MET-itations by Leslie Sewell

 This is a series of galleries devoted to Southeast Asian art.  This lovely Buddha is a good representation of the type of mostly small statuary in these galleries.  This Buddha in a meditative yoga pose, giving a blessing is typical of many of the works of art in these galleries.  I find being in these galleries invokes a meditative state also and is a very calming antidote to the busyness outside in New York City.

 TheTisch Galleries, unlike many other galleries at the Met is not dedicated to a single type of art but is instead used for a rotating collection of block buster exhibits. The current exhibition "Divine Egypt" includes this wonderful statue of Anubis, the jackel headed god associated with death.  This exquisite work is painted wood and from a later period.  It is in excellent shape.   This exhibit which focuses on the gods and worship of Pharaohnic Egypt is beautifully arranged with many statues and other depictions of the gods.  The exhibit recreates much of the character of the time and even the air seems like a dry North African day. According to the MET "in  ancient Egypt, images of gods weren’t just images—they brought the gods to life. Egyptians believed that it was through their depictions in tombs, temples, and shrines that the deities could enter sacred spaces and become active participants in rituals, offering a vital connection between the human...