It's a Good Day to Post 'At The Beach' in Watercolor
u/Many-Scratch4173 — 2 days ago
u/Many-Scratch4173
Behind The Scenes in The Department of Paleontology at The American Museum of Natural History
Several years ago, during the American Museum of Natural History’s 150th anniversary, we had the pleasure of taking a behind-the-scenes tour of the Division of Paleontology and the Microscopy and Imaging Labs. The tour was a kick-off to the exhibition, t. rex: The Ultimate Predator, which explored the latest research and discoveries related to the dinosaurs known as Tyrannosaurus.
Our tour of the exhibition began with the fact that the first T. rex skeleton was discovered in 1902 by the Museum of Natural History’s legendary fossil hunter, Barnum Brown ~ with one of the few original specimens of T. rex on public display in the Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs.
Discovery, courtesy AMNH ©AMNH Library 18338. c.1908, Peter Kaisen working on the T. rex skull, Big Dry Creek (Hell Creek Formation), Montana.
The Microscopy and Imaging Facility, which aids in the research of the Museum’s whole scientific community has state-of-the-art imaging instruments, including scanning electron microscopes (SEM), a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and an x-ray computed tomography scanner (CT Scanner). This lab has the ability to investigate internal features using non-destructive methods, allowing for the exploration of their priceless collection.
It is interesting to note that the CT data can be used to reconstruct the central nervous system to study the evolutionary history of the brain. 3-D representations of physical objects can be reconstructed, such as the interiors of fossilized skulls. These are known as digital endocranial casts, or endocasts.
The above image is of the CT scanner, which has the ability to capture thousands of sequential x-ray images, as if digitally dissecting. It also can view high-resolution images of objects from fossils to meteorites.
Above, image of one of a back hallway lined with lockers from floor to ceiling and below, the Division of Paleontology’s collection storage spaces.
At the end of the hallway is the office of Mark Norell, Chair and Macaulay Curator in the Museum’s Division of Paleontology. His office is the entire top floor of the Museum’s historic turret on the corner of 77th Street and Central Park West.
Office of Mark Norell
Office of Mark Norell
Images above, Mark Norell, who join the Museum in 1989, is Chair and Macaulay Curator in the Museum’s Division of Paleontology at his desk in the turret overlooking Central Park.
Dr. Norell joined the Museum in 1989 and has led and participated in an number of scientific investigations into the biology and evolutionary history of tyrannosaurs and other theropods ~ the group of dinosaurs most closely related to modern birds ~ including the first discovery of a feathered tyrannosaur, Dilong paradoxes, in 2004.
The American Museum of Natural History and Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation is located at 200 Central Park West at 79th Street, NYC.
Don’t get lost. Get an Upper West Side Map.
u/Many-Scratch4173 — 6 days ago
Neue Galerie to Merge with The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art (“The Met”) and the Ronald S. Lauder Neue Galerie New York (“the Neue Galerie”) today announced plans for a landmark agreement to merge the Neue Galerie with The Met in 2028. The agreement would bring together the most significant collection of 20th-century Austrian and German art outside Europe under a single institution—while preserving the Neue Galerie’s unique museum experience. Timed with the Neue Galerie’s 25th anniversary, the agreement marks a transformative step in preserving and advancing this extraordinary cultural legacy for future generations.
The Neue Galerie’s collection features iconic works by Gustav Klimt—including the famed Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I—and by Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Max Beckmann, Gabriele Münter, Josef Hoffmann, and more. The historic joining of the two institutions reflects Ronald S. Lauder’s longstanding vision for the Neue Galerie and a shared commitment with The Met to ensure access in perpetuity to the Neue Galerie’s distinguished collection and beloved museum space. As part of the announcement, Ronald S. Lauder issued a personal reflection on the news, which can be read in full below.
Extending his decades-long leadership in building one of the most important collections of its kind, The Met and the Neue Galerie also announced that Mr. Lauder and his daughter Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer are planning to donate a selection of 13 outstanding 20th-century Austrian and German paintings from their personal collection to the combined institutions, which would further enhance the strength and depth of the Museum’s collection and enrich the stories it can share about this pivotal period in art history. Gifts to be made by Mr. Lauder upon closing the agreement include: Gustav Klimt's exceptional, large-scale portrait Die Tänzerin (The Dancer) circa 1916–18; Ernst Ludwig Kirchner's Die Russische Tänzerin Mela (The Russian Dancer Mela) from 1911; and Max Beckmann's Galleria Umberto from 1925. Future promised gifts by Mr. Lauder and Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer include Klimt's The Black Feather Hat (1910), and noted works by Otto Dix, George Grosz, Franz Marc, and more.
As part of their long-term commitment to the stewardship of the Neue Galerie, Ronald S. Lauder and Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer also plan to make a substantial gift to support an endowment funding the long-term care and preservation of the Neue Galerie, with a further pledge of significant funds to support costs associated with the integration of the collection and building operations.
In support of this historic gift and undertaking, and to sustain the operations of The Met and the Neue Galerie in perpetuity, several Met Trustees have made generous gifts towards establishing a significant endowment. The important lead gift comes from Met Trustee Marina Kellen French, a longtime supporter of The Met and a deeply connected and passionate supporter of the art represented at the Neue Galerie's collection, which has deep ties to her family history. Initial major funds have also been pledged by Met Trustees Candace K. Beinecke, Jim Breyer, Daniel Brodsky, Richard Lockwood Chilton Jr., Betsy Cohen, Stephen M. Cutler, Robert Denning, Blair Effron, Amy Griffin, Yan Huo, Hamilton ("Tony") E. James, Michael B. Kim, Julia Koch, Sacha Lainovic, Janice Y.K. Lee, Dasha Zhukova Niarchos, John Pritzker, Frank E. Richardson, Jennifer Rubio, Alejandro Santo Domingo, Karen Seymour, Beatrice Stern, Gaby Sulzberger, David Winter, and other anonymous donors.
As part of his personal reflection on the transition (which can be read in full below), Ronald S. Lauder, Co-Founder, President, and Chairman of the Neue Galerie, said, “For the past twenty-five years, the Neue Galerie’s exhibitions, permanent collection, design and book shops, and Café Sabarsky have created an experience that transports visitors to another time—early twentieth-century Vienna and Weimar Germany. The merger with The Met in 2028 will preserve and strengthen the Neue Galerie’s legacy in perpetuity. I am especially grateful to Max Hollein for his leadership and deep understanding of the historical importance of this collection. Under his direction, The Met continues to stand not only as one of the world’s great museums, but as a steadfast guardian of culture, memory, and identity. I am confident that Max and The Met are well positioned to help steward this legacy into the future. Through this partnership, we can carry the Neue Galerie forward with distinction.”
Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO, said: "Ronald Lauder is a collector like none other. Among his many areas of connoisseurship, fin de siècle art from Austria and Germany is closest to his heart. Ronald has established a museum that is itself a work of art, and ultimately a profound reflection of his passion, expertise, and philanthropy. We are deeply grateful to Ronald, Aerin, and their family for their generosity and long-standing commitment to sharing their glorious collection with the world, and honored to carry on their tremendous legacy. I also extend my gratitude to Marina Kellen French, and our many Trustees who have so generously stepped forward to support this initiative."
**Candace K. Beinecke and Hamilton (“Tony”) E. James, Co-Chairs of The Met’s Board of Trustees, said: “**On behalf of The Met’s trustees, we extend our gratitude to Ronald S. Lauder and his family for their exceptional generosity and visionary philanthropy. We are honored that Mr. Lauder has looked to The Met to unite our institutions and entrusted us to preserve the Neue Galerie’s collection and galleries for the public to enjoy.”
Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, Met trustee and longtime supporter of the Neue Galerie, said, “The Neue Galerie represents a lifelong passion for my father and a legacy our family is proud to help carry forward. To see it join The Met is incredibly meaningful. It ensures these works will continue to be preserved, studied, and shared with the widest possible audience for generations to come.”
Renée Price, Founding Director of the Neue Galerie, said, “Over the past 25 years, the Neue Galerie has built a sterling reputation for superb scholarship, exhibitions, publications, exclusive Design Shop objects, and more. Through the efforts of our devoted staff, we have fulfilled our mission of creating a beloved museum of early twentieth-century Austrian and German art and design, one that I’m pleased will now have a permanent home as a part of The Met.”
Marina Kellen French, Met Trustee and longtime supporter of The Met and friend of the Neue Galerie, said, “One of the greatest joys of being a New Yorker is visiting The Met and the Neue Galerie frequently. I inherited a love of the arts from my parents, and as a philanthropist and collector, it has been gratifying to celebrate the wonders of The Met and the Neue Galerie with their many audiences. I have long been a supporter of the Neue Galerie and a champion of The Met. With my two beloved museums now coming together, the cultural lives of New Yorkers and visitors from around the world will be further enriched. It’s a privilege to be part of this extraordinary endeavor.”
About the Merger
The Met and the Neue Galerie plan to complete the merger and bring the Neue Galerie's collection and its William Starr Miller House under The Met's ownership in 2028, following all necessary approvals. Upon completion, the Neue Galerie and the William Starr Miller House will be renamed The Met Ronald S. Lauder Neue Galerie. The combined museum would continue to display the collection, pursue programming, and welcome visitors to its galleries, shops, and the popular Café Sabarsky. The Neue Galerie's broader assets, including its endowment, will transfer to The Met and help support the collection and operations. The Met Ronald S. Lauder Neue Galerie will join The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters as the newest member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Supported by The Met and the Neue Galerie's curatorial and operational expertise, the merger would augment the Neue Galerie’s programs and research capacities, as well as introduce the collection to wider audiences, both locally and internationally, through expanded interpretation, digital initiatives, and collaborative programming. It also creates new opportunities for research and curatorial exchange, enabling The Met and the Neue Galerie’s works to be explored and presented in new and dynamic ways that honor the founding missions of both institutions.
To guide this next chapter, The Met and the Neue Galerie would jointly establish a dedicated Special Advisory Board, with Ronald S. Lauder serving as its inaugural Chair.
u/Many-Scratch4173 — 7 days ago
The Lower East Side of Manhattan in watercolor
u/Many-Scratch4173 — 7 days ago
▲ 1 r/AFineLyne
A List of 100 Best Restaurants? For These Marathon Eaters, It’s a Dare.
nytimes.comu/Many-Scratch4173 — 9 days ago
▲ 1 r/AFineLyne
The Audacity of Art at the Obama Presidential Center
nytimes.comu/Many-Scratch4173 — 12 days ago
To all you Mothers, and to those that Mother others ~ Dads, Aunties, Sisters, Brothers, Grandmothers & Friends ~ Happy Mother's Day. Keep up the good work!
u/Many-Scratch4173 — 12 days ago
▲ 1 r/AFineLyne
Gates Around Washington Square Park? Greenwich Village Is Divided.
nytimes.comu/Many-Scratch4173 — 13 days ago
Trump Administration Targets 12 Immigrants to Revoke Citizenship
nytimes.comu/Many-Scratch4173 — 13 days ago
▲ 1 r/AFineLyne
David Attenborough, a Voice of Nature, Turns 100
nytimes.comu/Many-Scratch4173 — 13 days ago
u/Many-Scratch4173 — 13 days ago
The Trump-Epstein Reading Room has put all 3.5 million pages, bound together in 3,437 volumes of books, on display in a new exhibit in Tribeca, NY.
David Garrett, one of the organizers, says the goal is to push for the release of all of the files and make sure they are properly redacted to protect Epstein's victims, not witnesses or co-conspirators.
u/Bat_Fran_738 — 8 days ago
u/Many-Scratch4173 — 15 days ago
Sharing this in case anyone is interested (and able) in supporting a Harlem institution.
I think you can buy tickets to the event, but I just simply made a small donation.
They always have an amazing lineup of performances throughout the year (this year they have a production of Othello coming up) and always have programs to support education for kids in the community, among other programs.
From the organization:
>Dear Friend,
Hold 'Em in Harlem is our annual fundraising gala, and it is, without exaggeration, one of the most important nights of our year. The funds we raise on May 21st directly support our Uptown Shakespeare in the Park programming, our arts education work in New York City schools, our Literary Series new play development initiative, and the artist fees that ensure our company members are compensated fairly for the extraordinary work they do.
I won't pretend this is an easy moment for nonprofit theatres. Public arts funding is under pressure. Costs are up. Audiences are still rebuilding habits disrupted years ago. Across our field, beloved institutions are scaling back, going dark, or closing their doors entirely.
CTH is not going to be one of them. But we cannot do this without you.
That's why this year's Hold 'Em matters more than any we've held before. Every ticket purchased, every chip stacked, every silent auction bid placed on May 21st is a vote for a Harlem where the arts remain free, accessible, and excellent. It's a vote for the young person who will see their first Shakespeare play this summer in Marcus Garvey Park and walk away believing that those words were written for them, too.
We've put together a night worth showing up for. Special guests including Roy Wood Jr., John Andrew Morrison, Frankie Faison, Laila Robins, Jamila Ponton Bragg, and Grantham Coleman. An open bar. Great food. A silent auction full of one-of-a-kind experiences. And of course, a poker tournament with real prizes and real bragging rights.
But more than any of that, it's a room full of people who believe what you believe. That theatre belongs to everyone. That Harlem deserves a world-class artistic home. That the work we do together matters.
u/Cre8Vibe212 — 14 days ago
▲ 5 r/nyc
u/Many-Scratch4173 — 18 days ago
u/Many-Scratch4173 — 20 days ago
u/Many-Scratch4173 — 21 days ago