The rooftop garden of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, named after Iris and B. Gerald Cantor, is set to close on October 19 and will remain shut until 2030.
This year’s rooftop special exhibition, curated by artist Jennie C. Jones, is titled “Ensemble,” featuring three giant sculptures inspired by string instruments, including a trapezoidal zither, an organ, and a single-string instrument. The artwork is composed of taut lines and burgundy flat planes, giving the impression of being ready to be played at any moment, with only the “melody” being stirred by the gentle breeze of New York, inviting the audience to engage with it through their ears and imagination.
Since 2013, the Met has introduced a rooftop exhibition each spring, becoming one of the most prominent contemporary art projects to look out for. However, this tradition is being put on hold due to the museum’s construction of the new “Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes Hsu-Tang Wing.” This 5-billion-dollar project, designed by Mexican architect Frida Escobedo, will feature 126,000 square feet of exhibition space and a 18,500 square feet terrace. The rooftop garden will also be relocated to the fourth floor and expanded to 10,000 square feet.
This means that visitors will have to wait five years before they can once again appreciate the fusion of contemporary art and the city skyline here. The museum advises citizens and tourists to seize this final chance, especially on Fridays and Saturdays when the museum stays open until 9 p.m., allowing visitors to enjoy Jones’ sculptures “play” under the sunset. After October 19, the rooftop garden will enter a long intermission, coming back in 2030.