NYC Museum Holiday Events in 2007
Seasonal Art Exhibitions, Trees, Decorations and Performances
Five New York City museums will feature seasonal art, trees, decorations and events during the Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa seasons in December 2007.
The Christmas, Hannukah and Kwanzaa holidays are celebrated in five New York City museums this year with seasonal exhibitions, festive trees and decorations, performances and events for children of all ages.
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY USA: November 19, 2007-January 1, 2008
Two 19-foot Barosaurs, each made of openwork stainless steel and draped with boughs of pine and lights, welcome visitors to the American Museum of Natural History (November 19, 2007-January 1, 2008) on opposite sides of its majestic outdoor John Russell Pope Staircase on Central Park West. Once inside the building, head to the first-floor Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Hall to see the museum's annual Origami Holiday Tree. This year, the theme of its approximately 500 delicate paper decorations comes from the Mythic Creatures: Dragons, Unicorns & Mermaids exhibition (May 26, 2007-January 6, 2008). So expect to see fantastic creatures of legend as well as real ones. Volunteers teach visitors the art of origami folding during the holiday season.
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY USA: December 29, 2007
The museum's annual Kwanzaa festival celebrates the seven principles of this African-American holiday on all levels of the Milstein Hall of Ocean Life from 12:00 Noon to 5:00 PM. Highlights include a marketplace, traditional African dance, candle lighting, drumming, live gospel music and more.
- The Cloisters, New York, NY USA: November 20, 2007-January 6, 2008
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's branch for medieval art in northern Manhattan, The Cloisters, decks its Main Hall's doorways at Christmastime with hazelnuts, ivy leaves, lady apples and rose hip clusters. Mistletoe sprigs are suspended from the Romanesque Hall's candelabras. Tied with ivy, a bundle of wheat stands in the Cuxa Cloister's lavabo (ceremonial washbowl). Garlands of evergreen laurel decorate the Langon Chapel's Italian ciborium or Eucharistic canopy.
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY USA: November 20, 2007-January 6, 2008
The annual Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Crèche return to view in the first-floor Medieval Sculpture Hall of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (November 20, 2007-January 6, 2008). Set in front of the massive choir screen from Spain's Cathedral of Valladolid, the dramatically illuminated 20-foot blue spruce is decorated with delicate 18th-century cherubs and angels. Its base includes a Nativity scene, the three approaching Magi, Asian and African visitors, townspeople, peasants, shepherds and their flocks, horses, goats, a camel and an elephant. Many of the polychromed figures wear fabric costumes with embroidery and precious jewels; some carry gilded censers, daggers and baskets. The wondrous landscape features the ruins of a Roman temple, modest houses and an Italian fountain. The crèche's arrangement is changed slightly from year to year; new sculptures are introduced periodically. Recorded Christmas music enhances the yuletide presentation. A lighting ceremony occurs every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday at 4:30 PM and Friday and Saturday at 4:30, 5:30 and 6:30 PM. On December 24 and December 31, 2007, two special Holiday Mondays at The Met, the lighting ceremony will occur at 4:30 PM.
In recent years, The Met has placed significant works of art related to the holiday season in the vicinity of its Christmas display. This year in the Medieval Treasury, visitors will be treated to a Mahzor or Hebrew prayerbook, on loan from The Jewish Theological Seminary's library, and a folio (page) from a Christian choir book, both illuminated by Italian Renaissance artist Mariano del Buono (1433/4-1504). Mariano's prolific Florentine atelier or workshop readily provided his Jewish and Christian patrons with religious manuscripts.
- Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY USA: November 20, 2007-January 6, 2008
On display at the Morgan Library & Museum is the original red morocco bound manuscript of A Christmas Carol (1843) by British author Charles Dickens (1812-1870) from November 20, 2007 through January 6, 2008. Carolers from Manhattan's famed Mannes College of Music entertain visitors on Friday, December 7 and 14, 2007 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The Morgan presents Family Day: Christmas Present! on Sunday, December 9, 2007 from 2:00-5:00 PM. Costumed characters, performances, art workshops and other events help to celebrate Christmastide.
- Vander Ende-Onderdonk House, Ridgewood, NY USA: December 9, 2007
On Sunday, December 9, 2007 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, St. Nicholas will be visiting at the Vander Ende-Onderdonk House, a museum and the oldest Dutch Colonial stone dwelling in New York City. Continuing the tradition brought by the Dutch to America more than 300 years ago, all good children will receive gifts. There'll be picture-taking with St. Nick, ornament crafting, storytelling, lots of refreshments, home-baked holiday treats, piping hot cider and seasonal musical entertainment by Arthur Kirmss on the recorder and Heather Arzberger playing the guitar. The museum's Christmas tree will be lighted at 3:00 PM. Unusual colonial items such as candles, soaps and glass and wooden ornaments will be available for purchase in the Gift Shop.
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