A Taste of the Guggenheim and the MET

But first, The Apollo. and being a small part of the makeshift memorials that are popping out all over, but especially at the famous Apollo Theatre.



Michael Jackson had an interesting life, and to see the crowds at the Apollo and around the world, his image as a pop icon lives on. It seems poeple are focusing on more of the earlier and happier times of his life and trying to put behind the years that were full of trouble to say the least.

James was able to add his own thoughts to the memorial, but I was content to just absorb the experience and see the people of all races, nations and backgrounds come together for this unique event.

I do have to mention though, leaving the subway we were walking behind two African-American youths who were discussing the death of Michael Jackson--and how the white power was still reaching out and killing off the black man and it would only be a matter of time before the world would see more of leaders of the black community taken out. That is pretty much a straight quote.

We had decided to check out a couple of key museums, though in truth we knew before we even set out that we wouldn't be able to do more than just get a feel for all the art/architecture/culture that can be found here with in and with out of the museums.

After being surrounded by the tall narrow square buildings so common in NYC outside of the city skyscrapers it was a unique sight walking up 5th avenue and seeing the curve of the Guggenheim Museum. Inside was just as unique but the building itself is just part of the attraction. There are various Impressionist and Contemporary Art, but I focused more on the various sketches and arhitectural models of Frank Lloyd Wright, many of those drawings from the early and mid 1900's would fit well in many of today's landscapes and still be considered somewhat cutting edge.

From the Guggenheim Museum it's a short few blocks down 89th street to the MET, but for some reason that neither James now I can explain, we went back down 5th avenue and ended up walking at least a half hour or more that what we would have needed to. But, we persevered and arrived eventually, and we burned off a few extra calories, so all's well that end's well.

I doubt it's possible to see everything in one day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and I could easily see myself spending a week there studying and going through each exhibit learning the history and function of various pieces. So, we decided to concentrate our efforts on the Egyptian exhibit--Egypt being a place James would dearly like to visit, full of history and culture.

When first walking in to the Egyptian wing you find yourself facing what I thought was a replica of a smaller Egyptian official's tomb, when in fact it was the actual temple resurrected from the sands of Egypt.





There were two such tombs, the second actually being set up as it would have appeared as close to it's original form as possible. The engineering skill of the Egyptians and the artwork that is part of their religion and writing form is something that is worth seeing other than just on the History Channel on TV. When you're there you can't help but look at a serving dish and wonder what type of meal and who would have eaten from it? Or think of the quarry worker and masons and workers who strove to build, carve and decorate the various obelisks, temples, tombs and more.




The Temple of Dendur, Temple, Dendur, 15 B.C
Roman Period, Augustus Caesar
Egyptian; Nubia, Lower Nubia, Dendur; Nubia
Aeolin Sandstone; L. from gate to rear of temple 24 m 60 cm (82 ft.)
Given to the United States by Egypt in 1965, awarded to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1967, and installed in The Sackler Wing in 1978 (68.154)























There are definitly a lot of photos that will be in this blog, and not so much of my own words added in, a picture is worth a thousand words, and it's hard to express the thoughts and questions that come to mind with each new piece of art and function. So, enjoy!
















































There were tons more, we barely even got to browse the famous paintings, tapestries etc, so at some point I will be making another trip, perhaps pilgrimage would be the proper term, back to the MET. lol