Behind the Apron at Vanesscipes
Howdy Readers:
I love the blog 28 Cooks so I’m participating in Fiber’s roundup of “Behind the Apron.”
I could tell you a little about why I’m obsessed with food, why I’m vegetarian, or why I’ve chosen to live in a small apartment in Brooklyn with my two sisters, but, I figure: yawn. You want some dirt on me and I’m here to tell you you’re not going to get it. You are instead going to be treated to a bullet point - yeah, I just said bullet point - list of some of my favorite pieces of art from The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
As some of you know, I spend much of my time Monday - Friday planning special events at the Met. I know. I’m a lucky daughter-of-a-biscuit.
Here I am at a “sketching” event in front of a Hans Hoffman. Photo by Don Pollard.
The Met has more amazing works of art that you can see in a day, or even in three years, as I happen to know by personal experience. Walking though the galleries daily, some the pieces have started to grow on me and I’ve started to think of them as “mine.” I go visit them whenever in I’m the area to stop, say hello, look at them from different angle, ya know, like a pet rock or something.
- A few of my favorites coincide with the highlights of the Museum’s collection - masterpieces of Spanish Art that you might be familiar with: El Greco’s View of Toleto (the Met has several other must-see El Greco’s too, but to me this one alone is worth the price of admission.)
- Juan de Pareja by Diego Velazquez. More intimate and interest-capturing than the Mona Lisa
- This little jewel (only 8.5 x 6.5 inches) always melts my heart
- A work by one of my favorite modern artists, De Kooning.
- This “fountain” by Noguchi is simple but fully commands the space it’s in. Walking by it makes you a more peaceful person.
- The exhibition After the Flood by the photographer Robert Polidori was my favorite exhibition of the past year - a small show of gorgeous large-format photographs showing beautifully what statistics fail to capture about the New Orleans flood.
- I walk by this cat often, and have come to think of it as my pet. More than 2000 years this mummified sculpture still looks like the platonic ideal of a cat.
Thanks for indulging me. Don’t forget to check out 28 Cooks’ “Behind the Apron” Roundup in early February.
January 28th, 2007 22:14
What a great looking picture. Thanks so much for visiting 28Cooks and participating in the roundup!
January 29th, 2007 16:54
Always good to see how another person sees. You are indeed a liky woman - to be surrounded by beautiful things at work! Lovely post.
January 29th, 2007 16:55
I meant to say lucky! Not liky!!! Sorry…
February 5th, 2007 00:28
Hey Vanessa - I’m pretty jealous of your workplace! Love your blog and awesome recipes. keep ‘em coming!
February 5th, 2007 16:56
Wow - another veggie!
That’s not a bad thing, of course. I’m just suprised to see how large a veggie community we have here.
February 5th, 2007 22:05
Great picture! Nice to see the face behind Vanesscipes!
February 6th, 2007 13:43
Hey Vanessa! Thanks for visiting my blog. I’m glad I got to “discover” your site, too - looks like you’ve got a lot of good recipes. I can’t wait to try some!
P.S. It sounds like you have an awesome job - I’m jealous!
February 7th, 2007 11:11
Catherine- thanks for the visit. As you know, I’m such a fan of your site too and now whenever I think of making pizza I can’t help but think of one of your recipes!
Scott- don’t look now, but we’re taking over the world.
Thanks Chris!
Kati - I know, I know. I’m very grateful to be able to work in such a beautiful place.
February 8th, 2007 00:43
Okay, first I have to preface this with the fact that I LOVE contemporary art, especially abstract painting. The Hans Hoffman behind you is fabulous, by the way. But one painting I just enjoy seeing, every time I’m in New York, is Washington Crossing the Delaware. I had grown up seeing it in school history books, mostly small and in black and white, and the first time I saw it in person, I was stunned by its massive scale. It’s not my favorite kind of art, but it’s kind of the art equivalent of comfort food for me.
I just found your blog through 28 Cooks. I will definitely be back to explore, in no small measure because you chose to color outside the lines on Fiber’s request. I did too.