by josie
“The Unicorn in Captivity” is part of a series of tapestries on view at The Cloisters, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary with a special exhibition.
New York City is home to plentiful museums, and some of the most revered art and historical collections in the world. There’s something for everyone in the Big Apple — from uptown’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History to downtown’s Tenement Museum and the New Museum. There’s even a Museum of Sex!
Here are four current exhibitions of note, as well as some insider tips that can save you time and money. (By the way, I recommend picking up the audio guide at any museum — a little context adds so much to the experience!)
The Cloisters 75th Anniversary and Search for the Unicorn Exhibit, 99 Margaret Corbin Dr., Fort Tryon Park, through Aug. 18. This quiet museum is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (aka the Met, which, confusingly, is also the nickname of the Metropolitan Opera) but is located miles uptown in the lovely Fort Tryon Park overlooking the Hudson River. The Cloisters — which incorporates structural elements from five French cloistered abbeys — features art, architecture and glasswork from medieval Europe. Most famously, it is home to a series of unicorn tapestries dating back to the 1400s, depicting the hunt of the mythical beast. To celebrate the 75th anniversary of The Cloisters, this exhibition features 40 works of art drawn from the Met collections, art institutions and private collections to shed light on the mysterious tapestries.
Hours Tuesday–Sunday, 9:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.
Admission $25 for adults, $17 for senior citizens, students $12
Insider tip Admission gets you same-day admission to the main museum as well the Cloisters. Admission fees go to support the facilities; technically, the amount is at your discretion.
Museum of Modern Art Rain Room Exhibit, 11 West 53rd St., through July 28. MOMA is renowned for its collection of modern art that ranges from Picasso to Pollock to Warhol. But it also has a large gallery of Impressionist paintings, including two Monet water lily paintings that will make you feel like you’re at Giverny on a summer’s day. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, I visited the museum to see the Rain Room exhibit, described as “a field of falling water that pauses wherever a human body is detected,” meaning that you can have the experience of being in the rain without getting wet. Only 8–10 people can experience the exhibit at one time, and thanks to attending with a MOMA member, I waited in the shorter two-hour line for this exhibit instead of the five-hour line that day. We spent about five minutes in the darkened interior and were advised not to walk too fast to avoid getting rained on. It was a cool concept, but we both felt it was overrated and not worth the wait.
Hours Saturday–Thursday, 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m.; Friday, 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m.
Admission $25 for adults, which includes the Rain Room
Insider tip Wait times vary, but if you know a member, go during the early viewing hour, from 9:30–10:30 a.m. daily. (Members can bring those who show the $5 member guest ticket.) Unlike the Met, MOMA’s admission is not a suggested donation, so it makes sense to purchase a discount CityPASS or The New York Pass if you plan to visit several museums and attractions over the course of your visit.
The New York Botanical Garden Wild Medicine: Healing Plants Around the World Exhibit, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx, through Sept. 8. Like The Cloisters, the New York Botanical Garden is off the beaten path, but very much worth the trip. The gardens are a wonderful oasis located in the Bronx, near to the world-famous Bronx Zoo. In addition to the regular gardens, the NYBG is currently running an exhibit of 500 species of healing plants from around the world, such as the cinchona tree, which produces quinine (used to treat malaria), and white willow, the source for aspirin. The exhibit features research conducted by experts in science, medicine and ethnobotany, and most of the plants were grown in the Botanical Garden’s greenhouses. The Wild Medicine exhibit features an Italian Renaissance Garden, as well as an exhibition of medieval and Renaissance-era manuscripts and illustrations related to the role of plants in medicine and history. A series of Philip Haas contemporary plant sculptures encompassing the four seasons are also currently on display.
Hours Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Admission $20–$25, senior citizens and students $18–$22, children $8–$10
Insider tip On Thursday, June 27, July 18 and Aug. 15, you can attend a special Wild Medicine Cocktail Evening and Summer Concert for $30.
Museum of Arts & Design Playing With Fire Exhibit, 2 Columbus Circle, through Aug. 25. Formerly known as the American Craft Museum, this museum features textiles, wood, ceramic, jewelry, digital and other contemporary works that “explore the blur zone between art, design, and craft today.” Playing With Fire: 50 Years of Contemporary Glass is a special exhibit of more than 100 works — vases, sculptures, wall mounts, stained glass — celebrating the American Studio Glass movement. Experience the versatility of glass, from pieces by Dale Chihuly and James Turrell to the “Glass Helmet” video work of Bohyun Yoon.
Hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Admission $16, senior citizens $14, students $12
Insider tip You can pay what you wish on Thursdays from 6–9 p.m.
Photo credit: Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art; cover photo: Courtesy Steffen Dam
