Fine Art

At any given time there are more fine art shows in New York's museums and galleries than anyone could possibly see, even devoting full time to this endeavor. This weekend my wife and I spent Saturday and Sunday afternoons looking at extraordinary art. I am listing these venues in case you are seeking a memorable art experience in the near future. As an extra bonus, all these art venues are literally very chill-- as much to preserve the art as for your personal comfort over the hot summer months.

Metropolitan Museum of Art-- At the moment, there are a number of temporary shows at the Met worth seeing. We went to see the exhibit of Ellsworth Kelly's "Plant Drawings", which he has been making with pen and black ink or graphite for over 50 years. When people think of Kelly's work, they usually think of his colorful abstract works. I have always preferred his plant drawings, which are so straightforward in their realistic simplicity, yet powerful and beautiful at the same time. The show is on through Sept 3. I am also planning to see several summer shows of Northern European art currently on view.

Cloisters Museum-- As you may know, the Cloisters are part of the Met and house the bulk of its outstanding medieval collection. It is located in Fort Tryon Park on the Upper West Side overlooking the Hudson River. There is no special exhibition on view, but we went to relax amidst authentic reconstructed cloisters and to again view the exquisite art works on permanent display. No matter how often we visit these works over the years, they never fail to awe and delight.

Arader Galleries-- This is a private art gallery located at 1016 Madison Avenue, about 3 blocks from the Met, and also at 29 East 72 St in Manhattan. If you enjoy looking at old maps, botanical prints, city views, and similar material, this is the place for you. If not the greatest, it must be the repository of one of the greatest old map collections in the world. Many of these historical maps are huge and filled with fascinating detail. The staff is happy to let you wander among these treasures hung on every floor of this spectacular mansion. Admission is free. Closed Sunday.

Brooklyn Museum-- I can't resist an opportunity to recommend one very worthwhile exhibit in the event you happen to visit Brooklyn, where I live. The Museum has set up a special exhibit to show how different artists and peoples throughout history have created different kinds of art to reflect universal human concerns and needs. Some of the museum's most iconic and beautiful objects have been selected to reflect the responses.