Top of the world
Saturday, August 20, 2005
The Rubin Museum of Art, New York's newest museum, is dedicated to the art of the Himalayas and regions surrounding them. Housed in what used to be Barneys, that quintessential emporium of rampant, albeit hip, consumerism, there's some irony here, what with Buddhism encouraging the renouncing of such trappings. But that irony is just one of the pleasures of this museum. It's collection of paintings, textiles, sculpture and ritual objects are displayed in a space that is, itself, a work of art. In line with it's desire to educate, the museum produces pulic programs that include
film presentations, music, theater and dance performances as well as lectures and workshops. Guided tours of exhibitions are also available.