Three very different but equally interesting NY Times article you should probably read:

‘One Person’s Trash is Another Person’s Lost Masterpiece’ One very lucky woman finds a $1 million Mexican masterpiece… in the trash outside her apartment building. This is a great story—even greater because it’s true.

‘Seurat, Drawing His Way to the Grande Jatte’ Yet another reason to visit MoMA this fall.

‘Where Gods Yearn for Long-Lost Treasures’ Because everyone and their mother (or even grandmother, in my case!) is talking about the new Acropolis museum—and the NY Times’ reviewer absolutely loves it. Goodness, to see the Acropolis… maybe I’ll have to add Greece to the list of places I need to visit when abroad in Europe next semester.

Gustav Klimt, Adele Bloch-Bauer I, 1907, Neue Galerie New York (Image via NYTimes)

That’s it. I NEED to go to the Neue Galerie. Actually, I’m glad I waited, because they’ve just opened a new exhibit devoted entirely to one of my favorite artists, Gustav Klimt. Anyway, the NY Times has an interesting article on the controversial decision of Ronald Lauder, one of the museum’s founders, to withhold much of the provenance information about his private collection. Though many American collectors prefer not to release any information about the artwork in their collection, it’s considered good museum manners to do so– and with Mr. Lauder in such a prominent museum-related role, many are surprised as to why he won’t just release it, especially because many of the works were jostled around in Nazi-era Europe, which makes his refusal seem the slightest bit suspicious. Personally, I think his argument is a little weak (”It’s my private collection… Would it be O.K. for people to see what dresses you have in your closet?”), but nonetheless it’s high time I get down to the Neue and see some Klimt. Review to come!

NYTimes: ‘Lauder’s Openness is Sought on Artwork.’ 10.18.07.
‘Gustav Klimt: The Ronald S. Lauder and Serge Sabarsky Collections’ from 10.18.07-06.30.08 @ the Neue Galerie, Fifth Ave. & 86th St.

Far from being an exhaustive list of museum exhibitions (I suggest New York Magazine for that) basically, I’ll collect a brief listing of exhibitions and museums that I’m planning to go to or wish I could go to.  Most will probably be in the New York area, but I’m sure other interesting things will crop up too. Definitely let me know any suggestions you might have for this series in the comments section below!

Johannes Vermeer, Woman with a Water Pitcher, ca. 1662 (The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

EXHIBITIONS

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
‘The Age of Rembrandt.’ (Now through Jan. 6, 2008)
I’m going to see this show in about two weeks, so stay tuned, because I’m sure I’ll want to write about it. It’s supposed to be incredible. For now, here is the NYTimes’ interactive guide to the exhibition.

The Whitney Museum of American Art
‘Kara Walker: My Complement, My Enemy, My Oppressor, My Love.’ (Now through Feb. 6, 2008)
I really adore Kara Walker’s work. Interesting that the Whitney has Walker’s first American survey exhibition. Usually I’m not a big fan of the Whitney, but I’ll definitely be checking this one out.

The Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center.
‘Saul Steinberg: Illuminations.’ (Nov. 2, 2007 through Feb. 24, 2008)
A museum that holds a special place in my heart… This is the upcoming exhibition and it’s gonna be huge! Make it up to Poughkeepsie and check out the exhibition starting in November.

MUSEUMS

Here’s a list of museums in general which I’ve been meaning to visit for a while and hope to get to before I go abroad next semester…

Dia:Beacon (Beacon, NY).
I essentially live in the Hudson Valley, yet I’ve never been to Dia?! I know, it’s crazy. This semester, I swear.

Neue Galerie (New York, NY).
I’m a huge Klimt fan — and I STILL haven’t been to see the famous purcahse. It’s right down the road from the Met, so really, every time I’m at the Met I have no excuses!

The Morgan Library and Museum (New York, NY).
I’ve wanted to visit since their renovations, and I’ve never been, so definitely have to check it out soon.

For a 6-week seminar I just finished, our final project was a presentation on a pre-assigned artwork in the Hispanic Society of America, a wonderful little museum in Spanish Harlem (and the subject of a post I’m working on). Rather than get immediately started on my work in the library, as midterms loom, I’d much rather post my own presentation on this blog! Read on…

El Greco, St. Jerome, c. 1600
Hispanic Society of America
(Read On…)