You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
This book is so beautifully written, I simply had to use some of Bringley’s own language to capture its stunning evocations. I walk away from this book with a certainty that everyone has something to contribute to art, that art and life play at each other in so many contrasting and beautiful ways, and that we don’t need the permission of museums to stop and adore. Truly a gem of a book for all the people watchers out there!
A few favorite quotes of mine:
“Take the time to stop and imagine more fully the things you already know.” (Pg. 22)
“One wish for yourself…and another, just as big, for someone else.” (Pg. 75)
“I think that sometimes we need permission to stop and adore, and a work of art grants us that.” (Pg. 80)
“I am sometimes not sure which is the more remarkable: that life lives up to great paintings, or that great paintings live up to life.” (Pg. 88)
“The dervish, I think, has pushed his perceptive equipment to the limit, where pain and exhaustion sometimes lie. Somehow I feel confident he will recover his energies and begin the push again. Using one of my eyes, I feel an intimacy with this sixteenth-century follower of an esoteric religious sect. And then my heart beats, and he feels distant and strange. And then my heart beats again and, like the painting before me, he’s near.” (Pg. 121)
“Meaning is always created locally.” (166)
“I take this crowded middle of the picture to represent the muddle of everyday life: detailed, incoherent, sometimes dull, sometimes gorgeous. No matter how arresting a moment is or how sublime the basic mysteries are, a complicated world keeps spinning.” (Pg. 176)
…the entirety of the last page and a half, beginning with “You are now entering a world in miniature…”
A few favorite quotes of mine:
“Take the time to stop and imagine more fully the things you already know.” (Pg. 22)
“One wish for yourself…and another, just as big, for someone else.” (Pg. 75)
“I think that sometimes we need permission to stop and adore, and a work of art grants us that.” (Pg. 80)
“I am sometimes not sure which is the more remarkable: that life lives up to great paintings, or that great paintings live up to life.” (Pg. 88)
“The dervish, I think, has pushed his perceptive equipment to the limit, where pain and exhaustion sometimes lie. Somehow I feel confident he will recover his energies and begin the push again. Using one of my eyes, I feel an intimacy with this sixteenth-century follower of an esoteric religious sect. And then my heart beats, and he feels distant and strange. And then my heart beats again and, like the painting before me, he’s near.” (Pg. 121)
“Meaning is always created locally.” (166)
“I take this crowded middle of the picture to represent the muddle of everyday life: detailed, incoherent, sometimes dull, sometimes gorgeous. No matter how arresting a moment is or how sublime the basic mysteries are, a complicated world keeps spinning.” (Pg. 176)
…the entirety of the last page and a half, beginning with “You are now entering a world in miniature…”
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
This was excellent, far exceeding my expectations. I expected an informative and poignant exploration of art and The Met, which I got. But I wasn’t expecting such an informative and poignant exploration of life, the minutia and monumental moments of our lives, grief, and growing into our adulthood.
When I heard about this book, I purchased it as a gift for a family member who has a deep love and adoration for the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We won't be seeing her until Easter, so I used the time to read it before giving it away.
If you've ever been to the MET you know the kind of awe it inspires. To read about someone's experience "on the inside" was really unique. Each chapter explores one of Bringley's favorite works, but also connects the work, the artist, the time period and/or the process/technique to a milestone in his life.
This is a beautiful tribute to an incredible place, and a beautiful way Bringley to document the highs and lows of his life. The MET is a place my husband and I visit a few times a year, but this has inspired me to go again (and soon!) to explore it in a new way.
I recommend this book to anyone who has a special connection with or appreciation for the MET.
If you've ever been to the MET you know the kind of awe it inspires. To read about someone's experience "on the inside" was really unique. Each chapter explores one of Bringley's favorite works, but also connects the work, the artist, the time period and/or the process/technique to a milestone in his life.
This is a beautiful tribute to an incredible place, and a beautiful way Bringley to document the highs and lows of his life. The MET is a place my husband and I visit a few times a year, but this has inspired me to go again (and soon!) to explore it in a new way.
I recommend this book to anyone who has a special connection with or appreciation for the MET.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced