It’s a rainy day in New York City, and I kept thinking about what makes me feel most alive. Nothing rivals a good meal in good company. That I know for sure.
But I’ll add to the list, there’s also nothing quite like walking alone through an unknown place, and no more thrilling feeling than being completely microscopic against something so vastly powerful.
Today’s exploration comes in the form of artwork, and with good company.
New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of those places I can go alone and walk with my own thoughts. It’s also a place I can also share the appreciation and amazement with friends.
I like going to the Met most because — and this seems counterintuitive — I don’t know enough about art. I never studied art history; I never really picked up a paintbrush. And while the Met may seem like an intimidating place, without fine-tuned worldly knowledge, I found myself appreciating what’s in front of me, as it is.
Any person can stop and marvel at beauty. And museums have that impact.
The Met Heavenly Bodies exhibit runs until October 8. If you’re a New York resident (with proof) admission is whatever you donate; if you’re from out-of-town, it’ll be $25 to enter.
The first room we saw had objects curated from the Vatican.
Weighted history on display:
Cope of Benedict XV — long cloak worn by Catholic priests, just look at the designs.
Saint John Paul II’s shoes (really) — not Prada, but Loredano Apollini, and in traditional papal red.
Tiara of Pius IX — the tiara has about 19,000 precious stones (count them) and is almost three pounds.
Something stirs in me when I’m so close to history. I’ve covered so many stories about the Catholic church and the pope. But never this close.
The details in stitch and thread are beyond what I could ever include in a news report, and really beyond what a camera lens can completely capture.
Once we were done, we walked up to the main gallery where it’s an intersection of fashion and religion. Outfits inspired by Byzantine monuments.
They look delicate, but with all the stitches and precious stones, they’d be heavy to wear. And while you don’t need to know everything about fashion icons, you can still appreciate how long it must have taken to put together a single outfit.
You don’t have to know much about the Byzantine empire or medieval art. You only have to come a willingness to experience something new.
The adventure continues,
