine and outdoors when I'm not at work, and though I've been visiting the Met, I've slacked on writing about it. Well, I apologize and promise to do a better job. To make my blogging life easier for the remainder of the summer, I've come up with a few ideas, one of which I will employ now.

The Met recently installed a second series of self-portraits for the The Lens and the Mirror exhibition and I've documented each one. It starts today with this photograph by American sculptor, Charles Ray.

Beach Day!

2009-08-07T22:44:00.000-07:00

The weather was so beautiful today, there was no better place to spend it than at the beach. Of course, I then had to visit this 19th-century painting that always reminds me of summer.

Happy Birthday, Andy Warhol!

2009-08-06T11:05:00.000-07:00

Hannock Gallery Talk

2009-07-23T11:19:00.001-07:00

Ok, so I'm back. Sorry for the long hiatus — between planning a trip and traveling in Switzerland and Paris, I was overwhelmed for a while.

Today, I returned home to the Met to hear a Gallery Talk by Jason Rosenfeld, Professor of Art History at Marymount Manhattan College and friend of Stephen Hannock, about the artist's landscapes in the Modern Art Wing. I'll attempt to summarize the hour-plus talk here, starting with an explanation of the Oxbow's full title — The Oxbow: After Church, After Cole, Flooded, (Flooded River for the Matriarchs E. and A. Mongan) Greenlight.

After Church and Cole refers to landscape painters, Fredrick Edwin Church and Thomas Cole, who influenced Hannock (though Church never painted the Oxbow). Greenlight refers to a 1903 painting by Rockwell Kent, which is in the Smith College Museum of Art.

E. and A. Mongan are sisters that Hannock knew; Agnes, director of Fog Museum at Harvard, who gave him his first show in Boston, Elizabeth (or Betty), director of Smith College Museum of Art. "These people were central to his formation as an artist and also as a professional artist," Rosenfeld said. "His paintings are always dedicated to people, which may seem quaint, but it's part of this sort of buildup and the ideas behind of these kinds of pictures."

Stephen Hannock has made 21 versions of the Oxbow, differing in size and detail and not literally referring to the scene but, rather, inventing a composition that is meaningful and personal for the artist. This concept of seriality is present in the history of art and even more consistent in modern art — think Monet's cathedrals and grainstacks; and Pollock's drip and pour paintings.

New American Wing Renovation

2009-07-12T12:30:00.000-07:00

Model As Muse Behind the Scenes

2009-07-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

Check out the Met Museum's behind the scenes slideshow from flickr.

Young Members Party 2009

2009-07-10T12:19:00.001-07:00

I had a little fun with photoshop on a couple of these

Visiting the Met when it is closed is a unique experience in itself, but pair that with "summer chic" attire, music, a three-hour open bar, and sunset on the roof and you've got yourself a party. Last night's Young Members Party attracted hundreds of 21 to 35 year-olds dressed in their sharpest summer attire.

My roommate, Ryan, and I marched up the steps into the great hall, where he remarked that "the Met makes even the Natural History Museum seem small" (I smirked with pride). As you can imagine, I had a great time — I'd never seen the Petrie Court that packed, Maelstrom looked great lit up with blue and purple lights, AND we were lucky enough to have a gorgeous sunset as our backdrop for the beginning of the party.

Happy Fourth of July!

2009-07-04T10:00:00.000-07:00

Celebrating our independence at the light-filled Charles Engelhard Court in the American Wing at the Met. The north wall of the courtyard contains the facade of the Branch Bank of the United States originally built on Wall Street in 1825. When the bank was to be torn down in 1925, Robert de Forest, then president of the New York Art Commission and the Metropolitan, arranged for the structure to be preserved as the future facade for the not yet built American Wing.

(source: Michael Gross, Rogue's Gallery)

MJ Will Be Missed

2009-06-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

First, a talented child; then the King of Pop; and in the end, a public spectacle, Michael Jackson was undoubtedly an icon. Above is Jeff Koons' rendering of MJ with his favorite marsupial companion, Bubbles (from UR Chicago Magazine).

A Field Trip to Chelsea

2009-06-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

If you've been following my blog, you know by now that I have a tendency to wait til the last minute to visit my must-see exhibitions — and today is no exception. So when I saw that the famed Chelsea gallery, Pace Wildenstein, was showing Chuck Close's paintings and tapestries, I knew I had to go — even if (or especially because) it was the last day.

I might also point out that "Chuck Close blows my mind," as previously reported in the post entitled Potpurri... and that one of my favorite photos on the blog shows my friend, Stephanie, up close with Chuck Close. I first learned about his work in high school art class (thank you, Ms. Keeley), so my familiarity with the artist originally drew me in as a fan, though my interest has since progressed to true awe and admiration.

I have to say, good old Chuck lived up to my expectations and more. His work is amazing. The black and white photos are TAPESTRIES(!) woven with digital technology on a Jacquard loom. Close truly is the master of portraiture, and my best descriptor remains: "mind blowing."

Me and Mom at the Met

2009-06-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

Pardon my extreme slacking this week, I've had a lot going on! I haven't had time to post about my most recent visits yet, but I promise, they're coming. I just happened across this photo from about a month ago when my mom was visiting.

The Cutest Little Leopard

2009-06-18T15:20:00.000-07:00

Leopard
Soft-paste porcelain
French, Chantilly, 1735-40

Selected Self Portraits

2009-06-17T11:09:00.000-07:00

From the current exhibition, The Lens and the Mirror: Modern Self Portraits from the Collection, located on the north mezzanine gallery in Modern Art. I chose these guys because I remember studying them in History of Graphic Design — design is something I am still avidly interested in, despite my recent focus on fine art.

Champagne for my real friends, real pain for my sham friends

2009-06-11T19:20:00.000-07:00

I've visited the Bacon exhibition at the Met several times, starting with the member preview day. It was one of those things that I needed to revisit and spend time forming my opinion. Francis Bacon: A Centenary Retrospective chronicles the painter's prolific (and horrific) career from his early dark, lonely figures placed over solid blocks of color, to the obsessive renderings of Velázquez's Pope Innocent X, to deeply personal portraits of friends and himself.

The exhibition opens with a brief description of the artist and his career, which ends with this quote by Bacon: "Paint comes across directly onto the nervous system."

At least for Bacon's ghastly pieces, that's true. I couldn't help but feel like the isolation, sadness, confusion, fear, and anger were bursting out of the canvases into my heart. It's hard to describe, but the first couple galleries contain these paintings that, regardless of whether they're aesthetically pleasing, evoke a strong emotional response. They were captivating.

There's the famous Painting (1946) of a shadowy figure crowned with a black umbrella with carcasses strung behind in a crucifix configuration; a painting of a dog within a red hexagon who is vigorously shaking his head, and you can almost see the movement; the Study of a Baboon, again shaking his head while, this time, screaming, mouth open, its fur a transparent grey with hints of teals and purples. Bacon studied and mastered painting the mouth, which appears in each of these paintings.

As I took in each piece, each series, each subject, I thought, "Never is a work of art more impressive than when it is accompanied by its peers." These are pieces created by the same artist, through the course of his career, that either contain the same (or show changes in) their elements of style and composition, but always elicit an emotional response. Regardless of whether that emotion is disturbing or pleasing, Bacon's mastery is clear.

I read an article that said Bacon demanded that all his paintings be shown behind glass. Knowing this was his intention really made me think about its effect on the works themselves. The glass literally puts the viewer inside the paintings, particularly in the solid washes of color in the background. In addition, not only are the viewers reflected in the glass, but the whole gallery too, including other paintings, adding a dimensionality especially for those interrelated pieces like Pope Innocent, and the portraits of Dyer. And, curiously, the glass both downplays and enhances the texture on their surfaces.

Almost all of Bacon's paintings have a similar rough texture, which gives them dimension with its varying thickness, contrasting with thinly applied washes of color on some.

Overall, the exhibition provides a comprehensive represenation of Bacon's work in context with his life (the George Dyer paintings are the clearest example). Though the disturbing and ugly subject matter isn't for the faint of heart, the Bacon retrospective is fascinating.

More resources:
New York Times review and slideshow.

Vanity Fair review.

Below is a video of Francis Bacon talking to David Sylvester in 1966.

Department of Scientific Research

2009-06-10T14:18:00.000-07:00

(yes, I watched the whole thing)

Springtime (before it's over)

2009-06-06T22:48:00.000-07:00

The gorgeous weather in New York City today reminded me of this lovely painting, Springtime by Maurice Denis.

Carrie in the American Wing

2009-06-04T11:32:00.000-07:00

As I frequently do, I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art with a friend today. We meandered through the galleries, taking our time, with no real course of action, starting with the American Wing. After four hours, we finally called it quits, and yet I only got one good photo. Ah well, sometimes you just have to enjoy it in the moment!

For photos of the American Wing renovation in progress, visit the Met's flicker page.

Schoolchildren and Monet

2009-06-02T18:52:00.000-07:00

Happened upon these cute little tykes in uniform sitting below the Met's Monets in the 19th-Century European Paintings Galleries. I especially love to see kids engaged in art—I believe that instilling a passion for art in children and the general public is one of the greatest purposes of the museum, and this is living proof. Children's view of art provides a fresh, innocent perspective often allowing the essence of the piece to shine.

Poufy Pink Puffs

2009-06-01T11:41:00.000-07:00

A Couple of Klimts

2009-05-31T08:49:00.001-07:00

Mäda Primavesi (1903-2000), 1912
Serena Pulitzer Lederer (1867-1943), 1899

Paintings by Austrian Art Nouveau painter, Gustav Klimt, who is most famous for his painting, The Kiss.

The New American Wing

2009-05-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help but be excited when I entered the American Wing (from the Temple of Dendur side) and found the space to my left open into a giftshop, with the Charles Engelhard Court beyond. This was uncharted territory for me, the final frontier. The sun poured in from the glass enclosing the entire ceiling and western wall, as my eyes darted from sculptures to Tiffany glass to live plants.

For more photos, check out the New York Times' slideshow.

"Bawlmer" Museum of Art

2009-05-28T13:06:00.001-07:00

Alexander Calder's '100 Yard Dash' in the sculpture garden at the Baltimore Museum of Art.

The Pictures Generation

2009-05-28T11:28:00.000-07:00

The Pictures Generation 1974-1984, a massive exhibition featuring photos, videos, multimedia works by renown artists of that time. Not really my cup of tea. Though I found quite a few of the pieces interesting, I just wasn't all that intrigued by their presentation nor was I sure of their significance.

My favorite piece of all was one by David Salle entitled Bearding the Lion in His Den, featuring two black and white photographs on opposite walls of a dark room with a row of ten light bulbs running down the center of the floor.
Check out the great slideshow on ART.CULT.

Music of the Romantics

2009-05-25T22:01:00.000-07:00

I apologize for being a major slacker and neglecting this post for so long. Earlier this month, the Musical Instruments department held another concert, called "Music of the Romantics," featuring the museum's 1838 Conrad Graf fortepiano. It didn't escape me that I was one of the youngest people there, by far, but I already know my interest in art and history is shared by more of my elders than peers.

Pianist Yi-heng Yang, who is concurrently pursuing her Masters degree in fortepiano in the early music department of the Amsterdam Conservatory and her doctoral degree in piano performance at The Julliard School. She played three beautiful pieces by Beethoven, Schumann and Chopin. The experience of listening to instrument that was made around the same time the music was composed was such a pleasure. I felt transported to a time when musical instruments served a more prominent role in our leisure activities, before the internet, TV and movies, before radio.

The musical instruments concerts are a unique feature at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, they offer an entertaining and informative look at the sometimes forgotten Musical Instruments Collection. This exquisite facet of the Met's diverse collection marries the worlds of visual and musical arts, and the superb craftsmanship of each and every instrument is remarkable.

Hanging Out with Maelstrom and Friends on the Roof of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

2009-05-23T19:55:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday, Mary Cassatt

2009-05-22T10:30:00.000-07:00

Today is American Impressionist painter, Mary Cassatt's birthday (thanks again, Google). A contemporary of Claude Monet, Paul Cézanne, Pierre Auguste Renior and, most notably, Edgar Degas, Cassatt made most of her paintings in France, showing at salons with fellow Impressionists. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds a vast collection of Cassatt's paintings. However, since the American Painting galleries are currently closed for renovation, the Met's online archive of her work will have to suffice.

David Smith, Becca

2009-05-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

Becca (1965) by David Smith now resides on the second floor of the Modern Art wing, but she once stood atop the roof (for the exhibition David Smith on the Roof), just like Maelstrom from my previous posts. Aside from recognizing the sculpture from photos I'd seen online as I passed it, I never paid any more attention to this big hunk of metal standing like a sign in the center of its respective space.

Today, however, something about the glowing lines of light on its surface reeled me in. I noticed that multiple layers of these reflections with different brightnesses give its shiny surface the appearance of depth, despite its flat surface. The reflecting lines move and dance as you view the piece from different angles. From the side, Becca is more waif-thin than Kate Moss in her heyday — a stark contrast to the width of the sculpture when viewed from the front. This interesting juxtaposition and the movement created by the burnished surface make Becca an exquisite piece.

MAP:

Outside the Met

2009-05-20T09:15:00.000-07:00

Saved the best for last: Boba Fett playing accordion!

First View of the New American Wing!

2009-05-19T12:45:00.001-07:00

Michelle Obama, American Wing Ribbon Cutting

2009-05-18T22:30:00.000-07:00

Thank you, Morgan, for sharing this video link from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's website. I can't wait to see the newly renovated galleries and period rooms in the American Wing at the Met!

(P.S. Michelle Obama, you are fabulous!)

More Maelstrom

2009-05-17T19:38:00.000-07:00

Maelstrom, by Roxy Paine, makes a great reflection against the glass windows on the roof at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. With all those dark clouds, I felt like Maelstrom could be the world's biggest lightening rod — yet another reference to the theme of nature's relationship to the man-made.

The Met's YouTube channel has a video of the sculpture's installation on the roof.

Hannock and the High Line

2009-05-16T21:55:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to be invited to artist Stephen Hannock's book signing to benefit the High Line project at celebrity chef, Tom Colicchio's, restaurant Craftsteak on 14th and 10th. On the back wall of the main dining room, hangs an expansive cityscape by Hannock, depicting the High Line neighborhood where restaurant is located. Chelsea Winter with Elevated Park; New York Highline (2006) incorporates Hannock's signature collage elements and handwriting to create a beautiful, deeply personal and visually interesting piece.

I am now the proud owner of the book, Stephen Hannock, by Hudson Hills publishing, which is truly a beautiful retrospective chronicling the artist's life and career achievements. I went straight to the Met after the event, to visit Hannock's paintings: Kaaterskill Falls for Frank Moore and Dan Hodermarsky and The Oxbow: After Church, after Cole, Flooded, Green Light, (his most famous, on the cover of the book).

Of course, the greatest part was meeting the artist himself! He's a really nice guy and for that, and many other reasons, I'll continue to follow his work which I enjoy a lot.

The Nymph of Dampierre

2009-05-12T13:10:00.001-07:00

Sculptural wall fountain just off Petrie Court.

Byzantine Animal Brooches

2009-05-08T12:14:00.001-07:00

If you haven't already picked up on my love for tiny objects, here's yet another testament. Dating back to the Roman Empire (100-300AD), these were worn by both Roman soldiers and natives of Byzantium. Alright... I'm not gonna lie, the ones on the left in the compromising position are what really caught my eye!

Model As Muse Preview

2009-05-07T18:25:00.000-07:00

After the glitz and glamour of the gala were gone, the Costume Institute's Model As Muse: Embodying Fashion opened for a member preview today. Incorporating photographs, magazine spreads, authentic costume pieces, a little paint, music and film, Model As Muse creates an informative chronology of the influence of models on fashion design in the last half-century.

I was greeted by the outstretched arms of a mannequin version of the famous Avedon photgraph with Dovima and two Elephants. Black-and-white photographs lead up to the actual Avedon print, which hangs at the end of the first corridor. Turn the corner, and you find early Vogue and Bazaar spreads beneath mannequins wearing Charles James on the right and Balenciaga and Dior day suits on the left. The dresses are set against an enlarged Cecil Beaton for Vogue photograph, while the suits supersede footage from Funny Face projected on the wall, that seems to coincide at times with music that fills the space.

photo from models.com

Against a photo of the Cabine of Christian Dior, mannequins wore deconstructed gowns by John Galliano. Styled by Julien d’Ys, the mannequins with just one eye and eyebrow painted on were my favorites of all.

photo from models.com

The exhibit continues through the decades to the sixties with a colorful lava-lamp motif undulating on the walls and reflecting off costumes from Qui etes-vous, Polly Maggoo?, a fashion-industry satire about a 20-year-old Brooklyn born model in Paris, while a clip plays on the wall. More mannequins represent fashions portrayed in magazine spreads at their feet, featuring the influential models like Twiggy and Donyale Luna (Yves Saint Laurent's Mondrian Dress among them).

It was around the next corner in the eighties that I happened upon a tour by none other than Kohle Yohannan, co-curator of the exhibition (with Costume Institute chief Harold Koda)! As I looked over Vogue covers of Renee Russo, Iman, and Brooke Shields (whose Calvin Klein jeans are displayed at the end of that corridor), Yohannan spoke of the controversy that arose from modeling and the beauty industry. He said, "fashion magazines are often criticized for championing the very ideas women have fought for," namely independence, success and even sexuality.

We continued to the late-eighties, early-nineties, where a gang war portrayed the tension between high/low street culture when the supermodel reached the height of her power. Designers either embraced supermodels like Linda Evangelista, Christie Turlington and Naomi Campbell; or they resisted for fear of being overshadowed.

photo from models.com

The grunge movement was a direct reaction to the ideal of perfect supermodels, favoring girls with unusual, even sickly looks; beautiful nonetheless, but the term heroine-chic refers to the models of this time. Julien d’Ys brought the room to life with silver graffiti on the walls, while Nirvana played over the speakers.

As the fame of the supermodels themselves threatened to eclipse the industry that created them, Yohannan said, designers began to create more minimalist pieces, thereby selecting more homogeneous models over the standouts that came before.

from left, photos from artnet.com, models.com, and nymag.com

Model As Muse comes to an end with big Dior by Galliano gowns and Louis Vuitton's nurses by Marc Jacobs in collaboration with Richard Prince, my single most favorite pieces because of their reference to contemporary art (which I saw last year at the Guggenheim). The postscript posits that though we have recently seen a few larger-than-life style and fashion icons like Victoria Beckham, the era of the supermodel has ended (with the exception of Gisele Bundchen).

Related References/Links:

New York Times review of Model As Muse

NY Mag has a great slideshow.

...and coincidentally, I came across this feature of Yohannan's remarkable and exquisite home from last year's NY Mag Interior design issue (this year's ran this week).

American Wing Reopens 5/19

2009-05-07T10:09:00.000-07:00

The American Wing courtyard and period rooms will reopen on May 19th! Found this YouTube video on urbanartantiques.com.

Tibetan Arms and Armor

2009-05-06T13:42:00.001-07:00

A 17th-18th century Tibetan saddle and bridle.

My Favorite El Greco

2009-05-06T13:39:00.001-07:00

View of Toledo by El Greco.

Still-lifes by Odilon Redon

2009-05-06T11:31:00.000-07:00

Pretty flowers by Odilon Redon, whose other dream-like paintings also appear in the 19th- 20th- Century European Painting.

Costume Institute Gala 2009

2009-05-04T21:24:00.000-07:00

The Costume Institute held its annual gala tonight at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to celebrate the new exhibition opening this week — The Model as Muse: Embodying Fashion. Unsurprisingly, the event drew incredible fashions donned by supermodels and celebrity elites. Here are my top three best and craziest ensembles:

Faves

Claudia Schiffer's dress was my favorite of the pics I've seen. The black cutout gown has an artistic quality while maintaining a beautiful silhouette.

Chanel Iman looks like a tall, exotic nymph in a beautiful leopard print Zac Posen gown.

Of course, mega-hot model Gisele Bundchen rocked it in this Versace micro-minidress.

Crazies

(Disclaimer: I am not totally knocking these choices, since it is a "Costume" Institute gala, and who doesn't love a little avant garde? BUT these ladies take the cake for the most bizarre looks)

Ummm, we have a cray cray Shirley Temple on our hands. Leighton Meester's look leaves me speechless. I do like the bejeweled tights though... the pattern looks better with glitz and texture than it does on the dress itself. Maybe a bodysuit would have been an even bolder but more cohesive choice?

I don't know, Rhianna looks to me like a fembot gone masculine in this Dolce and Gabbana tuxedo.

If Carrie Bradshaw did it right, Madonna did it weird — the sculptural hairpiece is the crowning glory of her oddly hodge-podge Louis Vuitton ensemble that includes black thigh-high boots and fingerless gloves.

WELL, I would have loved to make it to the red carpet, but the workaholic in me ruled out and I had to live vicariously through other blogs/news sites. My new Twitter friend popwatch supplied the link to fabsugar.com, where I got the photos. The New York Times also has a nice story and accompanying slideshow, as does Vanity Fair and E! Online.

Mellow Yellows

2009-05-04T06:22:00.000-07:00

Dancing Lines

2009-05-03T11:35:00.000-07:00

Terry Winters: Shadowgraphs, 2002 (one of 12 wood engravings with embossments on handmade paper).

Kentridge's Stereoscopes

2009-05-01T10:26:00.000-07:00

The new Drawings and Prints: Selections from the Permanent Collection include five photogravures, three with stereoscopes by William Kentridge. For lack of a better description, I'll borrow from the accompanying description by the Metropolitan Museum of Art: "This series of prints reflects his most recent interest in optics and the construction of sight. Kentridge created three-dimensional models in his studio, which he then photographed and made into photogravures. The prints were split and paired together on a single sheet. When viewed under a stereoscope, the images reconstitute their dimensionality and become mini dioramas filled with fantastic imagery." In two of these works, Kentridge pays homage to the sixteenth-century artist Albrecht Dürer by referencing his famous prints Melencolia I and The Rhinoceros.

I remember learning about Kentridge's technique in a digital photography class I too in college, where we actually made our own photogravures. The best one I did was a depiction of a bicycle rack, with about 20 bikes all in a row. The three-dimensionality that results is really impressive.

MAP:

Note from ME:
When I first started this blog, I made little maps detailing my course through the Met on each trip, and to show readers where they might find the artwork I highlighted. Though it mind seem like a small detail, it is actually somewhat time-consuming, so I regrettably stopped creating them. I still like the idea, but don't want to put in the effort if they're not useful, so I'm leaving it up to the readers. Please let me know if you like to see these little guys at the bottom of each post. Thanks!

My Birthday Visit With Jered

2009-04-29T09:36:00.000-07:00

Today was my 25th birthday, and what better way to celebrate than to take a trip to the Met with a friend? It turned out to be a rather unique experience — I handed over my camera and let Jered have free rein, leading me along snapping shots of whatever interested him. We both work in a restaurant, so our pace was much faster than the typical museum goer; we power walked the length of the museum and back, starting on the roof. We wandered through 19-Century European Painting and Sculpture (love the tremendous collection of Rodin!). Then on to European Painting, Decorative Arts, a little Medieval, Egypt, American Arts, including the recently re-opened Frank Lloyd Wright room, Greek and Roman Sculpture, and finally Cast in Bronze, the French Sculpture exhibition. It was fun to cover so much ground in such a short time.

Maelstrom Opens on the Roof

2009-04-28T17:43:00.000-07:00

The Iris B. Cantor Roof Garden finally opened for the season today with Roxy Paine's massive steel sculpture, Maelstrom. While the Metropolitan Museum of Art is hands-down my favorite place in New York City, the rooftop is truly its crown jewel — and Paine's sculpture serves to unite the architectural with the organic as it twists and mangles over the trees in the park with the midtown Manhattan skyline in the distance. I like the way the branches of the sculpture frame the negative space between them: a building in one slice, a person in another — it breaks up the background into interesting vignettes. It also reminded me of the drawings I'd make when I was a kid, freely scrawling loops and lines and then going back and filling the spaces between with different colors.

No More Construction!

2009-04-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

After more than a year, the Metropolitan Museum of Art's exterior is finally clear of the fences that blocked the north end of the stairs. Unblemished, its magnanimity is restored (magnanimity : the quality of being magnanimous : loftiness of spirit enabling one to bear trouble calmly, to disdain meanness and pettiness, and to display a noble generosity — this word popped into my head, and it turns out, it truly reflects my feelings about the Met).

Perhaps the characters of Gossip Girl will return to the Met to have their lunch on its steps?

Bright Spring Pinks

2009-04-27T10:18:00.000-07:00

Pretty Petrie

2009-04-26T21:22:00.000-07:00

A beautiful sunny day in Petrie Court.

Insomnia is Productive

2009-04-22T23:44:00.000-07:00

I haven't done this before, but as I have become more ingrained in the world of blogging, I've come across some really great stuff pertaining to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It's funny how on the internet, one tangent leads to another and another, the amount of information being produced and the rate at which it's happening is staggering. I'll try to post a link when I find something of interest as I continue my quest to know everything.

Tom Hoving Videos

Just tonight I discovered this video archive of My Eye with Thomas Hoving (former Met director), thanks to a tweet from artnet.com. Hoving reviews exhibitions with fervor and expertise — they are a real delight to watch, especially the one's I've been to in person, like Art and Love in Renaissance Italy, for example. Hoving wrote Making the Mummies Dance about his tenure as director of the Met from 1967 to 1977.

Walker Evans

I just discovered ART.CULT, the arts and culture offshoot of wnyc.org. Then I came across this podcast about the postcard collection of Walker Evans. Walker Evans: The Picture Postcard is on view at the Met until May 25, 2009.

Kehinde Wiley

For some reason I began thinking about The Veiled Christ, by Kehinde Wiley — perhaps because The Oxbow: After Church, after Cole, Flooded, Green Light, by Stephen Hannock (who left a comment this week!), has returned to its spot next to another Hannock landscape, leaving me wonder what has happened to Wiley's exquisite piece. Naturally, I googled Wiley, and though I didn't find the answer, I did come across these two great blogs that do a wonderful job reviewing his work: Luis Colan and Popular.

Earth Day Landscape

2009-04-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

For Earth Day, I thought I'd share with you my favorite landscape currently hanging with its fellow American Landscapes in the Lehman Wing: Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902), The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak, 1863. This is particularly arresting for me because it is a snapshot of a point in time, a landscape since extinct by the settlement of the west and the proliferation of the American Indian. When I look at this landscape, I think about the Rockies of 1863 and the frontier that exists only in history books and on Bierstdt's canvas.

Monday Flowers

2009-04-20T11:55:00.000-07:00

Sneak Preview: Maelstrom on the Roof

2009-04-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

I was walking through the park the other day on my way to the Met, when I noticed a glowing metal structure protruding from the museum's roof. I recognized it immediately as the upcoming installation, Maelstrom, by American artist Roxy Paine. From what I can tell, the sculpture will be captivating — its theme is surely thought-provoking. Set against, and in dialogue with, the greensward of Central Park and its architectural backdrop, this swirling entanglement of stainless- steel pipe showcases the work of an artist keenly interested in the interplay between the natural world and the built environment, as well as the human desire for order amid nature's inherently chaotic processes. (metmuseum.org) The museum itself is a man-made juxtaposition to nature, or at least that of Central Park, so the relevance of this piece is not lost on me — I am holding my breath to see it up close!

My Museum Highlights with the Fam

2009-04-17T08:59:00.000-07:00

My dad and his girlfriend, Georg-Ann, came to visit me in New York this week; and, of course, they requested a private tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art á la mí. Like the last tour for my friends, I wanted to cover as much ground as possible before their feet started throbbing and their eyes glazed over.

We began with European Decorative Arts — I like to show people the period rooms to break them of the notion that art museums are stodgy, paintings-on-the-wall places. Next, we hit up Arms and Armor, bringing back memories of my dad's somewhat extreme passion for Medieval Times (the dinner and tournament) — we seriously went like 5 times when my brother and I were younger. No visit would be complete without a trip to Egypt, so we ventured from 3,000 BC through the Tombs of Meketre and Hatshepsut until we reached the Temple of Dendur. Then we took a quick peek at the American Wing, particularly The Palace and Gardens at Versailles, The Roccoco Revival Room, Vanderbilt's Herder Brothers Library Table, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Room. Though we had worked our way to the far corner of the museum, no visit is complete without throwing a little Modern Art into the mix. So I led them back through the Great Hall, quickly through Greek and Roman Sculpture and Oceanic Art to the Picassos, Balthuses, Legers, Giacomettis and Rosenquists in the gallery where we ended our tour.

The most rewarding thing for me (though I've yet to meet someone as enamored with the Met as I), is to see the look of awe on people's faces when they view the museum's collection. I watched Georg-Ann's jaw drop a dozen times and my dad grin with satisfaction. It was a wonderful visit.

Still Life with Skylight

2009-04-13T23:14:00.000-07:00

Dogwood in the Great Hall

A Bright Place to Sit and Think

2009-04-09T11:55:00.001-07:00

It was an extraordinary day in New York City - especially considering the snow flurries we got yesterday! After my walk through the park on my way to the Met, I could barely bring myself to go indoors (it'll be wonderful when the rooftop garden opens in May). Nonetheless, I entered my sanctuary yet again, with no agenda as usual, when I remembered the perfect spot to go.

The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery contains Chinese sculpture from the 5th - 6th centuries, including a gigantic mural, called Pure Land of Bhaishajyaguru, the Buddha of Medicine. It was here that I stopped to think on my first solo visit to The Metropolitan Museum of Art about a year ago. I distinctly remember contemplating the disappointing fact that I will never know everything, though I am forever fascinated with the complexity and scope of our existence. The following is an excerpt from the journal entry I wrote that day:

I am overwhelmed by the amount of information out there. The timeline and variety of human civilization is baffling to me... As is the scope of the universe and its history, and the laws that govern the physical world, and the instances in which those laws are broken or proven null. As I sit in the Met listening to a French tour, thinking of all the different languages that ever existed, and the customs, artwork, belief systems and rituals, I've decided that we as the product of this history should have a profound reverence and appreciation for it — as well as general bewilderment.

Odilon Redon

2009-03-25T22:06:00.000-07:00

Aside from being beautiful, these pieces by French Symbolist painter Odilon Redon, bear historical significance as a bridge between Impressionism and Modern Abstract Expressionism, no doubt leading into Surrealism as well. The Chariot of Apollo (above) and Pandora (right), struck me with their interestingly rudimentary line quality, their representational forms, and colorful yet muted palettes. Looking at them, I can't help but think that these are still frames of dreams, translated onto canvas.

Inspired by the literary movement of the same name, Symbolism rejected rationalism and materialism that had come to dominate Western European culture, [and proclaimed] the validity of pure subjectivity and the expression of an idea over a realistic description of the natural world. The Symbolists' rejection of naturalism and narrative in favor of the subjective representation of an idea or emotion would have a significant effect on the artwork of the twentieth century, particularly the formulation of German Expressionism and Abstraction.(Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History)

Pretty Pinks in the Great Hall

2009-03-23T11:12:00.000-07:00

Stephen Hannock

2009-03-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

While wandering around the Modern Art Wing one day, I promised myself I'd return to these two paintings tucked away in the back corner near the staircase that leads to the mezzanine and the second floor. I'm sure my photographs don't do them enough justice, but you might be able to tell that they are remarkable. At first glance, both are beautifully rendered landscapes, with a natural palette that evoke a sense of calm and serenity. But then you notice the handwritten words etched over the surface, most beautifully in the foreground of The Oxbow, which look like rows in the fields of the farm to me. These are paintings by American artist, Stephen Hannock.

The first is Kaaterskill Falls for Frank Moore and Dan Hodermarsky, a realistic depiction of a beautiful waterfall but with a twist: the rock in the background is covered with writing and collage. In "Kaaterskill Falls," Hannock pays tribute to his old prep-school teacher, Dan Hodermarsky; to the late Frank Moore, an artist who died of AIDS; and to a cycling friend (hence Lance Armstrong). (Fortune Magazine)

The Oxbow: After Church, after Cole, Flooded, Green Light references Thomas Cole's famous Mount Holyoke, Northampton, Massachusetts, after a Thunderstorm-The Oxbow, also at the Met. The Oxbow was recently replaced by Kehinde Wiley's "Veiled Christ," but I am sure it will reappear on the walls of the museum sometime.

For more in-depth information, Hannock's web site has this catalogue essay that describes the artist's style and inspiration. Also, CNN Money/Fortune Magazine featured Hannock in Portrait of an A-List Artist.

Picasso in New Haven

2009-03-20T10:02:00.001-07:00

I took a little train ride up to New Haven, CT to visit a dear friend, who is attending the MFA in theatre program at Yale (I know, I'm so proud of her!). So I got to see a really interesting performance of Hamlet last night, which was itself a work of art with colorful costumes and an artistic perspective on the Shakespearean classic. And this morning, my friend and I ventured to the Yale Art Gallery to see the Picasso and the Allure of Language exhibition.

In the past year of my growing interest in art museums, I have come across a handful of exhibitions featuring books, works on paper, and literary contributions by well-known artists. This was another gem to capture my love of the written word and visual art all rolled into one.

Picasso's illustrations, book covers, and poetry provide a new facet to the prolific artist's illustrious career. To see physical proof of the constant workings of his mind and his collaborations with other artists was wonderful.

I especially enjoyed his handwritten poetry — the words on the page are beautifully arranged works of art in themselves. There were also illustrations for several texts; my favorites were line drawings of Greek mythological subjects.

Though small, this was a well-designed world-class exhibition — as could be expected from the Ivy League.

Bye Bye Baby-lon

2009-03-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

I just had my most disappointing experience at the Met to date. As usual, I waited til the last minute before the special exhibition, Beyond Babylon: Art, Trade, and Diplomacy in the Second Millennium B.C. closed — and I didn't leave myself nearly enough time to take in this incredible experience. It was hands-down the best exhibition design I've seen so far at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. I stepped through the threshold and clicked on my iPod, playing Sublime's "Rivers of Babylon" (yeah, I'm pretty cheesy). But really, I loved every step I took through the galleries with huge aerial photographs of the region on the walls and the surprise of turning a corner to find a giant ship containing artifacts recovered from the sea off the southern coast of Turkey. Breathtaking is my best descriptor for the experience. I wish wish wish I had known how intriguing this was!

For videos of curatorial talks, click here.

The Frank Lloyd Wright Room

2009-03-13T08:32:00.000-07:00

In the far corner of the American Wing, just before you get to the portion that is closed for renovations, you'll find the recently reopened Living room from the Little House, Wayzata, Minnesota, by Frank Lloyd Wright. A true gem of the Met's decorative arts collection, this room is more than just the furniture it contains — it is an intact piece of architecture by the 20th century's most significant American architect. Though the style is now dated, we have Wright to thank for his cutting-edge attention to geometry that continues to inspire contemporary architects. Before entering the room, you walk along the exterior, peering into the space through Wright's signature stained glass windows.

Dilly-dallying in the Greek and Roman Galleries

2009-03-10T12:20:00.001-07:00

After a weekend hiatus from the Met, I made no plan for today, intending to just enter the museum and see where it took me. I didn't go far after ascending the stairs from the 81st street entrance into the Greek and Roman galleries - I just sat down by the fountain and continued reading Making the Mummies Dance; and, of course, engaged in a little people watching.

I was really into the faces of the sculptures, which in some cases are just heads. I find that the damage to the features makes them look a little ghastly, but ultimately adds to the beauty of their survival from antiquity.

There was also this cute little vase that reflected so nicely on the glass below it — I just had to snap a photo.

Apple Blossoms

2009-03-09T10:22:00.000-07:00

My First Unofficial Tour

2009-03-06T20:14:00.000-08:00

It was a LONG weekend - pretty much worked nonstop... but before I did, I got the chance on Friday to visit the Met with a couple friends that were in town from California, one of whom hadn't been before.

Stephanie and Jerrell posing in the "cubiculum," or early Roman bedroom.

Stephanie up close with Chuck Close.

Japanese Koto Music

2009-03-04T22:51:00.000-08:00

About once a month, the Musical Instruments Department holds a live concert, using one of the instruments from the collection. It is astounding to me that every instrument displayed in this wing, no matter how old, is in working condition. Today's concert, entitled "The World of the Koto," featured the Japanese Koto (click the 'play' button on the image above to hear). In a small corner of the Musical Instruments gallery, a brilliant musician, Masayo Ishigure, played three pieces on the instrument:

1. "Sakura" from Two Variations on "Sakura" and "Kojo no Tsuki" (1971)

2. Chidori no kyoku — "The Song of the Plovers" (ca. 1855)

3. "Tori no Yo Ni" — Flying Liike a Bird (1985)

The music reverberated through the space like a combination between a harp, piano, and guitar. I got the feeling that I had stumbled upon a treasure only for those in the know — even I had only been to the musical instruments wing once, but you can bet I'll try to make it to the next concert: Music from a 400–year-old continuous living tradition—Norway's hardanger fiddle.

Snowy Cloisters

2009-03-03T12:34:00.001-08:00

It was the perfect day to go to The Cloisters, the Medieval branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Perched high above the buildings on either side of its hill in Fort Tryon Park, with a view of the Hudson River and George Washington Bridge, the exquisite museum is built in the style of a monastery, incorporating beautiful architectural pieces from historic sites. Within its walls, you'll find intricately detailed tapestries, paintings, and artifacts from the middle ages.

Forsythias in the Great Hall

2009-03-02T21:53:00.000-08:00

Calder Jewelry

2009-03-01T09:49:00.000-08:00

Calder Jewelry ended today, and though I have meandered through several times, I never wrote a post on it (not at all because it wasn't interesting). Alexander Calder is a well-known sculptor and painter, whose lesser-known metal jewelry takes on natural forms — elegantly crafted but with a rudimentary air. While the jewelry is stylistically similar, there are still a wide variety of modern-looking pieces and ones that reflect on traditional Egyptian, Greek and Byzantine jewelry.

Old Masters

2009-02-28T23:12:00.000-08:00

After a long hiatus from tours, I went on a very informative Old Masters tour this evening.

Reading in the Lehman Wing

2009-02-28T23:11:00.000-08:00

After my Old Masters tour, I wandered into the Robert Lehman Wing just downstairs from the European Paintings galleries. I recently started reading former Met director Thomas Hoving's memoir, Making the Mummies Dance. What fun it was to sit looking at Lehman's Impressionists and read about what an ordeal it was to secure the collection and build an entire pavillion to house it.

Balthus Reunited

2009-02-27T21:22:00.000-08:00

The largest painting, The Mountain, recently returned from the Philippe de Montebello exhibition to join three other paintings by the Polish/French artist, Balthasar Kłossowski de Rola (aka Balthus).

I am strangely drawn to Balthus; his flattened perspective and muted palette strike me as interesting, though not particularly beautiful. His paintings are stylistically unique, taking on characteristics of both medieval and modern portraiture, slightly abstracting the human figures and environments, while remaining relatively faithful to realism compared to the work of his contemporaries (Picasso, Miró, Giacometti).

The Met Artist

2009-02-26T22:08:00.000-08:00

This may classify me as a bit of a stalker, but I can't resist photographing my favorite Met artist. I always see him. One day I'll get up the courage to actually talk to him, rather than throwing out the errant compliment here and there. Previous posts: 1/2/3.

Per Reader Suggestion

2009-02-26T17:57:00.000-08:00

I received a comment on my post, Thoughts on Change, that suggested I take a look at the new additions to the Modern Art wing, particularly those that hang near the staircase where my (yes, I take ownership of them since they are my favorite) beloved Rosenquists once lived.

The most prominent painting is Kehinde Wiley's "The Veiled Christ (study) 2008," which I definitely noticed as soon as it arrived. It portrays the stiff, clearly deceased subject laying on his back with his hand on his abdomen, a crown of thorns and metal stakes at his feet, against the backdrop of bright floral wallpaper with a black background, some of the same flowers coming to life in the foreground, dispersed about the body. Regardless of its size, the image itself is powerful and arresting.

On the facing wall next to Norman Rockwell and Grant Wood, hangs a Thomas Hart Benton: "Cotton Pickers, Georgia, 1928-29." In Benton's signature style, the squiggly characters float atop the wavelike landscape.

And just to the left, Andrew Wyeth's "A Crow Flew By, 1949-50" captured my undivided attention. The egg tempera on wood gives the painting a very rustic feeling — the shirt and hat in the top right corner are expertly painted to look worn out, and the expression on the man's droopy-eyed face is perfectly highlighted by the ray of light.