The first place I went when I was in New York was the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was absolutely fantastic inside. Being my first time in the Met, I didn't realize how big it was until I was inside the building. There was so much to look at, and explore. One of the really cool things was the different kinds of armor they had on display from different time periods. Usually I really like looking at the medieval armor and weapons, but this time I happened a crossed some oriental armor. The thing I liked best about this type of armor is that some of the helmets had built in mustaches. I guess it was to try to be i intimidating, but thought it was really funny.
Another thing that I loved about the Met was the rooms they had set up from different time periods. I really wanted to get a closer look at some of them but they were roped off. They just looked so relaxing and luxurious to sit in. My absolute favorite room in the entire museum though, was all blues and golds with gilded mirrors and plush chairs to sit on. It also had a huge blue canopy bed in the middle of the room. It was like stepping into a bedroom from the Palace of Versailles. I would love to have a bed like that. It looked so comfy, but again it was roped off so we could only get so close, but I could still wish.
My favorite part of the entire museum though, was the paintings. I loved the styles they displayed, especially the ones from the renaissance. I really enjoy portraits, so I spent a lot of time perusing the portraits of different time periods. There were numerous religious paintings, but I liked the non-denominational ones best. I also liked the paintings that portrayed a lot of action or emotion. One particular painting that caught my eye was of a well-dressed woman, holding a sword, with the head of a decapitated man in front of her. It caught me off guard at first because most of the paintings portrayed males being dominant, and heroic, but this one was the portrait of a woman. She looked brazen and strong willed, and I really liked that. It was a great painting to see in person.
The Guggenheim
Another place that I ventured to was the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum. I had taken an art history class last semester and during one of the lectures we looked at the Guggenheim's architecture. It looked really unique in the photo, but I didn't realize I would have a chance to experience it in person until I went on the New York trip. In person it's a mostly white building inside and out, and when you're looking at it the different floors of the spiral look like layers of a cake almost. It's a really one of a kind building, that's hard not to stare at if you walk past.
The inside of the Guggenheim was also just as impressive as the outside. When you walk through the glass doors you're met with a huge open area full of people from all different backgrounds. Just walking into the Guggenheim is a cultural experience in itself. The best part about this huge space, I think, is the ceiling. Looking up at the light coming in just makes you feel in awe. It's such a pleasing thing to look at. You can also see the different floors of the spiral of the museum and people milling about, taking in the art and atmosphere.
My favorite part when I actually got into the Guggenheim was looking at the different art, especially Andy Warhol. I love his work so to actually see it in person was surreal. His compositions are colorful and abstract and getting to experience them in person was great. I especially loved his piece 'Electric Chair'. It's shows ten different silk screen prints of varying color. Some are bright and clearly visible, while others are washed out, or look like negatives of an actual print. I love the variety he shows within the same subject matter, and it was a great experience to see it first hand.
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