I decided to spend yesterday afternoon at a local monastery in the countryside of France. Since an intercontinental flight seemed a little excessive, I decided to do the next best thing: I visited The Cloisters, a branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
At the recommendation of a blog buddy, I took the train up to 180th street – and then followed the winding trails to reach the museum’s entrance. The structure is imposing; it is perched atop a cliff and overlooks the Hudson River. Ultimate sugar daddy John D. Rockefeller had the museum built by shipping in rooms, stones and various pieces of architectural interest by presumably pillaging monasteries from around the world. Nonetheless, it’s a masterpiece, and it took my breath away.
Moreover, it’s the most peaceful space that I’ve encountered in the last two dizzying months.
Words – and even pictures – can’t do justice to The Cloisters. If you’re EVER in New York City and have any interest in art, spirituality, gardening or architecture, please promise me that you’ll check it out. It’s a true wish you were here moment.
July 24, 2010 at 10:41 am
Hey Davey! I think I’m actually planning a trip to NYC and now I definitely want to see this, thank you! Recently I discovered the works of dutch sculptist and scientist Theo Janson – he makes these amazing moving sculptures. I highly suggest you look him up on YouTube it’s literally the most amazing thing I’ve seen in my life.
July 24, 2010 at 10:42 am
oh yeah, and you should plan a meet up in NYC!!
July 24, 2010 at 10:57 am
Totally beautiful, as often as I’ve been to NY I’ve never been there. The next time I go I will have to check it out!!! I hope this brought clarity for you.
July 24, 2010 at 11:42 am
Truly amazing place in terms of architecture and landscaping styles. The medieval and renaissance art collection is also astonishing.
July 24, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Bravo!!!
July 24, 2010 at 1:05 pm
This is beautiful
July 24, 2010 at 3:05 pm
And don’t forget there are often concerts there!
July 24, 2010 at 3:36 pm
DW–glad you like you really should go to Italy every town is a site such as the one you experienced. Most larger towns on a more magnifant level than anything you see in NYC. However you won’t be able to wear shorts, flip-flops and tank, you will need to dress proper. They simply will not let you in. Many Americans are denied access. Americans so easy to spot in Europe especially in France in Italy–they the ones who dress like bums–no offense-should say toooooooo casual. We do judge people by their appearance. But yes you love Italy and France Greece cool too.
July 24, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Looks amazing. I would love to visit someday..
July 24, 2010 at 3:51 pm
I never knew there was anything like that in the states, there are many renaissance chapels, churches cathedrals and monasteries in England as well (well most of Europe does) and don’t forget the good old British Castle every now and then. I plan to visit Italy by the time I’m 20, lovely country!
July 24, 2010 at 7:17 pm
I think you need to address the article on queerty.com
It’s not very flattering
July 24, 2010 at 8:10 pm
Mindblowingly beautiful. I would love to visit there.
July 24, 2010 at 8:34 pm
I wondered if you would find the Cloisters. Glad you did! Having done a lot of weaving, the tapestries are a special treat. But the quiet and early in the weekday days emptiness of the buildings are a treat! Of course there are other places, including churches and cathedrals, that are also quiet, cool places. If you haven’t been to St. John the Devine’s on Amsterdam north of 110th street, do go there—and—visit the Hungarian Pastry
across the street and Symposium (Greek Rest) on 113th Street just east of BDWAY.
July 25, 2010 at 12:32 am
In this moment I feel the need to spread a little bit of love… I hope I can pay it forward some of what it is your videos and blogs bring to my life, so….
I LOVE YOU DAVEY WAVEY!!!!!!! I HOPE YOUR DAYS ARE LONG AND FULL OF JOY!!!!!
I want you to know how important what you do is, whether its for the 12 year old boy who is confused about who he is and has no other person to identify with and looks to you, all the way to the mother who’s son just recently came out and is attempting to understand more and stumbles upon your blog or videos as a voice a human face and resemblance to a community…
The point is what you do is SO MUCH MORE, its about just being relatable. Its about being honest, but most important its about your being caring!
Thank you!
July 25, 2010 at 6:50 am
Hey, Did you say “I’m gay” here? lol
Thats one of my fav vids from you!
July 25, 2010 at 7:40 am
The Cloisters sounds like an awesome place to get “lost” in for a while, to spend hours exploring. I especially would want to spend some time in the cloister garden. It looks so peaceful.
July 25, 2010 at 7:46 am
Davey Wavey, this is the first time I”ve seen wear a shirt!
July 25, 2010 at 7:56 am
That is nice to visit France
July 25, 2010 at 7:58 am
Hi Davey
Love reading about your suggestions of places to see in New York, I’m heading up there from Australia in two weeks time and will check this place out for sure. Have you been to Apollo theater in Harlem, I’ve heard that amateur night on a Thursday is definitely worth a look.
Look forward to reading about more recommendations prior to you moving onto New Hampshire.
Paul
July 25, 2010 at 10:15 am
Hi Davey:
This is a lovely place! I SO appreciate your informative articles. You educate us, cheer us up, and make us think. Thank you!
Tim
July 25, 2010 at 11:01 am
Beautifully constructed architecture, now if we could only agree that places like that should be managed by those with the issue of making people feel welcome.
July 25, 2010 at 11:49 am
Thank you for sharing your spiritual journey. The cloister is calling you!
July 25, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Davey, As you say, so perceptively, The Cloisters is itself a masterpiece. Some few museums are like that, the museum, its structure, its charm, make such museums themselves masterpieces, quite apart from the masterworks of art which they may possess!
Another such museum, one that I loved to visit often, is the Isabella Stuart Garden Museum in Boston, not far from the internationally renowned Boston Museum of Fine Art(s). Indeed, the Metropolitan Museum in New York and the Fine Arts Museum in Boston, despite having greater and larger collections of art, do not make for the kind of “total” experience that one has at The Cloisters or at the Gardner Museum. At that, even the Gardner Museum cannot rival The Cloisters as a total experience, museum, collection, and all, to the same degree.
Aye, lasses and laddies, hie yourselves off to The Cloisters on the first opportunity!
Pax, Jerry Parker
July 25, 2010 at 2:24 pm
The pictures you show here remind me so much of my favorite place (to date) on earth – the island of Le Mont St. Michel of the northern coast of France at the border of Brittany and Normandy. It as the most peaceful I’ve ever felt in my life. Being on the island is like being in the M. C. Escher painting called Relativity. (Google the island for more.) Thank you for sharing this experience.
July 25, 2010 at 2:39 pm
I am so pleased to hear that “The Cloisters” still attracts people. I visited there 35 years ago, and it opened a new world up to me. I’m a priest (Episcopal); I’m also a gay man. It is quite possible to integrate ones spirituality with ones sexuality. I’m glad your generation (Davey’s) is doing this openly. “The Body” and “The Spirit” compliment each other and make for a complete human being.
July 25, 2010 at 3:46 pm
I’ve been up to The Cloisters many times and about two-years ago I visited the Castle with a friend and it really is an incredible museum to visit. There’s also Bette Midler’s New Lead Cafe at the entrance of the park which is a great place to have brunch. Also going up during the peak of the Fall leaves changing colors is great too.
July 25, 2010 at 6:35 pm
Davey,
Check out the carving on the top of the column in your second photo. Just WHAT THE HELL is that creature doing?
It looks like it is sucking the brains out of a child!!!!! ….and humping it at the same time?
Scary thoughts were in the head of that artisan.
July 25, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Yeah, I visited the cloisters with a friend back in 1973 and it was everything you said it was and more. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back again if I’m ever again in NYC. Good recommendation!
July 26, 2010 at 2:47 am
IVE BEEN TO THE CLOISTERS BEFORE IN 3RD GRADE!!!!!!!!!!!
that is all.
July 26, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Hi Davey. I was the person, or one of the people, who suggested you visit the Cloisters. Wow! I was pretty sure you would like it there, but again, WOW, you really did like it there! Rany
July 26, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Medieval Cathedrals and monasteries are covered with gargoyles. They can certainly be gruesome, as well as playful. Washington Cathedral in DC has Darth Vader as a gargoyle.
July 27, 2010 at 4:24 am
I was taken to the Cloisters on my first visit to New York, and was able to take friends who were living in Queens and had never heard of it there on my last visit.
“King of the Confessors” by Thomas Coving is a fascinating book that reads like a murder mystery, about the aquisition of a medieval English cross, which is one of the treasures of the Cloisters.
I’m glad you got there: it’s a transforming place, isn’t it.
July 27, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Awesome pictures. I feel like I was there too.
August 10, 2010 at 5:48 pm
You took the train? You mean the subway?
November 12, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Seriusly… you have to do the Way of St. James (“camino de santiago”)I have do it and it’s the most powerful spiritual experience i’ve never had…
more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Way_of_St._James