June 9, 2008

Where to see Asian art treasures in New York City

NewYorkology contributor John Rambow is a travel writer and editor based in New York. He's worked for such publications as Gridskipper, Zagat, and Fodor's Travel Guides.

As we slowly (and sweatily) make our way through the heat toward August and the controversial summer Olympics in Beijing, it seems like a good time to take a look at some of the cultural heritage of China and nearby regions. All the Asian art treasures here can be seen without boarding a plane or anything more ambitious than the subway. (OK, there will be a ferry involved.)

Asia Society
725 Park Avenue
Last year the Asia Society announced a new effort to start buying Asian and Asian-American contemporary art, but it will have quite a challenge to match the masterpieces already in its permanent collection, most of which were donated by Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd. Their donation only included 300 objects, but they're broadly sourced -- and choice.

China Institute
125 E. 65th Street (between Park and Lexington)
The gallery at this institution here host changing exhibitions throughout the year. The current one, which opens on 12 June, is devoted to the past, present, and future of Beijing.

Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art
338 Lighthouse Avenue, Staten Island
This unique museum is named for its founder, Edna Koblentz, a woman who changed her name to the manly "Jacques Marchais" in her work as an art collector during the 1920s-40s. Located in the scenic neighborhood that's the highest natural point in the five boroughs, the museum may be the hardest one for most people to get to, but the surroundings are a large part of its beauty. Built with terraced meditation gardens, the museum resembles a Tibetan monastery.

Metropolitan Museum
1000 Fifth Avenue
The Met needs no introduction, but it's a good bet that not even many repeat visitors have ever paid a call on its Chinese Art sections. Among the highlights are a T'ang Dynasy "Seated Buddha" from the 7th century as well as the Astor Court, a re-creation of a scholar's garden made with Chinese materials and craftsmanship. And while you're there, be sure to also check out the South Asian collections, recently the subject of a NYT article about "hidden treasures" in local museums.

Museum of Chinese in America
211-215 Centre Street
Devoted to the Chinese immigrant experience, MOCA has holdings that include household items as well as art. The museum is closed until this fall, when its new Centre Street location opens, but in the meantime its Saturday walking tours remain underway.

Rubin Museum
150 W. 17th Street
Opened in 2004, this six-story midblock museum focuses on Himalayan art. Many of these works can seem very esoteric to newbies, but the museum's explanatory texts do a good job of making the art a little less puzzling. The web site, Himalayan Art Resources, also set up by the Rubin Foundation, catalogs over 30,000 images from private collectors as well as other museums and libraries.

Image source: Asia Society. Bixie (Mythical Animal)
North China; Western Han period (206 B.C.E. - C.E. 9)
Gilt bronze, H. 1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm); L. 3 5/8 in. (9.2 cm); W. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Rockefeller 3rd Collection of Asian Art

June 9, 2008 3:39 PM in Cheap Stuff, Downtown, Midtown, Museums, Out of Manhattan, Sightsology, Tours, Upper East Side

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