Behind the Scenes

Part of the fun of working inside a museum is getting to see what its like when it's not open to the public.  I'm sure that anyone can imagine the secret world behind closed doors, but to be lucky enough to visit into it is quite another thing.

I remember when I first started working at the Met and went to the museum on a closed day (Monday), and feeling at first, like an intruder, but then a member to a club.  When open to the public, thousands upon thousands of people walk through the Met on a daily basis, so when it's closed everything on view feels as if it's been displayed specifically for you.


You can enter a whole world of beautiful objects, paintings, and decorated rooms that seem to permeate the mind, and bloom to the intellect.   The quiet stillness of the galleries elevates the objects and paintings to a heightened mental precision.  I tend to notice details of things that I had never seen before.


Sadly, the days of being closed on Mondays to the public are numbered.  Beginning in July the Met will be open seven days a week.  Now don't get me wrong, it's great that everyone will be able to come to the museum every day of the week, but I know personally, some of the magic of the secret world of objects will diminish.


I was going to put some photos to this entry, but I've been having connection difficulties.  Hopefully, I can add them later this week.