Meet Me at the Met

As a New Yorker, it can be easy to take the Metropolitan Museum of Art for granted (http://www.metmuseum.org/). Not only is it the largest art museum in the country, it is also the third most visited museum in the world with a collection of over two million works. When Howard invited Brian and I to join him on a Meet the Met tour through the company Walks of New York, I was a bit skeptical that we’d be able to see the majority of the museum in just 3 hours. Simona, our guide, impressed me with the breadth of her knowledge. I’ve probably visited the Met over 20 times and she was easily able to teach us new facts about famous pieces while showing us galleries in the Met that I never knew existed.

The rooftop is open for another 2 weeks! Corey, Howard, Brian and I had the pleasure of enjoying Central Park from the top of the Met with a glass of wine in hand.

We learned so much along the way but here are some of my favorite facts:

• The Temple of Dendur is not actually Egyptian. It was in fact built for Augustus who
  

  Temple of Dendur

  systematically worked his way to become both the first Emperor of Rome and a Pharaoh of Egypt.

• In the center of the renovated American Wing stands Diana, one of my favorite pieces. It was originally a wind vane on Madison Square Garden. The sculpture was designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens and the building by Stanford White. Her naked body caused much scandal in addition to the rumors that her face was modeled after actress Evelyn Nesbitt, White’s mistress. While the rumors were false, Nesbitt’s relationship with White was the impetus of his murder by Nesbitt’s husband, multi-millionaire Harry Kendall Thaw, which is immortalized as the Trial of the Century, in Doctorow’s Ragtime.
• 

  Diana in the American Wing

  

  Roman copy on the left in marble and Grecian bronze on right

We learned the difference between a Roman statue and a copy of a Grecian statue by a Roman artist. If you see a marble statue with a tree trunk attached to the leg of the human being portrayed you’ll know that it is a marble copy of what was originally a Greek bronze statue. Because marble is heavier than bronze the sculptor would need to add another pillar, such as the tree, to support the additional weight and keep it in the upright position.

• Michael Rockefeller’s collection of Asmat Bis Poles in the Oceania gallery is not to be missed. The poles hail from the Asmat tribe of New Guinea and they are a symbol of the tribe’s mythology and belief system devoted to trees. After trading for the poles, Michael Rockefeller went missing soon after leaving the island, as his boat capsized and he decided to swim back to shore instead of waiting for help. There is some speculation that he may have been the victim of cannibalism.
• It’s really all about Madame X. Do you know that John Singer Sargent originally painted the portrait with one of her straps down? It was met with revulsion, being seen as improper, and Sargent kept the painting in his studio for 25 years, editing the shoulder strap at some point, before the Met acquired it.
  

  Painting at the Met on the left. Photo of original on the right.

Check out the photos below to see just how much ground we were able to cover. Howard bought a Groupon but you can visit https://www.walksofnewyork.com/ to find out other tours that interest you. If you want to venture to northern Manhattan to check out the best Medieval Art that the Met owns, check out my blog post about the Cloisters: https://theprimarysource1.wordpress.com/2014/08/25/closer-to-the-cloisters/

Is there anyone better than Claude Monet at manipulating light? I think not. The House of Parliament (Effect of Fog) proves that he is the impressionist with the greatest command over the brushstroke. The photograph doesn’t do the painting justice. Go see it for yourself.

Corey, Howard and Brian standing guard with the Armor of Henry II of France in the Arms and Armor gallery.

Wall Paintings from a Cubiculum Nocturnum: These frescoes were found on the island of Pompeii after the ash was removed from the eruption of Vesuvius. They were in excellent condition and the vibrant colors withstood the volcanic eruption.

Exploration Didn’t Begin nor End in 1492

Buddha sculpture on the second floor of the Rubin Museum. Note the elongated ears and right hand to earth as they are symbols associated with the figure.

I have the pleasure of teaching my fourth graders about the Age of Exploration. How apropos that on Columbus Day, Jessica (one of my colleagues) and I head to Chelsea to explore the Rubin Museum (http://www.rubinmuseum.org/)! In the spirit of Marco Polo and his quest to learn about the cultures along the Silk Road rather than Columbus’ annihilation of an entire race in the pursuit of conquest, we sought to deepen our knowledge about the art of the Himalayas.

Do not miss the Tibetan Shrine Room on the second floor. It is meditative and really striking. It’s hidden in the corner so keep your eyes peeled.

Admission prices at the museum are reasonable and you can use the free audio guide throughout the entire museum.  You should start on the second floor and work your way up. The second floor gives a wonderful overview and background for art of the Himalayas by breaking it down into four sections: Figures and Symbols, Materials and Techniques, Purpose and Function, and Tibetan Art in Context. I personally loved learning about the Buddha and how the deities are represented.

We enjoyed the third and fifth floors which explore Jewels of the Collection and The All Knowing Buddha, respectively. Tours are offered hourly and it would have been helpful to join a tour in order to better understand what we were looking at. A new photography exhibit was being installed on the fourth floor which is set to open this weekend. We did not make it to the top floor which featured an exhibit called Francesco Clemente Inspired by India.

Mandalas are from both the Hindu and Buddhist religions. It is a spiritual and ritual symbol that in Sanskrit means circle. I was very drawn to the mandalas and find that they serve their purpose of inviting meditation and contemplation into my busy life.

The Rubin Museum purports that it should be a respite from the busy streets of Manhattan. You certainly feel protected from the noise of the city and engulfed in beautiful art from the other end of the world. Jess and I are convinced that there are opportunities to take our students here on a field trip that will allow them to understand Polo’s encounters along the Silk Road. Nearly 200 years before Columbus set sail Polo was caravaning across the terrain of Asia and more than 500 years after Columbus crossed the Atlantic I felt transported to the Himalayas thanks to the Rubin Museum. I’d say it was pretty good day off from work.

 

Jess, all smiles, outside the museum!

Lake Placid Love

One of my favorite places on the planet is Lake Placid, New York. Nestled in the breathtaking Adirondack Park, Lake Placid is most famous for hosting the 1932 and 1980 winter Olympics. I love learning about the history upstate, so much so that my senior thesis at Barnard College was about Jewish Adirondack summer camps at the turn of 20th Century. If you want to learn more about the history of Lake Placid, check out this link: http://www.lakeplacid.com/do/history

As a tip of the hat to Ken Burns’ amazing PBS documentary, The Roosevelts: An Intimate Documentary (http://www.pbs.org/kenburns/films/the-roosevelts), did you know Teddy Roosevelt found out that President McKinley had died and that he would be succeeding him as president on top of Mount Marcy, the highest peak in the park?

The majority of my time spent upstate has been during the summer but last weekend I had the pleasure of visiting Lake Placid in the fall. Besides the fact that the weather was flawless, the trip was worth it simply for the foliage. Besides oohing and ahhing at the spectrum of colors on the trees, here’s what else we did:

We stayed at The Whiteface Lodge. It’s a little bit of a drive from the center of town (which is actually right on Mirror Lake) but it’s a wonderful hotel with well-appointed rooms, including kitchenettes  that are able to convey a rustic yet modern feel in the rooms. The views of Whiteface Mountain are spectacular and the grounds include an indoor/outdoor pool, lean-to’s to hang around in and bonfires to sit by and make s’mores. The breakfast each morning was hearty as well. http://www.thewhitefacelodge.com/

Friday night, Brian and I ate at the much buzzed about Chair 6. The food was very good but the ambiance is bizarre. It’s in a small house and while the menu seems plentiful, the majority of what we wanted to eat was sold out (by 7pm..hmmm) so we had to order the more expensive items off of the specials menu. I had heard so much about the restaurant and I’m happy we tried it but I probably won’t go back the next time I’m in town. http://chair6.com/

My dad and my brother are certified 46-er’s, which means they’ve climbed all 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks. It also means that when the parking lot at the Adirondack Loj was filled we realized that climbing Phelps was not a possibility, my dad was quickly able to think of another great hike. We decided to climb up Round Mountain and after 2.3 miles we made it to the summit. It was the most amazing view of the Great Range. The real hero of the hike was my mom who reluctantly trekked all the way up and down just to spend time with us. She rocked it! For other great climbs, check out: http://www.lakeplacid.com/do/outdoors/summerfall/hiking/46-high-peaks 

Saturday night, we went to the Lake Placid Lodge for dinner. It is one of the premier resorts in the region and if you get there for sunset, grab a drink at the bar and relax by the lake. The dinner was long but delicious. The four courses were perfect Adirondack cuisine- fresh and delicious. http://www.lakeplacidlodge.com/

Sunday on our way back to the city we stopped at the Marcy Field farmer’s market in Keene Valley. If you stop, check out the stands for Asgaard Farms for some cheese (http://www.asgaardfarm.com/), Ausable Brewing Company for some beer (http://ausablebrewing.tumblr.com/) and Mase Chasm Farm for veggies and sandwiches (http://www.macechasmfarm.com/).  

For other fun activities to do and attractions to see, check out: http://images.data2gold.com/00411/latesummerattraction2014.pdf – I can vouch for the ski jump and the Adirondack Museum as great day activities.

Lake Placid always holds a special place in my heart. My parents started taking us up here when I was a young child. Then I spent my summers at sleep away camp in nearby Lake George and as an adult I continue to return to the scenery because it offers a respite from the busy city. I’m most myself among the peaks of the mountains, the blues of the lake and the plethora of stars at night.

 

Art in Armonk

To begin, I need to apologize for my hiatus. Between moving apartments and focusing all my attention on my fourth graders for the start of school, I’ve had little time to add anything of substance to the blog, let alone sit down and post. However, I want to let everyone in on a great out of the city treat. This weekend you can travel to Armonk, New York for the 53rd annual Armonk Outdoor Art Show (http://www.armonkoutdoorartshow.org/). Besides it being a staple of my childhood and likely the only notable event that ever occurs in my sleepy hometown, it is also expertly co-chaired by my mother! She volunteers with other wonderful town members to execute an Art Show that allows visitors to ramble through aisles of fine art and fine crafts. Best of all, proceeds benefit the North Castle Public Library.

Dara and I volunteering at the Armonk Outdoor Art Show last year, September 2013. We love supporting our local library!

 

Here’s what you need to know:

1. The weather is supposed to be spectacular this weekend. Take Metro North to North White Plains or drive to Armonk. If you drive, be prepared to park and take a short shuttle to the field or you can walk from your parking spot. Just please don’t give the parking volunteers a hard time; one of them could be my dad or boyfriend.
2. There are plenty of food options and there’s even a kid friendly corner so come hungry and come with the little ones.
3. You can buy wonderful art from local and national artists. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for something captivating for our new apartment.
4. You can print out a discount coupon from the link above, otherwise it’s only $10 for adults. There’s really nothing better than supporting arts and books…at least in this teacher’s opinion.
5. I’ll be there on Saturday at the the Entrance Booth from 12:15-2:45 but you can stop by Saturday or Sunday from 10am-5pm.

Essentially, don’t miss out on a great opportunity to see, buy and/or enjoy terrific art just outside NYC. Check out this article if you want more information. My mom couldn’t have said it any better! http://theinsidepress.com/the-crafting-of-armonks-annual-outdoor-art-show/

Autumn To Do List

Labor Day marks the unofficial start of fall and for me it means a new school year, apples and the loss of my Sundays to football season. It’s also an opportunity to make a new to do list! When I looked back at my summer to do list, I was ecstatic that I had accomplished so much I had set out to see and do https://theprimarysource1.wordpress.com/2014/06/04/my-summer-to-do-list/.

Here’s what I’d like to do this autumn:

– Noguchi Museum (http://www.noguchi.org/)

– This is Our Youth (http://www.thisisouryouthbroadway.com)

– Rubin Museum of Art (http://www.rubinmuseum.org/)

– Henri Matisse exhibit at MoMA (http://www.moma.org/)

– Batsheva Dance Company performing at Brooklyn Academy of Music (http://www.bam.org/Sadeh21)

– More walking tours of new neighborhoods!

– Green-Wood Cemetery (http://www.green-wood.com/)

– Statue of Liberty (http://www.nps.gov/stli/index.htm)…I’ve been saving this one for you, Keith!

– Museum of the Moving Image (http://www.movingimage.us/)

Outside of NYC…

– Lake Placid (we already have a trip planned and I’m already excited to head upstate)

– Philip Johnson House (http://theglasshouse.org/)

What else should I add to my list?? Add a comment and let me know!