The Morgan Library & Museum

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

I don’t know about you, but from my perspective, the world seems to be in a weird state of flux. COVID cases are dropping dramatically in some areas, but sadly rising in others. Mask mandates are going away and people are gathering in large groups for festivals, concerts and other forms of entertainment, both indoors and outdoors.

As for me, I am still taking things rather cautiously while attempting a modicum of… what’s the word?… optimism? Yeah, that’s it! Optimism! This, of course, is a challenge as it is not in my nature.

With parts of the world reopening and returning to “business as usual,” I am keeping my fingers crossed that some things that developed during the pandemic lockdown remain in place and #1 on that list is the accessibility of the world’s art institutions.

You may have noticed that multiple art museums, galleries and art institutions made their collections and special exhibitions available for viewing online during the pandemic. Some of these institutions even offered virtual tours, lectures, discussions and other activities to keep their communities (and beyond) engaged while everyone was at home.

I hope art museums recognize the power of these online offerings and decide to continue with these virtual programs even as folks return to in-person visitation.

That said, there is at least one institution that has adopted a sort of hybrid model of programming that offers both virtual and in-person events. The Morgan Library and Museum in New York has developed The Morgan, Connected which can be accessed for free from their main website. This powerful tool allows users to access a wide variety of information including virtual talks, virtual exhibition tours, educational videos and more. Even better, most of these resources are free!

When you visit The Morgan, Connected, be sure to check out the Online Exhibitions category to explore the Holbein: Capturing Character exhibition, a phenomenal in-depth look at the portraiture of Hans Holbein the Younger. While perusing this category, check out past exhibitions like Imperial Splendor: The Art of the Book in the HRE, ca. 800-1500 and Betye Saar: Call and Response, both of which have connections to Zoom courses I am offering this year!

To participate in The Morgan, Connected live virtual tours, I recommend signing up for their newsletter. You will then be notified when free virtual tours will be offered, so that you can register in advance. These tours are conducted by the incredible docent team at The Morgan Library and Museum and provide valuable insights to the work being discussed.

If you choose to participate in these invaluable online offerings, consider donating to The Morgan Library and Museum COVID-19 Relief Fund so that these programs can continue to reach people all over the world.

To learn more about The Morgan Library and Museum, please visit…

https://www.themorgan.org/

To donate to The Morgan’s COVID-19 Relief Fund, please visit…

https://www.themorgan.org/support/covid-19-relief-fund

2 thoughts on “The Morgan Library & Museum”

  1. Adrienne your Morgan Library link & info is timely because I read THE PERSONAL LIBRARIAN which tells story of Morgan Library art curated by JPM $$$ & kept in place after J P Morgan’s death. I did look at photos on line of Morgan Library, but you have given me more places & newsletter, WOW!

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The Wandering Art Historian's avatar
I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.