2009

As we ring in the New Year tonight, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will be celebrating a few monumental events in the advent of 2009 — one of which is the switch to a new Director, (more on that tomorrow) and the other is the Costume Collection's new partnership with the Brooklyn Museum of Art.

Additionally, I'd like to share this 2008 in Review: People of the Year that I came across on artinfo.com, since it lists Philippe de Montebello, the outgoing Director of the Met.

Images of Mary

Tonight I took advantage of a seasonal Gallery Talk entitled "In Anticipation of Christmas: Images of Mary." We looked at works by Gerard David, Hieronymus Bosch, and Albrect Dürer. It is important to remember that when these paintings were made, virtually everyone in society was a devout believer (or at last outwardly behaved as such). So the imagery in religious paintings was widely recognized - for example, people would identify the various saints by symbols always used in their portrayal. Not only were they used as decoration for the ornate chapels where they were installed, religious paintings were also used as teaching mechanisms, since the majority of the population was illiterate.

A Little Christmas Shopping

Like any self-respecting shopaholic, I'm a sucker for a sale; so, when it came time to do my Christmas shopping, I was enticed by the big sale signs at The Met Store that I pass everyday. I've frequently perused the contents of this store, with everything classy and artistic that an aficionado could covet. Today I successfully selected gifts for my closest family members that they will hopefully cherish and appreciate.

Lunch in the Cafeteria

Just popped in for a second to have a salad in the cafeteria. Nothing more to report, really.

Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock?

I just watched Who the #$&% is Jackson Pollock? The documentary traces the experience of Teri Horton, a truck driver from California, who purchased a painting of questionable origin at a thrift store. Because of its similarity to Jackson Pollock's painting technique, Horton has sought for many years to authenticate and sell the piece against staggering odds. Though glamorous and erudite, the art world comes across as decidedly pompous and condescending to the average citizen.

Just about all of the professional art dealers and historians agreed that this painting was not a Jackson Pollock, but Horton was stubborn. She even hired a forensic analyst to authenticate paint samples from the painting compared with paint found on the floor in Pollock's studio. And perhaps most convincing of all, the analyst claims to have identified a fingerprint on the back of the canvas as Pollock's own, as compared with one found on an authentic Pollock painting. Whatever you believe, this film interestingly examines the rift between the Average Joe and the intellectual elite.

Arts of Ancient Egypt

The Egyptian Wing at the Met serves as a major cornerstone of the museum's collection. As a world-renowned institution, the Metropolitan Museum of Art was granted the right to excavate the tombs of ancient Egypt in the beginning of the twentieth century.

Live Music on the Balcony, Saturday Night

Today's was a typical visit without an agenda but as I stepped into the Great Hall, beautiful music filled the air. It was coming from the Balcony Café above, where a pianist and two violinists entertained diners at the restaurant, as well as all the visitors in the Great Hall's vicinity. I found a spot on a bench on the second floor across from the café, where I could look at the magnificent architecture of the building, down at the people walking in and out and the incredible flower arrangement centerpiece. I wanted nothing more than to sit and listen, so I did.

Friday Night in Petrie Court Café

Tonight I treated myself to a glass of wine and an appetizer at Petrie Court Café, located adjacent to the European Sculpture Court. This upscale establishment was expectedly expensive, but I wasn't disappointed. It was a lovely space to enjoy a glass of Chardonnay after a long week — and the pumpkin ravioli was very tasty too!

Rosenquist — My Favorite Pieces

I want to take today's post to highlight my very favorite pieces in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

They hang in the stairwell between the first floor and the mezzanine at the far end of the Modern Art wing. At first glance, I was delighted by their bright colors and their strange subject matter. Then, as I took a closer look, the masterful craftsmanship and stark realism of the forms, with fully saturated hues and invisible brushstrokes, just about floored me. With all the works that reside in the Met, it may come as a surprise that two "Gift Wrapped Dolls" (#23 and #16) by James Rosenquist could capture my fancy so completely — but I never claimed to be normal.


Sadly, there isn't a wealth of information on the web about Rosenquist, though I did find this interview with db artmag. I find it fascinating to read the artist's view of their own work and of the world at large.

Also, I think it's appropriate to include here another painting by Rosenquist, "House of Fire" (1981), which was fairly recently mounted on the second floor directly above the stairwell with the dolls. Famous for his "Pop Art" collages juxtaposing brightly colored, unrelated everyday subjects, Rosenquist's work just dazzles the eye.


Learn more about Rosenquist at Artsy!

Calder Jewelry Opens Today

The Metropolitan Museum of Art opened an exhibition showcasing jewelry crafted by American artist, Alexander Calder. Although he is known for his large-scale sculptures often in the shapes of mobiles, Calder also created almost 2,000 pieces of jewelry, some of which is now on display at the Met.

For more info, read this article from www.reuters.com.