Conquering the Met
Sort of. It actually conquered me.
So I took the day off because I had to burn a vacation day (my company is very stingy about carryover into the next year). And I hadn't been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art since I was in high school and figured today was as good a day as any. I actually made it into the City in under 2.5 hours (keep in mind that I actually live in NYC, so the very fact it took 2.5 hours to get to Manhattan still peeves me).
Anyway, my theory on museums is that if I have to pay $20 to get in (yeah, they say it's only "recommended," but you get dirty looks), I want my money's worth. I think I covered several miles just walking the galleries.
Notable moments (in case anyone in NY plans on taking in the Met and unlike suicidal me, doesn't want to kill themselves seeing everything):
1. The head of PR for the Louis Comfort Tiffany Museum in Orlando told me they were lending part of the collection to the Met when I saw her a few months back, so I hit that special exhibition. The man knew his way around glass. The windows are just stunning.
2. The new Asian mother-of-pearl and lacquer special exhibition is small, but has some truly lovely pieces, including some stunning trays.
3. I had zero idea who Nan Kempner was until I walked into the Met (late hotshot socialites aren't my thing), but I will give due credit to her--the woman had exquisite taste in fashion (and one hell of a figure). The costume special exhibit featuring the clothes from her wardrobe was very impressive (and proof positive that Yves Saint Laurent is a couture genius).
4. I actually liked the Arms and Armor collection, though the special exhibit on horses didn't enthuse all that much. Seeing Henry II's armor was cool (though he was shorter than I imagined he'd be--as were a lot of Samurai warriors, if the Asian armory exhibit is representative). The swords were just fabulous.
5. An entire special exhibit on Sevres porcelain = bliss. Actually, I adore the decorative arts and the European collection at the Met is darned impressive. So, for that matter, is the American collection. I think I spent more time in these two departments than any other. Discovered that I have royal and priceless taste, which is bad as I'll never be able to afford any of it, and any house I ever buy would end up looking pretty but would be largely living-unfriendly. Thankfully, my pocketbook will never be able to afford any of this stuff (I yearn for the mahogany furniture and the silver collections), so I will be able to live in comfort if not the sort of style I'd probably go for. Oddly, the only thing I didn't like was the crystal. My father's parents came from the Czech Republic and my grandmother brought over some amazing crystal, so I have high standards.
6. The Americans in Paris (1860-1900) special exhibit was pretty good, and I'm not (for the most part) a huge fan of American art, so that says something. There were some really fabulous works by Mary Cassast and John Singer Sargent.
7. I've been in a lot of great museums over the years, so when I say the European collection at the Met is really good, that says something. The Impressionist collection is amazing. And the Dutch (including 4 Vermeers!) collection is fab. Wouldn't come here for the Italians, but you can't have everything.
8. The Musical Instruments gallery was closed! So was the Islamic Arts Gallery. I was really bummed.
9. Walked though the Egyptian and Assyrian galleries (if you like this type of art, then a visit here is very worthwhile--not really my speed), and I strolled the Asian ones, too, but I have to admit I don't really get excited by three million versions of Buddha and that's what was mostly on tap.
Two other observations:
The hot cocoa at the Met is overpriced and mediocre. (I was cold and thirsty and it wasn't like I could eat anything in the cafeteria--I brown-bagged it on the museum steps with a bunch of other budget-minded visitors). The gift shop sells really nice stuff--but it's also obscenely overpriced. $7.50 for a small print? That's highway robbery!
Did arrive home to a sweet Chanukah present from Min (Gracias!!!) and the news that the Chanukah party for my mother's side of the family this Saturday night may be off because one first cousin is sick, one may have appendicitis (we're waiting for word) and my aunt has a fever. The holidays are off to their usual wacky start. All I know is that right now I need to put my feet up and veg. I'm exhausted.
So I took the day off because I had to burn a vacation day (my company is very stingy about carryover into the next year). And I hadn't been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art since I was in high school and figured today was as good a day as any. I actually made it into the City in under 2.5 hours (keep in mind that I actually live in NYC, so the very fact it took 2.5 hours to get to Manhattan still peeves me).
Anyway, my theory on museums is that if I have to pay $20 to get in (yeah, they say it's only "recommended," but you get dirty looks), I want my money's worth. I think I covered several miles just walking the galleries.
Notable moments (in case anyone in NY plans on taking in the Met and unlike suicidal me, doesn't want to kill themselves seeing everything):
1. The head of PR for the Louis Comfort Tiffany Museum in Orlando told me they were lending part of the collection to the Met when I saw her a few months back, so I hit that special exhibition. The man knew his way around glass. The windows are just stunning.
2. The new Asian mother-of-pearl and lacquer special exhibition is small, but has some truly lovely pieces, including some stunning trays.
3. I had zero idea who Nan Kempner was until I walked into the Met (late hotshot socialites aren't my thing), but I will give due credit to her--the woman had exquisite taste in fashion (and one hell of a figure). The costume special exhibit featuring the clothes from her wardrobe was very impressive (and proof positive that Yves Saint Laurent is a couture genius).
4. I actually liked the Arms and Armor collection, though the special exhibit on horses didn't enthuse all that much. Seeing Henry II's armor was cool (though he was shorter than I imagined he'd be--as were a lot of Samurai warriors, if the Asian armory exhibit is representative). The swords were just fabulous.
5. An entire special exhibit on Sevres porcelain = bliss. Actually, I adore the decorative arts and the European collection at the Met is darned impressive. So, for that matter, is the American collection. I think I spent more time in these two departments than any other. Discovered that I have royal and priceless taste, which is bad as I'll never be able to afford any of it, and any house I ever buy would end up looking pretty but would be largely living-unfriendly. Thankfully, my pocketbook will never be able to afford any of this stuff (I yearn for the mahogany furniture and the silver collections), so I will be able to live in comfort if not the sort of style I'd probably go for. Oddly, the only thing I didn't like was the crystal. My father's parents came from the Czech Republic and my grandmother brought over some amazing crystal, so I have high standards.
6. The Americans in Paris (1860-1900) special exhibit was pretty good, and I'm not (for the most part) a huge fan of American art, so that says something. There were some really fabulous works by Mary Cassast and John Singer Sargent.
7. I've been in a lot of great museums over the years, so when I say the European collection at the Met is really good, that says something. The Impressionist collection is amazing. And the Dutch (including 4 Vermeers!) collection is fab. Wouldn't come here for the Italians, but you can't have everything.
8. The Musical Instruments gallery was closed! So was the Islamic Arts Gallery. I was really bummed.
9. Walked though the Egyptian and Assyrian galleries (if you like this type of art, then a visit here is very worthwhile--not really my speed), and I strolled the Asian ones, too, but I have to admit I don't really get excited by three million versions of Buddha and that's what was mostly on tap.
Two other observations:
The hot cocoa at the Met is overpriced and mediocre. (I was cold and thirsty and it wasn't like I could eat anything in the cafeteria--I brown-bagged it on the museum steps with a bunch of other budget-minded visitors). The gift shop sells really nice stuff--but it's also obscenely overpriced. $7.50 for a small print? That's highway robbery!
Did arrive home to a sweet Chanukah present from Min (Gracias!!!) and the news that the Chanukah party for my mother's side of the family this Saturday night may be off because one first cousin is sick, one may have appendicitis (we're waiting for word) and my aunt has a fever. The holidays are off to their usual wacky start. All I know is that right now I need to put my feet up and veg. I'm exhausted.