Household Gods September 27, 2026
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: photography, NYC, art, Metropolitan Museum, Art exhibit, Household gods, Hindu
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Sometimes it is fun to just wander in the less visited areas of the Metropolitan Museum. We discovered these eye popping prints by accident and were richer for getting lost. In Hinduism, the act of darshan, or “seeing god,” is central to worship. This intimate exchange between deity and devotee traditionally takes place in the temple. But within each home is also a shrine, dedicated to that householder’s chosen deity. The need to display an image of the divine in the home was traditionally fulfilled by small icons made of clay or metal. In the mid-19th century, new technologies were introduced into India, first photography and then the chromolithographic press. The latter permitted the production of inexpensive prints of the Hindu gods for mass consumption. These proved immensely popular and for the first time in India, even the humblest home could afford a colorful icon of their chosen god to display in the household shrine. Household Gods: Hindu Devotional Prints, 1860–1930 presents the first encyclopedic exhibition of these chromolithographic prints. These mass-produced prints became a powerful means of expressing Indian religious identity at a time when the country was experiencing the first stirrings of the Independence movement.Featuring approximately 120 works, shown in four rotations, from The Met’s collection of chromolithographic prints, along with paintings and portable triptych shrines. On view through June 27, 2027
Musical Bodies July 26, 2026
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, Metropolitan Museum, Musical Bodies, NYC, photography
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Musical Bodies is a fun, small exhibit at the Met that I think you should visit. The exhibit is on through September 27th.” From clapping hands and tapping feet to beatboxing and whistling, the human body is a musical instrument. Musical instruments, in turn, often draw their form and decoration from our bodies. Around the world and across time, instruments emerge as powerful vehicles that represent our voices, actions, and identity not only in music but throughout the visual arts, literature, religion, pop culture, and mythology. Musical Bodies is the first major exhibition to explore the relationship between musical instruments and the body by bringing together some 130 instruments, paintings, sculptures, drawings, and more to illuminate how we express who we are, what we value, and what we believe. With works from The Met collection and institutions and collectors around the world, the exhibition explores 4,000 years of art and music history, from ancient Egyptian rattles and musical masterpieces by Titian and Degas to instrument-inspired apparel and one of Prince’s most notable guitars. Musical Bodies will resonate with visitors of all ages, whether you are a musician, a devoted listener, or simply curious about human expression”.
Year of the Horse February 22, 2026
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Air Horse One, animals, art, Art exhibit, Asia gallery, Lunar New Year, Metropolitan Museum, NYC, photography, Year of the Horse
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On perhaps the coldest day of the year (it was two degrees) we went to the Metropolitan Museum to check out their exhibit in the Asia galleries celebrating the Year of the Horse. The traditional East Asian lunar calendar marks time through a twelve-year cycle, each year represented by the animals of the Chinese zodiac: rat, ox, tiger , rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. First associated with the Chinese calendar in the third century BCE and firmly established by the first century CE, these symbolic creatures are believed to embody certain traits that are manifested in the personalities of people born in that animal’s year. February 17, 2026, marked the beginning of the Year of the Horse, a creature symbolizing power, strength, and vitality. I am the Year of the Monkey. What are you? I also just learned there is also an airplane dedicated to flying horses around the world it is called ‘Air Horse One‘.
Walk Like an Egyptian January 11, 2026
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, baboon, big cats, cobras, Divine Egypt, gods, hippos, ibis, icons, idols, Metropolitan Museum, NYC, photography, The Bangles, Walk Like an Egyptian
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The blockbuster exhibit ‘Divine Egypt’ opened at the Met in October. We were not that excited to see it. When all the tourists came to town for the holidays we decided to wait until they had gone home. Last Saturday turned out to be our target date. Coincidentally the Met had members hours from 9 to 10. And Divine it was. We practically had the exhibition to ourselves. On top of that we adored all 250 of the items on display. “In ancient Egypt, images of gods weren’t just images—they brought the gods to life. Egyptians believed that it was through their depictions in tombs, temples, and shrines that the deities could enter sacred spaces and become active participants in rituals, offering a vital connection between the human and divine worlds.” The depiction of half human and half animal (ibis, baboons, hippos, mongooses, otters and other beasties) made this a delightful show. It only runs through January 19th and I encourage you to go see it if you can. “Walk like an Egyptian” refers to the stiff, stylized poses in ancient Egyptian art, where the head is in profile, torso faces forward, and legs are sideways, often with arms bent at right angles, a concept popularized by The Bangles song in 1986.
Sex and Gender in the Middle Ages November 23, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: Art exhibit, gender, Metropolitan Museum, Middle ages, NYC, photography, The Cloisters
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The Metropolitan Museum’s Cloisters is one of my favorite spots to visit in NYC. The current show at the Cloisters is called Sex and Gender in the Middle Ages and it is wonderful. With more than 50 pieces from Western Europe created during the 13th through 15th centuries including paintings, statuettes, illuminated manuscripts, textiles, household items and jewelry. The show demonstrates that modern times have no monopoly on sexual humor, gender fluidity or boundary-crossing artwork. Focusing on an era when religion was art’s most frequent subject, the exhibition investigates often overlooked themes of gender and sexuality that scholars say lie beneath these objects’ surfaces. I learned a lot visiting the show (but as usual – I forgot most of it already). The exhibit reveals that many saints (more than 30) changed their gender presentation during their lifetimes, usually female to male.
Scholars emphasize that while the Church had strict doctrines, especially regarding non-procreative sex, the reality was more varied. Art and literature often reflect a more nuanced or even subversive view of sexuality and gender. Key themes include the subordination of women, the broad concept of incest. The interesection of medical science and gender roles and the use of queer theory to uncover hidden aspects o medieval life, like gender variance and non-normative sexual practices.
The Breuer building is now Sothebys November 16, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, Auction, Breuer, Frick Museum, Len Lauder, Maurizio Cattelan, Metropolitan Museum, NYC, photography, Pritzker, Sothebys, Whitney Museum
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Sotheby’s bought the Breuer building which was opened in 1966 and housed the Whitney Museum until 2015 when the Whitney opened its new digs downtown. For 10 years the Breuer was a temporary home to the Met and then to the Frick while they were renovating their museum. I always liked that building and visited all of the time so I was curious as to what Sotheby’s would be doing to that museum space.I visited last week and had a mixed reaction. Clearly a museum is not encumbered with sales as its goal. They curate their shows with the intention of showcasing an artist and the work. Sotheby’s goal is to sell. So the first thing I noticed was how they chopped up some of the old open spaces in order to hang more work. I found these spaces cluttered and claustrophobic.I was happy when I found a larger area where one could breathe and finally see those oddly shaped windows facing East 75th street. Four of the six floors housed many private collections including the Len Lauder and the Pritzer family collection. The auction is Tuesday the 18th so there is not much time to see the work. It will be interesting to see how long each collection remains in the Breuer post sales. If you are wondering what Sotheby’s did to its former building on York Avenue – Cornell Weill bought the building and will expand its already large footprint in that neighborhood. Oh, by the way…Maurizio Cattelan’s America (2016) which is a fully functional toilet fashioned from just over 100 kilograms of solid 18-karat gold is in a separate room with a guard. I wonder who will buy that work. I did not bid on it.
Teacher’s Pet August 3, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: American Indian Museum, art, Art exhibit, George Morrison, Metropolitan Museum, Native American, NYC, photography, Rhode Island School of Design, RISD, USPS
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When I was in my Senior year at RISD I was fortunate to have Professor George Morrison as my Painting advisor, teacher, mentor and most of all friend. RISD was/is a small art school and students had many opportunities to grow professionally and personally when we got to know our teachers. I had never met an American Indian before (not unusual if one is born in Brooklyn) so much was new to me about his culture and background. He invited me many times to his house to dine, chat and develop a friendship with not only George, but his wife Hazel and young son Briand. I do wish my memories were more clear some 60 years later but sadly they are mostly faded. What remains is the memory of being so very grateful that I got to know him and we stayed in touch after college but like many things in life time tends to separate people. Whenever I am in DC we go to the American Indian museum to look for his work but was always told they were ‘traveling.’ So imagine my glee to learn that the Metropolitan Museum recently opened an exhibit of his work featuring 35 of his pieces that were created when he lived in NYC as a young man. This wonderful show will be on exhibit thru May of 2026 and can be found in the American Wing. I know I will return to see it again. The U.S. Postal Service honored George Morrison (1919-2000), one of the nation’s greatest modernist artists and founding figure of Native American modernism, with a set of five stamps showcasing his work in April of 2022. And yes, I have a few sheets of the stamps. The title photo features a photo of him and the sheet of stamps.
Sargent & Paris June 22, 2025
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, John Singer Sargent, Madame X, Metropolitan Museum, Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, NYC, photography
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This was our second visit to this beautiful exhibit of the paintings of John Singer Sargent 1856-1925) at the Met. Our first visit was a run through but this time we lingered and soaked in the mastery of this esteemed painter. We were especially taken in by his earlier work which was more experimental and free. Sargent’s bio is well known. He was born American to ex-pat parents and basically spent most of his life in Europe. His family wealth allowed him the time to travel, study and paint (doesn’t that sound dreamy)? We chuckled at the scandal that his famous painting of Madame X created in Paris. It seems very quaint 100 years later. The Madame X painting has been a highlight of the Met’s collection since Sargent sold it to the museum in 1916, telling the director “I suppose it’s the best thing I’ve done.” This exhibit runs through August 3rd. While at the Met please allow yourself time to visit the beautiful new Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, featuring the Museum’s collections of the Arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania.
Sleeping Beauties August 11, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, Costume Institute, Fashion, Fashion as art, Metropolitan Museum, nature, NYC, photography, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion
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If you have been to the Metropolitan Museum in the past few months you have seen the insane long lines to get into the Costume Institute’s spring 2024 exhibition, Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion. When I have visited the Met these past few months I refused to stand in those lines. However, when I visited a few weeks ago, I was one of the first people into the museum when it opened. I got their QR code for admittance to this exhibit and scrambled upstairs quickly. Luckily I was the fifth person in line and now I understand why these lines were so very long. They only allow a few people to enter at a time. This goofy protocol does, however, give the visitor a great experience. I was basically alone with one other man my whole visit. Continuous curved white walls give the show the feel of a lab, or a maze. The exhibition features 220 garments and accessories spanning four centuries, all connected through themes of nature, which also serves as a metaphor for the transience of fashion. Visitors are invited to smell the aromatic histories of hats bearing floral motifs; to touch the walls of galleries that will be embossed with the embroidery of select garments. The show is built on a base of 15 pieces from the institute’s collection that have become so fragile over time they can no longer be displayed on mannequins (the “sleeping beauties”), along with more than 200 hardier gowns and accessories reflecting organic themes such as roses, butterflies and beetles (nature also being fragile). Its curators seek to “reawaken” these items with a dash of technology and sensory overload: touch, smell and sound. The exhibition is on through September 2nd. Plan your visit accordingly and you will enjoy the creativity and quality of the curators. Factoid: The fashion industry funds the work of The Costume Institute, including its exhibitions, acquisitions, and capital improvements. Each May, the annual Gala Benefit, its primary fund-raising event, celebrates the opening of the spring exhibition. 
Harlem Renaissance May 26, 2024
Posted by judylobo in Zoo.Tags: art, Art exhibit, Harlem Renaissance, Metropolitan Museum, NYC, photography
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