Written by Nibor’s First Love
William, a bright-blue hippo who lives in the Egyptian Wing, was Nibor’s first love at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but later there were many more. As an intern at the museum after college, she ranged far and wide over its vast collections, helping out as a tour guide and at the front desk. These days she returns often.
Join her this Spring Break on Thursday for a personal tour of some old favorites, new galleries, and special exhibitions. During a day of looking, sketching and conversation, she’ll give tips on how to decide what to see–and how to find it–so you can use these great collections as a resource when you come back on your own.
Morning Session 11:00am – 1:00pm
Walk Like an Egyptian
First we’ll visit the Egyptian galleries, learning about the art history of mummies and seeing everything from William the Hippo (above) to the Temple of Dendur.
Sword Play
Then we’ll move to the Arms and Armor exhibition from Europe, America, Japan, India, and various Islamic cultures.
Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
These galleries showcase art of the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific Islands, and North, Central, and South America dating from as early as 3000B.C.E. to the present. Nibor stops in at some of her faves, including this Ci Wara headddress from Africa’s Bamana peoples and a feathered hanging from Peru’s Wari culture.
Lunch in Central Park 1:00pm-2:30pm
Picnic lunch and play Frisbee in Central Park
Afternoon Session 2:30pm-5:00pm
Islamic Art
We return from lunch to visit the museum’s newest galleries to see works ranging in date from the 7th to the 19th century, from as far westward as Spain and Morocco and as far eastward as Central Asia and India.
‘Chinese Art in an Age of Revolution’
Finally, we wrap up our day at this special exhibition showcasing the art of Fu Baoshi, a figure painter and landscapist of China’s modern period, who lived through the overthrow of China’s last imperial dynasty and the establishment of the Chinese Republic.
