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Retrospective By: Nisma Zakria
Arts in NYC • The city was always a ferry away for me, I just never bothered to explore it. It was always in my comfort zone to go to places I was familiar with. When I began to discover NYC, I was shocked at the magical city that I had always lived in butnever took the initiative to explore. I’ve been to many places on my journey: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The MoMA, Lincoln Center, and other areas of Manhattan.
Metropolitan Museum of Art One of the first trips I remember taking into the city was to the MET. It was on a Sunday during September that I rode the Staten Island Ferry to Manhattan. I hopped on the 4 train to 86th Street and it was only a brief walk until I saw the MET before my eyes. It was so grand and spectacular. Dozens of people were sitting on the stairs outside the museum either eating or just talking. I walked into the museum looking around as if I’ve never seen art before in my life. I didn’t know what to look for. So I asked for a map guide and began my journey of exploration.
The MET • I went to the MET two more times after that during the following months. There were definitley many highlights from my visits. • During my first visit, I vividly the few moments before I entered the “Everyday Epiphanies” exhibit. I saw an image of a young girl that immedietly caught my eye. It was a portrait drawn by Jules Bastien-Lepage. I remember looking at this portrait long enough for one of the security guards to notice me. He pointed me to another portrait by the same artist not too far from where this one was displayed.
At First Sight • When I walked into the other gallery, I recognized the other Lepage painting the security guard mentioned. It was indeed another delicate draiwing but much larger in size.
Jules Bastien-Lepage • This painting was of a woman standing in a garden looking as though she were filled with wonderment. The look on the woman’s face also drew my attention as did Lepage’s first painting.
Qureshi’s Rooftop Garden • Another memorable trip to the MET was in late October. My group and I went to check out the roof of the MET where Qureshi’s art was displayed. The art consisted of red paint gracefully splattered onto the ground forming flower petals accentuated by its white edges. The art seemed so intricate but the message it was giving off seemed so simple. There is a dialect between what can be born out of death which is emphasized by the use of red paint. Qureshi’s work embodies contradiction because he brings life out of death.
Qureshi • The art seemed so intricate but the message it was giving off seemed so simple. There is a dialect between what can be born out of death which is emphasized by the use of red paint. Qureshi’s work embodies contradiction because he brings life out of death. My group and I on the Rooftop
Brooklyn: Barclays & Shakespeare • I remember this day very well. I voted for my first time with my best friend and then I went to the Barclays Center to see Ona. I had mixed feelings about this new art structure in Brooklyn. It was situated in an unusual place but it definitely symbolizes Brooklyn as a melting pot as Ted Loos pointed out. There was a lot of work done on Ona to make it appear as it does now and that is what makes is grand.
Theater for New Audience • Here, I saw a Shakespeare play come to life. It was the first time I had ever entered a theater. The style of this theater was called Black Box since the stage was in the center of the room and the audience surrounded it. • To begin with, Midsummer Night’s Dream was already an amazing play to read. The famous director, Julie Taymor modernized this Shakespearen play for audiences in the 21st century.
Midsummer Nights’ Dream • The first scene in the play starts out with Puck, who is a jester, sleeping on a bed in the center of the stage. The bed is then lifted up to the ceiling as the audience’s attention. Taymor, decided to portray this entire performance as Puck’s own dream. The play is then situated around Athenians who find love and then lose it because of Oberon’s orders and Pucks mischief. Oberon also has his own rivalry with Queen Titania. Hence, he also makes her fall in love with an unintended character. The main theme of this play was dreams which was displayed effectively.
Shakespeare Cont’d • While I was writing up my review of the Shakespeare Play, I referred back to the Playbill for most of my information. Just then, I realized that a lot of work was put into the play to modernize it such as the sound effects, projection, lighting, costumes, and the characters.
Lincoln Center • Lincoln Center was the most amazing complex I had seen yet. It was a complex where plays, dances, operas, and many great performances were held. I never realized that I passed by this area before when I went to the Macaulay building. The first time I went was to watch the Opera, Tosca written by Giacomo Puccini. I never thought I’d have the opportunity to see an Opera, but it was definitely an interesting experience.
L’Allegro & Il Penseroso • When I read these two poems in class, I had to alter my mindset in order to understand them. John Milton took abstract concepts and changed them into actions, styles of life, and symbols. This allowed me to broaden my imagination think of happiness and melancholy and tangible items.
L’Allegro & Il Penseroso • The second time I went to the Lincoln Center was to watch a dance performed by Mark Morris’s dance group. This group consisted of 24 dancers who have performed worldwide. • The two poems written by Milton were adapted by the famous dancer and choreographer, Mark Morris. Morris took the two poems and transformed them into interpretive dance.
My Message Most of the classes I’m enrolled in require focus and memorization while not really giving me a chance to discover. At my age, many concepts are simply repetitive with a higher level of intellect. This semester of Seminar has been very eye opening because I’ve learned about art I never thought to stop and look at before. Thank you Professor Miller and thanks to the great group we had in Seminar!
