Friends of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing: Art of Five Continents
Within New York's cultural landscape, the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing is a unique and unparalleled resource for comprehending our complex global society. The Friends of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing: Art of Five Continents program provides an opportunity for special access and ongoing engagement with the leading institutional collection of African, ancient American, and Oceanic art in the Western hemisphere, and the unparalleled expertise of its curatorial specialists.
Among the Rockefeller Wing's landmarks are ancient gold and silverworks from Central and South America; a concentrated overview of works in an array of media, created between the 16th and 19th centuries in the kingdom of Benin, in what is today Nigeria; as well as a signature installation of monumental bisj spirit poles from the Asmat region of New Guinea. The dynamism of these visual traditions has been a springboard for creative inspiration among the Western avant-garde since the beginning of the 20th century and into the present day.
Join the Department's curators in exploring the rich visual cultures of these seminal areas of art history, their historic influence on other world arts, and their ongoing contemporary relevance. This annual program of activities includes behind-the-scenes looks at areas of the collection; dialogue with international specialists on significant developments in their fields; conversations with contemporary artists and connoisseurs about their aesthetic responses to works, elucidated by curatorial presentations; and opportunities to consider far-ranging connections to the Museum at-large. Friends' dues support the Museum and the Department, including the renowned focus exhibition program and other special projects.
Annual Dues: $6,000 (a portion of dues is tax-deductible)
Under-Forty Annual Dues: $5,000 (a portion of dues is tax-deductible)
For more information, please contact Matthew Noiseux at 212-570-3706 or Matthew.Noiseux@metmuseum.org.
Highlights of Past Events
- Invitations to first viewings with curators, followed by opening receptions of departmental exhibitions, such as Design for Eternity: Architectural Models from the Ancient Americas (2015); Warriors and Mothers: Epic Mbembe Art (2014); and The Nelson A. Rockefeller Vision: In Pursuit of the Best in the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas (2013)
- Seminars and talks that illuminate major artistic landmarks, presented by departmental curators, conservators, and outside authorities
- Private visits to collections and topical temporary exhibitions
Above: Prestige Hanging (Kpoikpoi) (detail), early 20th century. Sierra Leona. Mende or Vai peoples. Cotton, 197 x 63 in. (401.3 x 160 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, William B. Goldstein and Holly and David Ross Gifts, 2013 (2013.986)