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My Thanksgiving Vacation... NYC |
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Written by Ken Hamel
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Wednesday, 05 December 2007 |
"Abstract Expressionism and Other Modern Works" at the Met - Photos by Ken Hamel/DenverArts.org
I spent some time in NYC last week after thanksgiving and had a chance to take in the latest happenings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and thought I'd share some pix. Some highlights:
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The recent overhaul of the south wing which houses the ancient Roman and Oceania collection is complete and indeed stunning
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Incredible show "Abstract Expressionism and Other Modern Works: The Muriel Kallis Steinberg Newman Collection" in the Helen and Milton A. Kimmelman Gallery, featuring works by Hans Hoffman, Claes Oldenburg, Richard Stankiewicz, Jules Olitski and several wonderful Willem de Kooning pieces including a rare early untitled work from 1946
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Damien Hirst's "The Physical Impossiblity of Death in the Mind of Somene Living" featuring a full-size embalmed shark in a massive tank (conveniently located directly outside the Clyfford Still room featuring 10 works by the abstract expressionist master)
- A recently launched gallery featuring highlights from the museum's current efforts collecting modern photography
- Amazing show "Abstract Expressionist Drawings" highlighting rare and fragile paper work by David Smith, de Kooning, Mark Rothko, Franz Kline, Roberth Motherwell, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollack; I was not expecting to see such exciting smaller pieces from these artists known for their epic, large-scale work
- More "Artisans and Kings" within 5 minutes than you will see in Denver in a lifetime (thus to me the futility of even trying: give me strong shows like "Radar" and the current "Color as Field" which is really as exciting as either of the 2 Abstract Expressionism shows currently at the Met)
In addition, I had a chance to walk by the New Museum of Contemporary Art on the Bowery which was hosting some pre-opening events but was not yet open to the public (officially opened on December 1st.) The NY Times review is aptly titled ("An Upbeat Moment for a Downtrodden Area") but the neighborhood nearby is certainly skewing upscale: Houston St. east of the Bowery now has a Whole Foods and boutique Euro hotels alongside Katz's Deli and Yohah Shimmel's Knishes. I only had my phone's camera so excuse the poor quality but click here for a better pic... And click here for video blogger James Kalm's walkthrough of the new space.
New Museum of Contemporary Art, NYC
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