1
00:00:05,566 --> 00:00:08,766
{\an1}-This is the largest art museum
in the Americas.

2
00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:12,833
Five floors high,
four city blocks long.

3
00:00:12,866 --> 00:00:15,000
New York's
Metropolitan Museum of Art

4
00:00:15,033 --> 00:00:19,266
{\an1}is 2.3 million square feet
of treasure.

5
00:00:19,300 --> 00:00:22,433
{\an1}-The museum was largely
an audacious vision.

6
00:00:22,466 --> 00:00:27,400
{\an1}-I just want to be surrounded
by art and beauty.

7
00:00:27,433 --> 00:00:32,200
{\an1}-In 2020, The Met turned 150.

8
00:00:32,233 --> 00:00:34,266
{\an1}The museum planned
an anniversary year

9
00:00:34,300 --> 00:00:37,266
{\an1}nobody would forget.

10
00:00:37,300 --> 00:00:38,766
{\an1}-I'm this excited!

11
00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,400
{\an1}-Every year we're pumping out
something pretty amazing.

12
00:00:42,433 --> 00:00:45,733
{\an1}-But as the revels began,
COVID struck New York.

13
00:00:45,766 --> 00:00:48,033
{\an7}-There are new warnings about
the coronavirus outbreak.

14
00:00:48,066 --> 00:00:52,566
{\an1}-For the first time ever,
The Met closed indefinitely.

15
00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:54,466
{\an1}-Walking through the museum
with 5,000 years

16
00:00:54,500 --> 00:00:58,300
{\an1}of the greatest works of art,
it's a spiritual experience.

17
00:00:58,333 --> 00:01:02,500
{\an1}-With the future unknown,
was its survival in question?

18
00:01:02,533 --> 00:01:05,233
{\an1}-This is an exhibition install,
frozen in time.

19
00:01:05,266 --> 00:01:08,166
{\an1}-This is a reminder
that we can overcome...

20
00:01:08,200 --> 00:01:13,500
[ Sobbing ]

21
00:01:13,533 --> 00:01:16,066
{\an1}-In the summer, the urgent
need for social justice,

22
00:01:16,100 --> 00:01:19,133
{\an1}highlighted by the
Black Lives Matter movement,

23
00:01:19,166 --> 00:01:21,266
had the museum
promising to change.

24
00:01:21,300 --> 00:01:23,566
{\an1}But how to pay for it?

25
00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,200
{\an1}The Met now faces a COVID
cash crisis.

26
00:01:26,233 --> 00:01:27,476
{\an1}-They come to you,
for the money?

27
00:01:27,500 --> 00:01:30,666
{\an1}-And I've got find the money
to do it.

28
00:01:30,700 --> 00:01:32,566
{\an1}-Systemic change will be costly.

29
00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:35,266
{\an1}And what about conservation
and research?

30
00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:37,833
{\an1}-For me this piece is not,
not very big.

31
00:01:37,866 --> 00:01:41,866
{\an1}To finish this one, two years.

32
00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:43,700
{\an1}-Who will fund new acquisitions?

33
00:01:43,733 --> 00:01:45,966
{\an1}-I don't think I will see
this rarity

34
00:01:46,000 --> 00:01:48,400
and beauty on the market again.

35
00:01:48,433 --> 00:01:51,933
{\an1}-And the blockbuster exhibitions
that keep the coffers full.

36
00:01:51,966 --> 00:01:53,900
{\an1}-It's a massive undertaking.

37
00:01:53,933 --> 00:01:55,866
{\an1}-I mean, it's the best
for costuming,

38
00:01:55,900 --> 00:01:57,800
{\an1}it's the best for fashion.

39
00:01:57,833 --> 00:02:01,133
{\an1}-The Met has always relied
on patrons and donors.

40
00:02:01,166 --> 00:02:05,266
{\an1}But in these dark times,
does philanthropy still exist?

41
00:02:05,300 --> 00:02:07,533
{\an1}-The truth of the matter is,

42
00:02:07,566 --> 00:02:11,766
{\an1}nobody can really take care
of 403 guitars.

43
00:02:35,533 --> 00:02:37,433
{\an8}-It's fall 2020.

44
00:02:37,466 --> 00:02:40,033
{\an8}America is slowly
turning orange.

45
00:02:40,066 --> 00:02:42,933
{\an8}But at New York's
Metropolitan Museum of Art,

46
00:02:42,966 --> 00:02:44,666
{\an1}they're feeling blue.

47
00:02:44,700 --> 00:02:50,566
{\an1}There's a cash crisis to
the tune of around $150 million.

48
00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,000
{\an1}Safety concerns mean
visitor numbers

49
00:02:53,033 --> 00:02:55,766
{\an1}and income are restricted.

50
00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,400
{\an1}Once, 25,000 people came through
these doors every day.

51
00:03:00,433 --> 00:03:03,400
{\an1}Now it's 5,000 at most.

52
00:03:03,433 --> 00:03:05,033
{\an7}-I would give them a chance.

53
00:03:05,066 --> 00:03:07,766
{\an7}Give them a chance
to get their stride.

54
00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,966
{\an1}It's like you're coming out
of a cocoon.

55
00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,500
-Nine months into
The Met's 150th year,

56
00:03:14,533 --> 00:03:17,766
{\an1}President Dan Weiss
is philosophical.

57
00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:21,100
{\an1}-The world has changed in such
seismic and remarkable ways,

58
00:03:21,133 --> 00:03:23,600
{\an1}I think it's important to be
mindful of the many things

59
00:03:23,633 --> 00:03:25,833
{\an7}I don't know and cannot do.

60
00:03:25,866 --> 00:03:28,100
{\an7}And therefore to be
appreciative of others

61
00:03:28,133 --> 00:03:29,666
{\an7}who can do those things.

62
00:03:29,700 --> 00:03:33,100
{\an1}The violin on my wall reminds me
both of its beauty,

63
00:03:33,133 --> 00:03:34,633
its magnificence,

64
00:03:34,666 --> 00:03:38,233
{\an1}but also of when I aspired
to learn to play it.

65
00:03:38,266 --> 00:03:41,400
{\an1}And in very short order,
my teacher concluded

66
00:03:41,433 --> 00:03:43,300
{\an1}I didn't have an ear for music

67
00:03:43,333 --> 00:03:46,033
{\an1}and I would never be able
to learn to play the violin.

68
00:03:46,066 --> 00:03:49,933
{\an1}I suspect as a teacher,
she was a complete failure.

69
00:03:49,966 --> 00:03:53,033
{\an1}But I look at this instrument
and I'm reminded of both things.

70
00:03:53,066 --> 00:03:54,866
{\an1}It is one of the great objects

71
00:03:54,900 --> 00:03:57,700
{\an1}of the musical universe
for me...

72
00:03:57,733 --> 00:03:59,900
{\an1}and, boy, I cannot play it.

73
00:03:59,933 --> 00:04:01,633
{\an1}I just don't know how.

74
00:04:01,666 --> 00:04:04,033
But I love to
watch people who do.

75
00:04:04,066 --> 00:04:07,000
{\an1}Most people think leadership
is about having the answers,

76
00:04:07,033 --> 00:04:09,933
{\an1}knowing everything,
telling everybody what to do.

77
00:04:09,966 --> 00:04:12,133
And I...
I don't see it that way.

78
00:04:12,166 --> 00:04:16,400
{\an1}Any leadership job is really
about empowering other people

79
00:04:16,433 --> 00:04:18,533
{\an1}to do what they can do better
than anyone else.

80
00:04:18,566 --> 00:04:20,542
{\an1}And I'm very good at surrounding
myself with people

81
00:04:20,566 --> 00:04:23,433
{\an1}who are a lot more talented
than I am.

82
00:04:23,466 --> 00:04:26,733
{\an7}-Safety concerns mean that Dan
is in fact surrounded

83
00:04:26,766 --> 00:04:28,400
{\an7}only by essential staff.

84
00:04:28,433 --> 00:04:30,433
{\an7}-We gotta go slow, guys.

85
00:04:30,466 --> 00:04:32,400
{\an7}-The heavy lifting team are in,

86
00:04:32,433 --> 00:04:36,666
{\an7}moving a 9th century megalith
leant by a Senegalese museum.

87
00:04:36,700 --> 00:04:38,066
{\an1}-All right, let's stop, guys.

88
00:04:38,100 --> 00:04:40,466
{\an1}-Conservators have to
be present.

89
00:04:40,500 --> 00:04:44,600
{\an7}-It is nice to come into
the museum and do our job.

90
00:04:44,633 --> 00:04:47,566
{\an7}I don't think any of us
will ever forget this year.

91
00:04:47,600 --> 00:04:49,466
{\an1}It's like a mile marker.

92
00:04:49,500 --> 00:04:52,900
{\an1}It's gonna be before and after,
this year.

93
00:04:52,933 --> 00:04:55,366
{\an1}- Watch that corner, Derek.
- When they first started

94
00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:57,833
talking about
the 150th anniversary,

95
00:04:57,866 --> 00:05:00,466
{\an1}I remember doing that quick
calculation in my head,

96
00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:02,800
{\an1}I'm like, "Oh, my God
that's an election year."

97
00:05:02,833 --> 00:05:05,866
{\an1}And I just knew it was
gonna be a crazy year.

98
00:05:05,900 --> 00:05:07,433
{\an1}But I don't think... [ Laughs ]

99
00:05:07,466 --> 00:05:11,766
{\an1}any of us could have
imagined the levels.

100
00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:14,366
{\an1}-Project manager Margaret Choo

101
00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,400
has been working
from home for six months.

102
00:05:17,433 --> 00:05:19,566
{\an1}The avid baker had been asked
to make

103
00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:22,900
{\an1}The Met's official
150th birthday cake,

104
00:05:22,933 --> 00:05:26,600
{\an1}but had to eat it herself
in March and much of April.

105
00:05:26,633 --> 00:05:28,566
{\an1}-I was super excited to make it.

106
00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:31,066
{\an7}I'd had ideas of what kind of
decorations I would do

107
00:05:31,100 --> 00:05:34,000
{\an7}and what kind of flavors
I would do.

108
00:05:34,033 --> 00:05:37,600
{\an1}And when it didn't happen
it was kind of crushing.

109
00:05:37,633 --> 00:05:41,266
{\an1}-Today, she has permission
to return to the museum.

110
00:05:41,300 --> 00:05:43,100
{\an1}-I'm actually really excited,
I get a chance

111
00:05:43,133 --> 00:05:45,300
{\an1}to make something,

112
00:05:45,333 --> 00:05:49,900
{\an1}at least that some people, um,
can enjoy at the museum.

113
00:05:49,933 --> 00:05:52,900
{\an1}This part is my favorite,
decorating the cake.

114
00:05:52,933 --> 00:05:56,733
{\an1}Putting all the things
that really make it like, a wow!

115
00:05:56,766 --> 00:05:58,933
{\an1}Like, a reason to celebrate.

116
00:06:02,566 --> 00:06:05,300
{\an1}I haven't been back
in over six months,

117
00:06:05,333 --> 00:06:07,100
{\an1}which is the longest
I haven't been there

118
00:06:07,133 --> 00:06:09,866
{\an1}in almost 10 years.

119
00:06:09,900 --> 00:06:12,600
{\an1}Seeing the pictures from
the opening day

120
00:06:12,633 --> 00:06:16,866
{\an1}and how totally jubilant
and excited people were,

121
00:06:16,900 --> 00:06:20,333
{\an1}it shocked me to see
how needed it was.

122
00:06:20,366 --> 00:06:23,933
{\an1}I'm feeling pretty nervous.
Just not knowing what to expect.

123
00:06:23,966 --> 00:06:26,733
{\an1}You know, the stickers
on the floor and signs,

124
00:06:26,766 --> 00:06:30,500
{\an1}that just wasn't a part
of the museum when I left it.

125
00:06:30,533 --> 00:06:32,366
Hi, Clyde.
- Hi there!

126
00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,566
Oh, my gosh!

127
00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:36,266
{\an1}-On the Executive Floor,

128
00:06:36,300 --> 00:06:38,800
{\an1}The Met's birthday year
has been memorable,

129
00:06:38,833 --> 00:06:41,633
{\an1}but not in a good way.
- What is inside?

130
00:06:41,666 --> 00:06:44,033
{\an1}-So this is like a vanilla
with raspberry jam.

131
00:06:44,066 --> 00:06:45,233
-Wow!

132
00:06:45,266 --> 00:06:47,400
{\an1}-And the bottom one
is a chocolate...

133
00:06:47,433 --> 00:06:49,400
- Chocolate.
- Espresso whiskey.

134
00:06:49,433 --> 00:06:53,466
{\an1}-Margaret's 30,000 calorie cake
will have a lot of work to do.

135
00:06:53,500 --> 00:06:55,033
{\an1}-You should get a cake, too!

136
00:06:55,066 --> 00:06:57,066
What is this?
Yeah, everyone, yeah.

137
00:06:57,100 --> 00:06:59,533
{\an1}-It's not quite the celebration
Director Max Hollein

138
00:06:59,566 --> 00:07:01,700
{\an1}had planned, but it's a start.

139
00:07:01,733 --> 00:07:02,942
{\an1}-Margaret, this is
quite delicious.

140
00:07:02,966 --> 00:07:04,166
-Thank you.

141
00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:05,733
{\an1}-You're gonna have to
try both of them.

142
00:07:05,766 --> 00:07:07,933
- You have to.
- Oh, my God!

143
00:07:07,966 --> 00:07:12,000
{\an1}-Clyde B. Jones III is the first
to admit that times are hard.

144
00:07:12,033 --> 00:07:14,666
{\an1}It's his job to match sponsors
and money

145
00:07:14,700 --> 00:07:17,100
{\an1}to exhibitions and events.

146
00:07:17,133 --> 00:07:20,433
{\an1}Ken Weine is in charge
of Met Communications.

147
00:07:20,466 --> 00:07:23,066
{\an7}-The numbers have been "meh"
the last couple of weeks.

148
00:07:23,100 --> 00:07:25,133
{\an7}We can only go to about 5,000.

149
00:07:25,166 --> 00:07:28,366
{\an1}And some days during the week
has been as low as 2,800.

150
00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,033
When we reopened,
there was this huge, giant

151
00:07:31,066 --> 00:07:33,700
{\an1}appetite among many.
- Right.

152
00:07:33,733 --> 00:07:36,100
{\an1}-But now that school
is back and whatnot.

153
00:07:36,133 --> 00:07:38,666
{\an1}-Cases rising in the city,

154
00:07:38,700 --> 00:07:41,700
{\an7}people are just a little bit
more reluctant to go out.

155
00:07:41,733 --> 00:07:43,333
{\an7}We can't bring donors back.

156
00:07:43,366 --> 00:07:45,300
{\an8}We can't do...
We can't do stewardship.

157
00:07:45,333 --> 00:07:47,200
{\an1}We can't invite people in.

158
00:07:47,233 --> 00:07:48,376
{\an1}-You're in the relationship
business.

159
00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:50,133
- That's right.
- How do you do relations

160
00:07:50,166 --> 00:07:51,342
in this...
- How do you do relationships

161
00:07:51,366 --> 00:07:52,666
{\an1}when you can't see people.

162
00:07:52,700 --> 00:07:55,500
-Even our staff
of almost 2,000...

163
00:07:55,533 --> 00:07:58,300
{\an1}we asked back, I don't know,
400-ish.

164
00:07:58,333 --> 00:08:00,900
{\an1}To the others we said,
please don't come back.

165
00:08:00,933 --> 00:08:02,476
{\an1}Because the only way
we can open the museum

166
00:08:02,500 --> 00:08:04,733
{\an1}was to be as skinny
a Met as possible.

167
00:08:04,766 --> 00:08:06,333
You know, it's like a wildfire

168
00:08:06,366 --> 00:08:08,766
{\an1}across the cultural landscape
and... and who can,

169
00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:11,033
{\an1}um, survive in the long run

170
00:08:11,066 --> 00:08:13,033
is really,
really gonna be scary.

171
00:08:13,066 --> 00:08:15,209
{\an1}I mean, we're not going anywhere
in terms of improving,

172
00:08:15,233 --> 00:08:18,333
until Europeans
are allowed to fly here.

173
00:08:18,366 --> 00:08:20,000
{\an1}New York City enjoyed
a million visitors

174
00:08:20,033 --> 00:08:22,166
{\an1}from China last year
for the first time ever.

175
00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:24,933
The Met was their
number one destination.

176
00:08:24,966 --> 00:08:27,100
{\an1}How many years is it gonna take
for that, um,

177
00:08:27,133 --> 00:08:28,666
{\an1}group to come back?

178
00:08:28,700 --> 00:08:31,533
A very loyal,
wonderful group of, uh,

179
00:08:31,566 --> 00:08:33,866
{\an1}visitors who spend
a lot of money.

180
00:08:33,900 --> 00:08:37,000
{\an1}-Every single constituency
of the museum

181
00:08:37,033 --> 00:08:39,100
{\an1}is gonna have to come together
to get us back to...

182
00:08:39,133 --> 00:08:41,700
To where we were.

183
00:08:41,733 --> 00:08:43,866
{\an1}It's gonna be the funders,
it's gonna be the visitors,

184
00:08:43,900 --> 00:08:45,542
{\an1}because people have to be
willing to come back

185
00:08:45,566 --> 00:08:48,700
{\an1}into the museum in greater
numbers than they are right now.

186
00:08:48,733 --> 00:08:51,933
{\an1}The community is going to have
to come together in a way to,

187
00:08:51,966 --> 00:08:53,766
to encourage...

188
00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:55,633
{\an1}just civic engagement.

189
00:08:55,666 --> 00:08:59,866
{\an8}♪♪

190
00:08:59,900 --> 00:09:02,300
{\an1}-Income from visitors
keeps the building open

191
00:09:02,333 --> 00:09:04,200
{\an1}and the lights on.

192
00:09:04,233 --> 00:09:07,166
Four blocks long,
five stories high,

193
00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:11,966
{\an1}2.3 million square feet
under 14 acres of roof,

194
00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:13,966
{\an1}six of them of glass.

195
00:09:21,500 --> 00:09:25,500
{\an1}Patrons and foundations
donate huge sums to The Met,

196
00:09:25,533 --> 00:09:29,500
{\an1}but mostly for the acquisition
and care of art.

197
00:09:29,533 --> 00:09:33,533
{\an1}Not many bequests cover
photocopiers, floor polishers,

198
00:09:33,566 --> 00:09:37,800
{\an1}or lifts like this
that retail at around $50,000.

199
00:09:37,833 --> 00:09:39,800
{\an1}-We call it spider rig.

200
00:09:39,833 --> 00:09:42,500
{\an1}-Or this team showing
how many people it takes

201
00:09:42,533 --> 00:09:44,633
{\an1}to screw in a light bulb.

202
00:09:44,666 --> 00:09:47,833
{\an1}-I know it's a joke, but we do
more than changing light bulbs.

203
00:09:47,866 --> 00:09:52,100
{\an7}But we have between 60,000 to
70,000 light fixtures

204
00:09:52,133 --> 00:09:53,633
{\an1}throughout the building.

205
00:09:53,666 --> 00:09:56,800
{\an1}It's a complicated job,
believe it or not.

206
00:09:56,833 --> 00:10:00,633
{\an1}-Clyde Jones has an inspiring
view of the glass roofs.

207
00:10:00,666 --> 00:10:04,433
Being replaced
at a cost of $150 million,

208
00:10:04,466 --> 00:10:08,333
his department finds new donors.

209
00:10:08,366 --> 00:10:13,000
{\an1}-Much of what we do
is a personal connection...

210
00:10:13,033 --> 00:10:16,466
{\an1}having people in the museum,
having them see the objects,

211
00:10:16,500 --> 00:10:18,933
{\an1}having them engage
with the exhibitions.

212
00:10:18,966 --> 00:10:23,033
{\an1}We have been able to engage
with folks in small groups.

213
00:10:23,066 --> 00:10:25,400
{\an1}But it's a whole lot
more difficult

214
00:10:25,433 --> 00:10:29,766
{\an1}to do a hundred engagements

215
00:10:29,800 --> 00:10:31,566
with two people,

216
00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:36,333
{\an1}than it is to do one engagement
with 200 people

217
00:10:36,366 --> 00:10:39,966
{\an1}It's through the generosity
of individuals and corporations

218
00:10:40,000 --> 00:10:43,566
{\an1}and foundations that
we're able to be here at all.

219
00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,966
{\an1}-The imminent remodeling
of the Arts of Africa, Oceania,

220
00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:49,266
{\an1}and Ancient Americas galleries,

221
00:10:49,300 --> 00:10:52,000
required donors
working together.

222
00:10:52,033 --> 00:10:55,866
{\an1}-There are structural issues
with these windows.

223
00:10:55,900 --> 00:11:00,933
{\an1}They're the same as there are in
the Temple of Dendur...

224
00:11:00,966 --> 00:11:03,666
{\an1}but that's north facing
and this is south facing.

225
00:11:03,700 --> 00:11:06,100
{\an1}There are objects in here

226
00:11:06,133 --> 00:11:10,466
that cannot be in
the direct southern sun.

227
00:11:10,500 --> 00:11:13,533
{\an1}So these windows have had
to be shaded

228
00:11:13,566 --> 00:11:15,366
{\an1}which is really unfortunate.

229
00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,866
{\an1}It's dark and it's enclosed.

230
00:11:17,900 --> 00:11:20,833
{\an1}I mean, that sort of points
to deepest, darkest Africa,

231
00:11:20,866 --> 00:11:23,733
{\an1}when in fact those cultures
are bright,

232
00:11:23,766 --> 00:11:26,166
and they're open,
and they're sunny,

233
00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:30,000
{\an8}and the space
should reflect that.

234
00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:35,700
{\an7}And I've gotta find the money
to do it. Right, exactly.

235
00:11:35,733 --> 00:11:37,909
{\an1}People said, "Oh, you're not
gonna be able to raise money

236
00:11:37,933 --> 00:11:40,700
{\an1}for Arts of Africa,
Oceania and the Americas.

237
00:11:40,733 --> 00:11:43,200
{\an1}There's no... no...
There are no young people

238
00:11:43,233 --> 00:11:45,100
{\an1}who are interested in that."

239
00:11:45,133 --> 00:11:48,200
{\an1}But we found that that was
in fact not the case.

240
00:11:48,233 --> 00:11:52,133
{\an1}We've raised about 90%
of the money before COVID.

241
00:11:52,166 --> 00:11:57,166
{\an1}There are a lot of people
who care about the many cultures

242
00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,266
{\an1}that are represented
in these galleries.

243
00:12:00,300 --> 00:12:03,366
{\an1}We've got to figure out
what people are passionate about

244
00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:08,133
{\an1}and help them find that passion
here in the walls of The Met.

245
00:12:08,166 --> 00:12:11,433
{\an1}There are still collectors
in the vein

246
00:12:11,466 --> 00:12:13,966
{\an1}of the Rockefellers
and the Havemeyers.

247
00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,566
{\an1}But the regular member,

248
00:12:17,600 --> 00:12:22,166
{\an1}the person who makes
a gift of $25 to the museum

249
00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:24,066
{\an1}because they had a great time,

250
00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:26,066
those people are
just as important.

251
00:12:26,100 --> 00:12:30,866
{\an8}♪♪

252
00:12:30,900 --> 00:12:34,766
{\an1}-Many senior staff salaries
are paid for by donor bequests.

253
00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:37,633
{\an1}Head of Paintings Conservation,
Michael Gallagher,

254
00:12:37,666 --> 00:12:39,500
is one of them.

255
00:12:39,533 --> 00:12:41,133
{\an1}After months at home,

256
00:12:41,166 --> 00:12:43,366
{\an1}he has permission to return
to a passion project

257
00:12:43,400 --> 00:12:46,300
he had to abandon in March 2020.

258
00:12:46,333 --> 00:12:49,500
{\an1}-My first day back
and I completely choked up.

259
00:12:49,533 --> 00:12:53,166
{\an1}To be back in here,
to be handling an object again,

260
00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,300
{\an7}I had a wave of, "Oh, my God,

261
00:12:56,333 --> 00:12:58,400
{\an8}I've forgotten
how much I love this.

262
00:12:58,433 --> 00:13:00,533
{\an1}What an incredible privilege
it is."

263
00:13:00,566 --> 00:13:02,566
{\an1}This was a new discovery,

264
00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,000
{\an1}the Bohemian Picture
by the master of Vyssí Brod.

265
00:13:06,033 --> 00:13:09,133
{\an1}When I saw this picture
in Paris,

266
00:13:09,166 --> 00:13:12,466
{\an1}the background was entirely
over-painted.

267
00:13:12,500 --> 00:13:14,300
{\an1}But there was a suggestion

268
00:13:14,333 --> 00:13:17,033
{\an1}of an intact original
background underneath.

269
00:13:17,066 --> 00:13:19,400
{\an1}So we took that risk.

270
00:13:19,433 --> 00:13:21,366
{\an1}In fact the Chair of
the Acquisitions Committee

271
00:13:21,400 --> 00:13:24,366
{\an1}said, "On a scale of one to 10,

272
00:13:24,400 --> 00:13:27,000
how sure are you,
you can get that over-paint off

273
00:13:27,033 --> 00:13:29,266
{\an1}and that the original's intact
underneath?"

274
00:13:29,300 --> 00:13:31,866
{\an1}And for no good reason
I said a nine.

275
00:13:31,900 --> 00:13:34,600
{\an1}Um, and... [ Laughs ]

276
00:13:34,633 --> 00:13:37,400
{\an1}Could have been... could have
been the end of things.

277
00:13:37,433 --> 00:13:39,500
{\an1}-The painted panel
was priceless.

278
00:13:39,533 --> 00:13:42,866
{\an1}One slip, and The Met could have
an interesting plank.

279
00:13:42,900 --> 00:13:44,576
{\an1}-The removal of the over-paint
all takes place

280
00:13:44,600 --> 00:13:46,233
{\an1}under the microscope.

281
00:13:46,266 --> 00:13:49,466
{\an1}The pigment's imbibed a lot
of varnish over the years.

282
00:13:49,500 --> 00:13:51,933
{\an1}You can see the color change
where there's some varnish

283
00:13:51,966 --> 00:13:53,866
{\an1}been taken off here,

284
00:13:53,900 --> 00:13:56,033
{\an1}and where it is still on here.

285
00:13:56,066 --> 00:13:57,500
The color palette
has been looked...

286
00:13:57,533 --> 00:13:58,966
{\an1}a sort of shock to everyone.

287
00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:01,333
{\an1}This painting was from
the middle of the 14th century

288
00:14:01,366 --> 00:14:03,200
{\an1}so it's an incredible survivor.

289
00:14:03,233 --> 00:14:05,700
I'm saving removing the varnish

290
00:14:05,733 --> 00:14:08,700
{\an1}from the central figure group
till the end.

291
00:14:08,733 --> 00:14:11,200
{\an1}That will be like dessert, um...
[ Laughs ]

292
00:14:11,233 --> 00:14:14,700
because it...
It'll be straightforward.

293
00:14:14,733 --> 00:14:19,333
{\an1}The varnish on the very top
is probably a late 19th century,

294
00:14:19,366 --> 00:14:21,233
{\an1}early 20th century.

295
00:14:21,266 --> 00:14:24,033
{\an1}The over-paint is quite
a bit older than that.

296
00:14:24,066 --> 00:14:26,666
{\an1}One of the frustrations
of getting older in conservation

297
00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:29,966
{\an1}is just as you feel that
your judgment is getting better

298
00:14:30,000 --> 00:14:31,733
{\an1}is when your eyesight
starts to go.

299
00:14:31,766 --> 00:14:34,500
[ Laughs ]

300
00:14:34,533 --> 00:14:36,866
{\an1}-COVID's made economy essential,

301
00:14:36,900 --> 00:14:40,000
{\an1}but following hunches
is part of the job.

302
00:14:40,033 --> 00:14:42,433
{\an1}Where does Michael stand now?

303
00:14:42,466 --> 00:14:45,400
{\an1}-Right now there is no question
we would not be

304
00:14:45,433 --> 00:14:47,866
probably pursuing
the acquisition.

305
00:14:47,900 --> 00:14:49,766
{\an1}I don't think I could

306
00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:52,900
responsibly
take that risk again.

307
00:14:52,933 --> 00:14:56,133
{\an8}♪♪

308
00:14:56,166 --> 00:14:58,900
{\an1}-A few days later,
Head of European Paintings,

309
00:14:58,933 --> 00:15:01,300
{\an1}Keith Christiansen, arrives.

310
00:15:01,333 --> 00:15:04,500
Soon to retire,
he's come to revel.

311
00:15:04,533 --> 00:15:06,766
{\an7}-It's really amazing.

312
00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:09,000
{\an1}I think people will be bowled
over by this.

313
00:15:09,033 --> 00:15:12,766
{\an1}It's the color, the brilliance
of this background.

314
00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:14,800
{\an1}It's just extraordinary...
I don't think

315
00:15:14,833 --> 00:15:17,033
{\an1}I will ever see this rarity

316
00:15:17,066 --> 00:15:19,866
{\an1}and beauty on the market again.

317
00:15:22,700 --> 00:15:24,300
{\an8}-Yeah.
This will have been

318
00:15:24,333 --> 00:15:26,700
{\an1}a very inexpensive picture
for what it is.

319
00:15:26,733 --> 00:15:29,466
{\an1}It was about $6 million,
yeah, yeah.

320
00:15:29,500 --> 00:15:33,200
{\an1}Which sounds like... which...
Which sounds like a lot.

321
00:15:33,233 --> 00:15:36,400
{\an1}But for something of this rarity
and beauty

322
00:15:36,433 --> 00:15:38,366
{\an1}it's actually not that much.

323
00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:40,376
{\an1}I can tell you right now there
are a number of collectors

324
00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:42,666
who would jump
at this right now.

325
00:15:42,700 --> 00:15:44,433
{\an1}And we're not buying
for the short term,

326
00:15:44,466 --> 00:15:47,133
{\an1}we're buying for the long term.

327
00:15:47,166 --> 00:15:49,600
And...

328
00:15:49,633 --> 00:15:51,533
{\an1}the next generation
will not even think

329
00:15:51,566 --> 00:15:53,000
{\an1}about what it was paid.

330
00:15:53,033 --> 00:15:55,033
{\an1}All they will be pleased
is that it's here

331
00:15:55,066 --> 00:15:56,766
{\an1}and that they can see it.

332
00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,733
{\an1}The obligation of a great museum
is the movement of things

333
00:15:59,766 --> 00:16:03,200
{\an1}from the private sphere
into the public sphere.

334
00:16:03,233 --> 00:16:04,900
{\an1}There's not a visitor
who doesn't go

335
00:16:04,933 --> 00:16:06,766
{\an1}into the Van Gogh Gallery

336
00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:10,200
and is grateful
for the occasion of seeing them.

337
00:16:10,233 --> 00:16:12,900
{\an1}And who cares that
this museum spent

338
00:16:12,933 --> 00:16:15,933
{\an1}$60 million for the landscape
with cypresses?!

339
00:16:15,966 --> 00:16:18,266
{\an1}All they know is that standing
in front of it is something

340
00:16:18,300 --> 00:16:21,100
{\an1}that they will carry with them
for the rest of their lives.

341
00:16:21,133 --> 00:16:23,233
{\an1}However, following COVID

342
00:16:23,266 --> 00:16:25,866
{\an1}and the financial...
Really... disaster

343
00:16:25,900 --> 00:16:27,700
{\an1}that has been part of it,

344
00:16:27,733 --> 00:16:29,966
{\an1}and with all the staff
cuts that we've had,

345
00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:32,600
{\an1}it would be very difficult
to justify

346
00:16:32,633 --> 00:16:34,333
{\an1}spending that kind of money.

347
00:16:34,366 --> 00:16:37,066
{\an1}However, a generation later
they would look back

348
00:16:37,100 --> 00:16:38,966
{\an1}and say, "Gee, that was a shame
that the museum

349
00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,500
{\an1}didn't have the foresight
to do this."

350
00:16:41,533 --> 00:16:43,400
{\an1}You know, I'm glad
I'm not in that position.

351
00:16:43,433 --> 00:16:46,233
{\an1}That's the Director's job,

352
00:16:46,266 --> 00:16:50,133
{\an1}to juggle long term mission

353
00:16:50,166 --> 00:16:55,666
{\an1}with what we're doing
in a real crisis right now.

354
00:16:55,700 --> 00:16:59,433
{\an1}-The cash crisis has led
to a freeze on acquisitions.

355
00:16:59,466 --> 00:17:03,566
{\an7}But just conserving the museum's
existing collections takes time,

356
00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,066
{\an7}and time is money.

357
00:17:06,100 --> 00:17:08,000
{\an7}For now, in the textile labs,

358
00:17:08,033 --> 00:17:11,833
{\an7}Anna Szalecki is still able
to take her time.

359
00:17:11,866 --> 00:17:14,733
{\an1}-This is special because
this is 14th century.

360
00:17:14,766 --> 00:17:18,566
{\an1}So this is part of really
huge history.

361
00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:23,133
{\an7}Bringing back this tapestry
to the beauty,

362
00:17:23,166 --> 00:17:26,933
I forget my neck
is hurts or eyes hurt.

363
00:17:26,966 --> 00:17:30,700
{\an1}I work so many years
on the conservation field,

364
00:17:30,733 --> 00:17:34,433
{\an1}but when I finish my career
it will be something,

365
00:17:34,466 --> 00:17:37,400
{\an1}something unique done.

366
00:17:37,433 --> 00:17:40,100
{\an1}For me this piece is not...
Not very big

367
00:17:40,133 --> 00:17:42,666
for castle, this is small size.

368
00:17:42,700 --> 00:17:48,366
{\an1}I really work on carpets
and tapestries, huge tapestries.

369
00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:51,466
{\an1}To finish this one,
two years it will be done.

370
00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:54,066
{\an1}I do fast as, as much as I can.

371
00:17:54,100 --> 00:17:59,433
{\an1}But because this is unique,
I have to do in a very good way.

372
00:17:59,466 --> 00:18:02,933
{\an1}It's not like the museum
has exhibition

373
00:18:02,966 --> 00:18:06,900
{\an1}and put back and spend this
20 years in storage,

374
00:18:06,933 --> 00:18:10,733
{\an1}and hang only one year
or two years.

375
00:18:10,766 --> 00:18:15,100
But this one,
it will hang 100 years.

376
00:18:15,133 --> 00:18:18,100
-Department Head
Dr. Janina Poskrobko

377
00:18:18,133 --> 00:18:20,966
has a large,
highly trained team.

378
00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:25,833
{\an1}She knows personnel and projects
could be in jeopardy.

379
00:18:25,866 --> 00:18:28,833
{\an7}-We needed a lot of time
for research, for study,

380
00:18:28,866 --> 00:18:33,033
{\an7}and more and more,
museum's funds being restricted.

381
00:18:33,066 --> 00:18:36,166
{\an1}I've never told Anna
this but, uh,

382
00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:41,700
{\an1}I expected this project would
have not been funded for long.

383
00:18:41,733 --> 00:18:44,833
{\an1}-A week later, at home
on Staten Island,

384
00:18:44,866 --> 00:18:49,166
{\an1}Janina is up early
to say her prayers.

385
00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:51,933
Today the Head of
Textile Conservation

386
00:18:51,966 --> 00:18:56,833
{\an1}is catching an early ferry
for Manhattan.

387
00:18:56,866 --> 00:19:00,400
{\an1}Professor Walter Denny
is coming for breakfast.

388
00:19:00,433 --> 00:19:04,300
{\an1}He heads a group of
textile friends and supporters.

389
00:19:04,333 --> 00:19:06,466
{\an1}-These are the people who are
supposed to help us,

390
00:19:06,500 --> 00:19:08,966
{\an1}maybe not that they will
donate money to us,

391
00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:13,166
{\an1}but maybe they will be
able to bring us donors.

392
00:19:13,200 --> 00:19:17,300
{\an1}-Janina hopes Walter can help
her with her fundraising drive.

393
00:19:17,333 --> 00:19:20,633
{\an1}-Walter probably will be hungry
because his drive

394
00:19:20,666 --> 00:19:22,866
{\an1}from Massachusetts is very long.

395
00:19:22,900 --> 00:19:26,233
{\an1}This is Polish sausage
called Kabanosy.

396
00:19:26,266 --> 00:19:32,000
{\an1}Tomatoes and dried apples
and Polish bread and...

397
00:19:32,033 --> 00:19:34,900
{\an1}Polish peach cake.

398
00:19:34,933 --> 00:19:38,733
{\an1}Walter is a friend.
He is a fantastic scholar.

399
00:19:38,766 --> 00:19:40,800
-The Professor is
a frequent visitor

400
00:19:40,833 --> 00:19:43,133
{\an1}but somehow remains trim.

401
00:19:43,166 --> 00:19:46,300
He's really here
for the love of textiles.

402
00:19:46,333 --> 00:19:49,400
{\an1}-In 2007, when I came down here
for the first time,

403
00:19:49,433 --> 00:19:51,033
{\an1}I stumbled into one of

404
00:19:51,066 --> 00:19:54,066
{\an1}the most marvelous
experiences of my life.

405
00:19:54,100 --> 00:19:56,233
-This is one of
the priority projects,

406
00:19:56,266 --> 00:19:58,200
{\an7}the King Arthur Tapestry.

407
00:19:58,233 --> 00:20:00,600
{\an7}-And one of the most famous
objects in The Met.

408
00:20:00,633 --> 00:20:02,633
{\an1}-Would you like to see
the Barberini coat?

409
00:20:02,666 --> 00:20:04,333
-Sure.

410
00:20:04,366 --> 00:20:06,733
-Janina unveils
another treasure.

411
00:20:06,766 --> 00:20:09,500
{\an1}Might Walter elicit donations
for this project

412
00:20:09,533 --> 00:20:11,933
{\an1}from other fabric fanciers?

413
00:20:11,966 --> 00:20:14,366
{\an7}-We're just letting it
rest quietly so that

414
00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,300
{\an7}we can get into the case

415
00:20:16,333 --> 00:20:18,533
{\an7}and it's pretty amazing
actually.

416
00:20:18,566 --> 00:20:20,709
{\an1}-And it's got the busy little
bees of the Barberini family

417
00:20:20,733 --> 00:20:22,766
right down there.

418
00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:26,766
{\an1}-It became very clear that
in this very difficult time

419
00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:31,500
it is really my role increasing,

420
00:20:31,533 --> 00:20:35,333
{\an1}in terms of... [ Laughs ]
finances.

421
00:20:35,366 --> 00:20:37,266
{\an1}-It's an amazing object.

422
00:20:37,300 --> 00:20:40,433
{\an1}And I'm so glad that it's
finally gonna go out on display.

423
00:20:40,466 --> 00:20:43,866
{\an1}-The loveliness of the cape
is enveloping Walter,

424
00:20:43,900 --> 00:20:46,166
{\an1}when Janina makes her move.

425
00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,000
{\an1}-So we had this great
Ottoman robe

426
00:20:49,033 --> 00:20:50,566
{\an1}from 18th century.
- Yeah.

427
00:20:50,600 --> 00:20:53,466
-But it required
a lot of conservation.

428
00:20:53,500 --> 00:20:56,500
{\an1}But it's complete piece
so we can think about it.

429
00:20:56,533 --> 00:20:59,533
{\an1}-As long as someone would
come up with the funds to do it.

430
00:20:59,566 --> 00:21:02,200
{\an1}-Janina's given it
her best shot.

431
00:21:02,233 --> 00:21:04,766
{\an1}Walter knew she had to ask.

432
00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,166
{\an1}-From the point of view
of someone who has...

433
00:21:07,200 --> 00:21:09,433
{\an1}very little in the way of money
to give,

434
00:21:09,466 --> 00:21:11,466
but he gives
everything that he can,

435
00:21:11,500 --> 00:21:13,300
{\an1}what binds people together

436
00:21:13,333 --> 00:21:15,000
{\an1}and the relationship
between the museum

437
00:21:15,033 --> 00:21:16,966
and its public,
is in fact enthusiasm,

438
00:21:17,000 --> 00:21:19,366
{\an1}love, excitement, and passion.

439
00:21:19,400 --> 00:21:21,566
{\an1}This is a passion.

440
00:21:21,600 --> 00:21:24,333
{\an1}Not only that, the nice thing
about this passion is it's not

441
00:21:24,366 --> 00:21:26,966
{\an1}quite as infectious as COVID,
but if you're eloquent enough

442
00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:29,800
you can infect
other people with it.

443
00:21:29,833 --> 00:21:32,900
{\an8}♪♪

444
00:21:32,933 --> 00:21:34,966
{\an1}-So I was wondering if you could
speak a little bit

445
00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,133
to how you work
inter-departmentally.

446
00:21:38,166 --> 00:21:40,200
{\an1}-The Met is working to ignite
the passion

447
00:21:40,233 --> 00:21:44,600
{\an1}in the next generation
by recruiting interns.

448
00:21:44,633 --> 00:21:48,666
{\an1}120 young people promise
to give the museum

449
00:21:48,700 --> 00:21:52,266
{\an1}the greatest gift of all...
A future.

450
00:21:52,300 --> 00:21:54,200
{\an1}-I was curious about
the collaborations

451
00:21:54,233 --> 00:21:56,800
{\an1}between paintings conservation
at The Met with...

452
00:21:56,833 --> 00:21:58,833
{\an1}-The Head of Education
is watching

453
00:21:58,866 --> 00:22:00,933
{\an1}an online mentoring session.

454
00:22:00,966 --> 00:22:05,133
{\an1}The Met is committed to creating
a more diverse workforce.

455
00:22:05,166 --> 00:22:09,200
{\an1}A recent $5 million bequest
provides each intern

456
00:22:09,233 --> 00:22:10,866
with a salary.

457
00:22:10,900 --> 00:22:12,500
{\an7}-The intern program

458
00:22:12,533 --> 00:22:14,666
{\an7}immediately opens up
and diversifies.

459
00:22:14,700 --> 00:22:16,633
{\an7}And by diversity, I don't
just mean, you know,

460
00:22:16,666 --> 00:22:19,866
{\an1}differences you can see,
but in points of view.

461
00:22:19,900 --> 00:22:22,633
{\an1}The idea is to bring in
young scholars

462
00:22:22,666 --> 00:22:24,933
{\an1}with different ways
of seeing the world.

463
00:22:24,966 --> 00:22:27,500
{\an1}Begin there, and as they do
their research

464
00:22:27,533 --> 00:22:28,900
and they move on
in their careers

465
00:22:28,933 --> 00:22:30,266
they will ask
different questions.

466
00:22:30,300 --> 00:22:32,633
{\an1}They would question
the established canons.

467
00:22:32,666 --> 00:22:34,800
{\an1}And it would shift the field
more or less

468
00:22:34,833 --> 00:22:37,166
{\an1}from the inside out.

469
00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,533
{\an1}I think it can start happening
as early as five years,

470
00:22:39,566 --> 00:22:41,833
{\an1}as these people graduate
from school, you know,

471
00:22:41,866 --> 00:22:44,800
{\an1}and beginning to get into entry
level positions and going forth.

472
00:22:44,833 --> 00:22:47,833
{\an1}And, you know, we've just did
the first 150 years.

473
00:22:47,866 --> 00:22:52,833
{\an1}I would hope the next 150 years
will be completely different.

474
00:22:52,866 --> 00:22:55,400
-A Californian
of Vietnamese descent,

475
00:22:55,433 --> 00:22:59,166
{\an1}Kevin Pham is an intern
with the Medieval Department.

476
00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,233
{\an1}-This is so incredible.

477
00:23:01,266 --> 00:23:03,933
{\an1}-And this is your first time
the Cloisters, right?

478
00:23:03,966 --> 00:23:06,800
{\an1}-The Met Cloisters
is his official base,

479
00:23:06,833 --> 00:23:09,600
{\an1}but COVID meant he could never
visit in person...

480
00:23:09,633 --> 00:23:13,366
Until today.

481
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:14,933
{\an1}<i>-...in the space...</i>

482
00:23:14,966 --> 00:23:17,400
{\an1}-He's bought co-intern
Shania Johnson with him...

483
00:23:17,433 --> 00:23:19,033
On the phone.

484
00:23:19,066 --> 00:23:22,433
{\an1}-One of my professors back home
told me about the internship,

485
00:23:22,466 --> 00:23:26,700
{\an1}and how could I pass up
an opportunity like The Met?

486
00:23:28,366 --> 00:23:31,566
{\an1}-The Met Cloisters is a network
of medieval buildings,

487
00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:34,800
{\an1}home to a collection of objects
that, until now,

488
00:23:34,833 --> 00:23:38,600
the interns have
only experienced virtually.

489
00:23:38,633 --> 00:23:41,000
<i>-Oh, my, those vaulted ceilings!</i>

490
00:23:41,033 --> 00:23:43,000
-I know, right?

491
00:23:43,033 --> 00:23:45,533
{\an1}-Being paid to study
makes interning possible

492
00:23:45,566 --> 00:23:48,000
{\an1}for students from communities
and backgrounds

493
00:23:48,033 --> 00:23:51,666
under-represented
in The Met's staff lists.

494
00:23:51,700 --> 00:23:54,133
{\an1}-My family, my parents,
my grandparents,

495
00:23:54,166 --> 00:23:57,766
{\an1}they never had the opportunities
to go to museums,

496
00:23:57,800 --> 00:23:59,433
to enjoy artwork,

497
00:23:59,466 --> 00:24:01,866
{\an7}to understand art.

498
00:24:01,900 --> 00:24:03,966
{\an7}And that's something
that I'm fighting for...

499
00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,600
{\an1}that a lot of my peers
are fighting for, too.

500
00:24:06,633 --> 00:24:08,800
We're fighting
to be in these places,

501
00:24:08,833 --> 00:24:11,233
{\an1}not just as guests
admiring the artwork,

502
00:24:11,266 --> 00:24:13,833
but doing this
kind of work as well.

503
00:24:13,866 --> 00:24:15,700
I still love
the little detail of

504
00:24:15,733 --> 00:24:19,166
{\an1}baby Jesus tugging on the first
King's, like,

505
00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:20,900
hair like that.

506
00:24:20,933 --> 00:24:22,800
{\an1}<i>- It froze a little bit.
- Oh, whoops!</i>

507
00:24:22,833 --> 00:24:24,700
{\an1}Hello, hello, hello?

508
00:24:24,733 --> 00:24:28,366
{\an1}-Kevin's main mission today
is to see a 16th century book

509
00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:31,700
{\an1}of flower paintings
he's marveled at online.

510
00:24:31,733 --> 00:24:34,100
{\an8}-Hi, Shania.<i> 
-Hello.</i>

511
00:24:34,133 --> 00:24:36,000
{\an7}-I'm so glad you can be here
to see this.

512
00:24:36,033 --> 00:24:40,566
{\an1}So what we're looking at is
a book of flower illustrations

513
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,400
{\an7}that dates to the early 1500s.

514
00:24:43,433 --> 00:24:47,033
{\an7}So we're looking at a roughly
500-year-old book here.

515
00:24:47,066 --> 00:24:50,566
{\an1}-And every single flower
depicted, we grow...

516
00:24:50,600 --> 00:24:52,566
- Absolutely.
- In the gardens here.

517
00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:54,866
{\an1}<i>-That was actually gonna be
my question.</i>

518
00:24:54,900 --> 00:24:56,700
<i>I'm glad to know
that that's happening.</i>

519
00:24:56,733 --> 00:24:58,900
{\an1}-Yeah, this manuscript provides
a bridge between,

520
00:24:58,933 --> 00:25:00,900
{\an1}you know, the works of art
that we have on display

521
00:25:00,933 --> 00:25:04,633
{\an1}and the natural works of art
that we have outside.

522
00:25:04,666 --> 00:25:07,900
{\an8}♪♪

523
00:25:07,933 --> 00:25:09,800
-I really don't
know what to say!

524
00:25:09,833 --> 00:25:11,633
[ Laughs ]
I'm just so overwhelmed

525
00:25:11,666 --> 00:25:14,333
{\an1}by the beauty of all of it.

526
00:25:14,366 --> 00:25:16,333
{\an1}This opportunity is just once
in a lifetime,

527
00:25:16,366 --> 00:25:18,800
to be able
to work on these masterpieces

528
00:25:18,833 --> 00:25:22,666
{\an1}and to be here in person now
to see them as well.

529
00:25:22,700 --> 00:25:25,266
{\an1}I feel like I'm just like
on the edge of tears constantly,

530
00:25:25,300 --> 00:25:27,000
{\an1}just looking at all of this.

531
00:25:27,033 --> 00:25:31,233
{\an1}You really can't replicate
this experience online at all.

532
00:25:31,266 --> 00:25:33,733
{\an1}And The Met certainly has
a lot of work to do,

533
00:25:33,766 --> 00:25:35,900
{\an1}but I'm here and I'm an intern,

534
00:25:35,933 --> 00:25:37,766
{\an1}that's definitely something.

535
00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:40,066
{\an1}And I'm not the only one
as well.

536
00:25:40,100 --> 00:25:41,600
{\an1}And we're here because
we love art,

537
00:25:41,633 --> 00:25:44,366
{\an1}and that shouldn't be
limited to, you know,

538
00:25:44,400 --> 00:25:46,866
{\an1}rich old white men with beards.
[ Laughs ]

539
00:25:46,900 --> 00:25:51,333
{\an1}It should be for everyone.

540
00:25:51,366 --> 00:25:52,933
{\an1}-From the day it opened,

541
00:25:52,966 --> 00:25:55,133
{\an1}The Met has relied
on philanthropy...

542
00:25:55,166 --> 00:25:58,900
Gifts of money
and precious objects.

543
00:25:58,933 --> 00:26:03,833
{\an7}In 2019 the Musical Instruments
Department exhibition,

544
00:26:03,866 --> 00:26:07,633
{\an8}"Play It Loud,"
featured 130 instruments,

545
00:26:07,666 --> 00:26:10,233
{\an8}many of them
lent by rock legends.

546
00:26:10,266 --> 00:26:14,266
{\an7}Guitarist Steve Miller
sent his unique Gibson Les Paul.

547
00:26:14,300 --> 00:26:20,866
{\an8}♪♪

548
00:26:20,900 --> 00:26:22,366
-Yeah!

549
00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:24,900
{\an8}Jayson.
- Hey, Steve!

550
00:26:24,933 --> 00:26:28,000
{\an8}- How are ya?
- I'm good, we can't see you yet.

551
00:26:28,033 --> 00:26:30,700
{\an1}-Miller has been a key donor
to The Met for years.

552
00:26:30,733 --> 00:26:33,700
{\an1}He knows that, right now,
the museum needs friends

553
00:26:33,733 --> 00:26:35,733
to rally round.

554
00:26:35,766 --> 00:26:37,700
{\an1}-That's been 10 years now, so...

555
00:26:37,733 --> 00:26:41,333
{\an8}- 2011, yeah.
- Yeah, yeah.

556
00:26:41,366 --> 00:26:43,433
{\an8}-And is it...
Gosh, we've done three shows

557
00:26:43,466 --> 00:26:46,200
{\an1}and it's just been fantastic.

558
00:26:46,233 --> 00:26:51,466
{\an1}To actually have an input
is really gratifying,

559
00:26:51,500 --> 00:26:55,666
{\an1}and it's so important
for just our culture,

560
00:26:55,700 --> 00:26:58,433
for all of us
to support our museums.

561
00:26:58,466 --> 00:27:00,166
{\an1}We're fortunate that we live
in a time

562
00:27:00,200 --> 00:27:02,533
{\an1}when we have these institutions.

563
00:27:02,566 --> 00:27:04,766
{\an1}-For now he can't enter
the museum,

564
00:27:04,800 --> 00:27:07,866
but Miller calls,
asking curator Jayson Dobney

565
00:27:07,900 --> 00:27:11,433
to help him edit
his massive guitar collection.

566
00:27:11,466 --> 00:27:14,100
{\an1}-How many guitars do you have?

567
00:27:14,133 --> 00:27:16,333
{\an1}-Well, I have I think

568
00:27:16,366 --> 00:27:20,300
405 instruments
in my collection.

569
00:27:20,333 --> 00:27:23,366
And, well,
now I have to say 403,

570
00:27:23,400 --> 00:27:26,233
{\an1}because I've given you
two of them,

571
00:27:26,266 --> 00:27:28,600
{\an1}the two best ones.
- Two magnificent ones.

572
00:27:28,633 --> 00:27:30,500
{\an1}-The truth of the matter is,

573
00:27:30,533 --> 00:27:35,000
{\an1}nobody can really take care
of 403 guitars.

574
00:27:35,033 --> 00:27:37,366
{\an1}I have my first guitar,
I still have three of 'em

575
00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:39,166
{\an1}that I play all the time.

576
00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:43,566
{\an1}So I'm totally happy

577
00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:46,533
{\an1}making the collection accessible
to other people,

578
00:27:46,566 --> 00:27:48,766
{\an1}and to have other people
play the instruments.

579
00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:51,866
{\an1}So that they don't just
sit there in a glass box.

580
00:27:51,900 --> 00:27:54,366
{\an1}-The guitar celebrates
a great maker

581
00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:56,700
{\an1}and a special relationship.

582
00:27:56,733 --> 00:27:58,866
{\an1}-My godfather was Les Paul,

583
00:27:58,900 --> 00:28:02,533
{\an1}and I was around Les
when I was...

584
00:28:02,566 --> 00:28:05,166
{\an1}started from the time I was like
5 years old.

585
00:28:05,200 --> 00:28:06,933
So...

586
00:28:06,966 --> 00:28:09,366
{\an1}I play electric guitar
like he did.

587
00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:11,666
{\an1}Les Paul developed
a lot of the tools

588
00:28:11,700 --> 00:28:14,866
{\an1}that we use in recording,
and besides all that,

589
00:28:14,900 --> 00:28:18,200
{\an1}he was one of the greatest
guitar players in the world!

590
00:28:18,233 --> 00:28:20,666
{\an1}For me it's a great,
great opportunity

591
00:28:20,700 --> 00:28:22,833
{\an1}to be useful, really.

592
00:28:22,866 --> 00:28:25,433
So what the...
And nothing could be

593
00:28:25,466 --> 00:28:27,500
{\an1}better than that, so...
- Gosh, Steve,

594
00:28:27,533 --> 00:28:29,800
{\an1}thank you so much.

595
00:28:29,833 --> 00:28:31,700
{\an1}-The Les Paul will join
the museum's

596
00:28:31,733 --> 00:28:35,133
{\an1}permanent collection
of important guitars.

597
00:28:35,166 --> 00:28:37,433
Exhibitions like "Play It Loud"

598
00:28:37,466 --> 00:28:39,566
{\an1}surprise those who think
The Met's just

599
00:28:39,600 --> 00:28:42,900
{\an1}marble and old masters.

600
00:28:42,933 --> 00:28:46,233
{\an1}The Costume Institute
doesn't do dowdy.

601
00:28:46,266 --> 00:28:50,366
{\an1}Their annual exhibition
is always an extravaganza.

602
00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:51,933
{\an1}Fashionably on time,

603
00:28:51,966 --> 00:28:53,333
{\an1}the department is preparing

604
00:28:53,366 --> 00:28:56,533
{\an1}their anniversary year
blockbuster show.

605
00:28:56,566 --> 00:28:58,400
{\an7}-These are the biggest
exhibitions that we do

606
00:28:58,433 --> 00:28:59,900
{\an7}at The Met, without a doubt.

607
00:28:59,933 --> 00:29:01,533
{\an1}Broadway theater is probably

608
00:29:01,566 --> 00:29:05,033
{\an1}the closest to this kind
of level of production.

609
00:29:05,066 --> 00:29:07,500
- "About Time"
needs to draw crowds

610
00:29:07,533 --> 00:29:09,633
{\an1}and make a big statement...

611
00:29:09,666 --> 00:29:11,466
{\an1}The Met's still got it.

612
00:29:11,500 --> 00:29:13,200
{\an1}-It's a massive undertaking.

613
00:29:13,233 --> 00:29:15,666
{\an1}Of course this was conceived of
before everything happened,

614
00:29:15,700 --> 00:29:17,533
{\an1}and actually completely built.

615
00:29:17,566 --> 00:29:20,833
{\an1}And it had to sit in
the production company warehouse

616
00:29:20,866 --> 00:29:23,333
for three months
until we could bring them in.

617
00:29:23,366 --> 00:29:25,433
-This is the type
of show visitors

618
00:29:25,466 --> 00:29:28,166
{\an1}expect from The Met,
from a time before COVID

619
00:29:28,200 --> 00:29:32,300
when the place
was awash with cash.

620
00:29:32,333 --> 00:29:35,933
Much of the money
came from the 2019 Met Ball,

621
00:29:35,966 --> 00:29:38,066
{\an1}the gala event that every year

622
00:29:38,100 --> 00:29:41,733
{\an1}funds the museum's
Costume Institute.

623
00:29:41,766 --> 00:29:45,433
{\an1}Gotham's glossiest social event
brings out the stars

624
00:29:45,466 --> 00:29:48,166
for the ultimate
photo opportunity.

625
00:29:48,200 --> 00:29:50,233
{\an1}Designers dress them in couture

626
00:29:50,266 --> 00:29:54,600
{\an1}that echoes the theme
of the annual exhibition.

627
00:29:54,633 --> 00:29:58,733
But in 2020,
COVID has taken the ball away.

628
00:29:58,766 --> 00:30:02,233
{\an1}The Costume Institute's Head
Curator will miss the money

629
00:30:02,266 --> 00:30:05,333
but also the glow
the event provides.

630
00:30:05,366 --> 00:30:07,376
{\an1}-The show gets so much attention
through the attention

631
00:30:07,400 --> 00:30:10,900
{\an7}the gala gets, it's such a...
extraordinary moment.

632
00:30:10,933 --> 00:30:13,466
{\an1}The show really basks
in its reflected glory.

633
00:30:13,500 --> 00:30:15,800
{\an1}And it's also, you know,
it's a time for the community

634
00:30:15,833 --> 00:30:17,300
{\an1}to come and celebrate fashion.

635
00:30:17,333 --> 00:30:19,766
{\an1}So, that's been sad.

636
00:30:19,800 --> 00:30:21,833
{\an1}-Bolton's made "About Time"

637
00:30:21,866 --> 00:30:25,033
a meditation
for The Met's anniversary year.

638
00:30:25,066 --> 00:30:26,966
{\an1}Lead designer Patrick Herron

639
00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:30,266
{\an1}has made the passage of time
central to the setting.

640
00:30:30,300 --> 00:30:33,933
{\an7}-There are two different clocks,
clock one, clock two.

641
00:30:33,966 --> 00:30:35,800
{\an8}We're in,
currently in clock two.

642
00:30:35,833 --> 00:30:39,066
{\an1}-So it's 120 garments
in 60 pairings.

643
00:30:39,100 --> 00:30:41,600
{\an1}-The show looks at fashion
and temporality.

644
00:30:41,633 --> 00:30:44,766
{\an1}We wanted to highlight master
works from our collection.

645
00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:48,933
{\an1}And we had this concept of
The Met's 150 years.

646
00:30:48,966 --> 00:30:52,000
{\an1}So we're producing
two timelines.

647
00:30:52,033 --> 00:30:56,133
{\an1}The lower rung is a very linear
chronology of fashion,

648
00:30:56,166 --> 00:31:00,433
{\an1}but the second timeline behind,
pieces that relate through

649
00:31:00,466 --> 00:31:04,133
{\an1}either silhouette or material
or motif or decoration.

650
00:31:04,166 --> 00:31:07,166
So through these
sort of pairings,

651
00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:10,100
{\an1}rather than having time
as a succession of events,

652
00:31:10,133 --> 00:31:12,300
{\an1}it's this coexistence
of the past and the present.

653
00:31:12,333 --> 00:31:16,266
{\an1}What the show tries to also
address is notions of longevity

654
00:31:16,300 --> 00:31:19,600
{\an1}and how particular motifs
or silhouettes endure.

655
00:31:19,633 --> 00:31:21,700
{\an1}This one's one of my favorite
juxtapositions.

656
00:31:21,733 --> 00:31:24,633
So this is the princess line.

657
00:31:24,666 --> 00:31:26,400
{\an1}And it was a silhouette
that basically

658
00:31:26,433 --> 00:31:28,833
{\an1}had no waist seam.

659
00:31:28,866 --> 00:31:32,133
{\an1}But what it does is create
a very elongated torso,

660
00:31:32,166 --> 00:31:34,400
{\an1}elongated silhouette.

661
00:31:34,433 --> 00:31:36,700
{\an1}And I've paired it
with McQueen's Bumster.

662
00:31:36,733 --> 00:31:39,666
{\an7}Everyone used to say he was
inspired by the builder's bum.

663
00:31:39,700 --> 00:31:41,733
{\an7}But he was really looking
at the princess line.

664
00:31:41,766 --> 00:31:44,500
{\an7}By having trousers...
In this case a skirt...

665
00:31:44,533 --> 00:31:49,066
{\an7}that slipped down, you have
the same elongated torso.

666
00:31:49,100 --> 00:31:52,333
{\an1}The rationale for black was any
monochrome color,

667
00:31:52,366 --> 00:31:56,200
{\an1}but particularly black,
emphasizes the form of a dress.

668
00:31:56,233 --> 00:31:58,666
{\an1}-It's art as theater.

669
00:31:58,700 --> 00:32:02,033
{\an7}This off-Broadway production
costs a fortune.

670
00:32:02,066 --> 00:32:06,066
{\an7}But the institute has help
in kind, as well as in cash.

671
00:32:06,100 --> 00:32:08,200
{\an7}Like all Met departments,

672
00:32:08,233 --> 00:32:10,733
{\an7}they rely on the kindness
of strangers

673
00:32:10,766 --> 00:32:14,466
{\an1}and the closest of friends.

674
00:32:14,500 --> 00:32:17,900
{\an1}While fashion fans await
the opening of "About Time,"

675
00:32:17,933 --> 00:32:21,066
{\an1}"In Pursuit Of Fashion"
keeps them engaged...

676
00:32:21,100 --> 00:32:23,400
{\an1}a presentation of rare couture

677
00:32:23,433 --> 00:32:28,033
{\an1}from the archives of collector
Sandy Schreier.

678
00:32:28,066 --> 00:32:30,033
In 2018,

679
00:32:30,066 --> 00:32:35,300
{\an1}she donated 165 garments
to the Costume Institute.

680
00:32:35,333 --> 00:32:39,000
{\an1}The department is used to
dedicated followers of fashion,

681
00:32:39,033 --> 00:32:41,833
{\an1}but to Associate Curator
Jessica Regan,

682
00:32:41,866 --> 00:32:44,733
{\an7}Miss Schreier is one of a kind.

683
00:32:44,766 --> 00:32:47,066
{\an7}-Sandy was really ahead
of her time

684
00:32:47,100 --> 00:32:49,966
{\an1}in thinking about fashion
as an art form.

685
00:32:50,000 --> 00:32:52,233
{\an1}She was building what she saw
as a collection,

686
00:32:52,266 --> 00:32:55,200
{\an1}as a group of objects
that were worthy of preserving.

687
00:32:55,233 --> 00:33:00,033
{\an1}You know, that is a unique thing
among fashion collectors.

688
00:33:00,066 --> 00:33:03,933
{\an1}She collected very instinctively
but she had an incredible eye,

689
00:33:03,966 --> 00:33:05,966
{\an1}and of course she developed
this great

690
00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:08,833
level of kind of
connoisseurship,

691
00:33:08,866 --> 00:33:11,100
{\an1}this collection is inherently
a reflection

692
00:33:11,133 --> 00:33:15,133
{\an1}of her taste, of course,
but also her personality,

693
00:33:15,166 --> 00:33:17,533
{\an1}because these selections
were so personal.

694
00:33:17,566 --> 00:33:21,366
{\an1}And she has a wonderful
sense of humor.

695
00:33:21,400 --> 00:33:23,200
{\an1}She always said to us
that this was something

696
00:33:23,233 --> 00:33:25,333
{\an1}that was fun for her.

697
00:33:25,366 --> 00:33:29,233
{\an1}I think that she very much
appreciates designers

698
00:33:29,266 --> 00:33:31,266
{\an1}who, you know embrace that
sense of wit

699
00:33:31,300 --> 00:33:33,866
{\an1}and playfulness and fun.

700
00:33:33,900 --> 00:33:37,033
{\an1}We did make a great number
of visits and,

701
00:33:37,066 --> 00:33:39,000
{\an1}you know, spent a lot of time
just chatting

702
00:33:39,033 --> 00:33:41,233
{\an1}about her collection.

703
00:33:41,266 --> 00:33:46,066
{\an1}And she always had
the most wonderful stories.

704
00:33:46,100 --> 00:33:51,400
{\an1}-Sandy lives 600 miles west,
in Detroit, Michigan.

705
00:33:51,433 --> 00:33:55,133
{\an1}-From the opening of The Met
exhibition, everybody was saying

706
00:33:55,166 --> 00:33:57,666
{\an1}that this was the greatest thing
they had ever seen...

707
00:33:57,700 --> 00:34:00,033
{\an1}because it's a fairytale.

708
00:34:00,066 --> 00:34:03,700
{\an7}You know, I never knew that
my life was a fairytale

709
00:34:03,733 --> 00:34:06,133
{\an7}until they said that.

710
00:34:06,166 --> 00:34:09,333
{\an1}-In the '50s, Sandy's father was
the furrier

711
00:34:09,366 --> 00:34:12,366
{\an1}who dressed the wives
of Motor City magnates.

712
00:34:12,400 --> 00:34:14,066
{\an1}-They thought I was adorable.

713
00:34:14,100 --> 00:34:16,566
{\an1}They thought I looked like
a little Shirley Temple.

714
00:34:16,600 --> 00:34:20,100
{\an1}And they began gifting me with
their unwanted,

715
00:34:20,133 --> 00:34:22,566
and very often,

716
00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:25,466
{\an1}sometimes, unworn couture.

717
00:34:25,500 --> 00:34:28,266
And that's how
my collection began.

718
00:34:28,300 --> 00:34:31,200
{\an1}They all thought I was gonna
play dress up

719
00:34:31,233 --> 00:34:33,633
in the objects
they were giving me.

720
00:34:33,666 --> 00:34:36,166
{\an1}But I never even tried them on.

721
00:34:36,200 --> 00:34:39,833
{\an1}I felt that they were too
precious to even touch.

722
00:34:39,866 --> 00:34:42,633
By the time
I was in my early teens,

723
00:34:42,666 --> 00:34:47,766
{\an1}I already had hundreds of these
beautiful, gorgeous gowns.

724
00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:52,166
{\an1}Although everyone in Detroit
made fun of me... my friends,

725
00:34:52,200 --> 00:34:54,500
my relatives, everybody said,

726
00:34:54,533 --> 00:34:57,766
"Oh, my goodness,
you're just a bag lady."

727
00:34:57,800 --> 00:35:00,766
{\an1}I mean, they didn't have
that expression in those days,

728
00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:05,433
{\an1}but I was the little girl
with bags of old clothes.

729
00:35:05,466 --> 00:35:08,366
{\an1}-Sandy had in fact amassed
one of the most important

730
00:35:08,400 --> 00:35:11,400
{\an1}private collections in America.

731
00:35:11,433 --> 00:35:14,600
{\an1}-What I care about
is fashion as art.

732
00:35:14,633 --> 00:35:17,633
{\an1}When Sherwin and I
were teenagers,

733
00:35:17,666 --> 00:35:21,266
{\an1}I persuaded my parents
to loan us the car...

734
00:35:21,300 --> 00:35:23,733
{\an1}and I didn't tell them
where we were going...

735
00:35:23,766 --> 00:35:28,633
{\an1}and we drove to New York so I
could show Sherwin The Met.

736
00:35:28,666 --> 00:35:30,700
{\an1}And as we walked through
the galleries,

737
00:35:30,733 --> 00:35:32,766
{\an1}I said to Sherwin,

738
00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:35,666
{\an1}"One day, my beautiful dresses

739
00:35:35,700 --> 00:35:38,266
{\an1}are going to be right here."

740
00:35:38,300 --> 00:35:40,733
{\an1}-The garments could have gone
to any museum,

741
00:35:40,766 --> 00:35:44,300
{\an1}but to collectors like Sandy,
only The Met will do.

742
00:35:44,333 --> 00:35:48,533
{\an1}Their donations are about love.

743
00:35:48,566 --> 00:35:51,100
In East Harlem, Naqiya Hussain

744
00:35:51,133 --> 00:35:53,500
{\an1}is also about to become
a Met donor.

745
00:35:53,533 --> 00:35:56,333
{\an1}She's investing $20
on two tickets

746
00:35:56,366 --> 00:35:58,933
{\an7}to the most romantic
destination in town.

747
00:35:58,966 --> 00:36:02,000
{\an7}-This is a date dress,
I would say.

748
00:36:02,033 --> 00:36:04,333
{\an1}I think it's maybe not right.

749
00:36:04,366 --> 00:36:07,033
I'm gonna go try
something else on.

750
00:36:07,066 --> 00:36:09,500
{\an1}-Met dates are all the rage.

751
00:36:09,533 --> 00:36:11,433
{\an1}Like so many Manhattan youths,

752
00:36:11,466 --> 00:36:14,433
{\an1}Naqiya and her beau, Cyril,
have, for months,

753
00:36:14,466 --> 00:36:17,833
{\an1}been locked down...
Going out but staying in.

754
00:36:17,866 --> 00:36:21,033
-The challenge
has been finding...

755
00:36:21,066 --> 00:36:25,033
things to do
and ways to be romantic.

756
00:36:25,066 --> 00:36:27,333
{\an1}The bigger question
isn't the dress,

757
00:36:27,366 --> 00:36:29,733
{\an1}the bigger question
is the accessories.

758
00:36:29,766 --> 00:36:32,033
{\an1}Except you can't really think
about shoes.

759
00:36:32,066 --> 00:36:34,733
{\an1}Not if you have a date
at the museum.

760
00:36:34,766 --> 00:36:36,933
Because...

761
00:36:36,966 --> 00:36:39,666
{\an1}you have to wear...

762
00:36:39,700 --> 00:36:41,433
{\an1}something that won't
destroy your back.

763
00:36:41,466 --> 00:36:42,966
Have you heard
of the museum shuffle?

764
00:36:44,200 --> 00:36:46,100
{\an7}It's when you just...
Your feet start hurting

765
00:36:46,133 --> 00:36:51,100
{\an1}so you start just doing this.

766
00:36:51,133 --> 00:36:52,566
{\an1}The Met for me is my place.

767
00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:56,133
I'm very familiar
with the space.

768
00:36:56,166 --> 00:36:57,700
{\an1}I really love being there,

769
00:36:57,733 --> 00:37:01,533
{\an1}so to be able to share that
with someone is exciting.

770
00:37:01,566 --> 00:37:03,533
{\an1}Even if you're not interested
in art,

771
00:37:03,566 --> 00:37:06,000
{\an1}it's not even about beauty,
it's about...

772
00:37:06,033 --> 00:37:09,100
{\an1}about having conversations about
how ridiculous something looks,

773
00:37:09,133 --> 00:37:13,433
{\an1}or how something makes you laugh
or reminds you of something.

774
00:37:13,466 --> 00:37:14,733
Makeup time.

775
00:37:14,766 --> 00:37:17,566
{\an1}I mean, the little makeup
I will do.

776
00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:20,333
{\an1}I would never take someone
to The Met on a first date.

777
00:37:20,366 --> 00:37:23,900
{\an1}It's too important a space
for me.

778
00:37:23,933 --> 00:37:26,133
{\an1}It's like you have to earn...

779
00:37:26,166 --> 00:37:30,133
{\an1}you have to earn that,
for me to be able to feel like,

780
00:37:30,166 --> 00:37:33,233
{\an1}"Okay this is a person who I
think we will have a good..."

781
00:37:33,266 --> 00:37:36,966
{\an1}I don't wanna be in that space
and not enjoy myself.

782
00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:38,300
{\an1}It's like meeting your family.

783
00:37:38,333 --> 00:37:41,366
{\an1}You have to earn that.
[ Laughs ]

784
00:37:41,400 --> 00:37:44,166
{\an7}For me, you have to earn
The Met.

785
00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:45,933
{\an7}We've been to the museum
once before,

786
00:37:45,966 --> 00:37:48,966
{\an7}this will be the first
where it's just the two of us.

787
00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:51,533
{\an1}- Your hand is cold.
- My hand is cold?

788
00:37:51,566 --> 00:37:52,900
{\an1}It's cold outside.

789
00:37:52,933 --> 00:37:54,966
{\an1}Took you forever to get here.
[ Laughs ]

790
00:37:55,000 --> 00:37:58,300
-Dates at The Met
are a litmus test for love.

791
00:37:58,333 --> 00:38:00,566
{\an1}If the million objects
on display

792
00:38:00,600 --> 00:38:02,433
{\an1}fail to spark conversation,

793
00:38:02,466 --> 00:38:05,366
{\an1}you know for certain
it's never going to work.

794
00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:07,600
{\an1}-I'm excited to share it
with him.

795
00:38:07,633 --> 00:38:10,800
{\an1}This is from where
my mom grew up.

796
00:38:10,833 --> 00:38:14,433
{\an1}And talk more and get him to
open up about parts of his life

797
00:38:14,466 --> 00:38:17,733
{\an1}that maybe didn't occur
to him to talk to me about.

798
00:38:17,766 --> 00:38:22,666
{\an1}-With so few visitors allowed,
the museum feels empty.

799
00:38:22,700 --> 00:38:26,500
{\an1}Naqiya and Cyril enjoy
the tranquility of solitude

800
00:38:26,533 --> 00:38:28,366
{\an1}in the Asian Department.

801
00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:30,266
{\an1}-Oh, this one's really
cool too, look.

802
00:38:30,300 --> 00:38:32,033
{\an7}Oh, this would have been
painted.

803
00:38:33,533 --> 00:38:35,433
{\an7}I do not look like that.

804
00:38:36,766 --> 00:38:39,133
{\an8}What do you mean?

805
00:38:39,166 --> 00:38:41,066
[ Laughs ]

806
00:38:41,100 --> 00:38:44,133
Okay.

807
00:38:44,166 --> 00:38:45,476
I think if you're
the kind of person

808
00:38:45,500 --> 00:38:47,366
{\an1}who enjoys being in museums,

809
00:38:47,400 --> 00:38:50,933
{\an1}then it's nice to have a partner

810
00:38:50,966 --> 00:38:54,100
{\an1}who also potentially
can find joy in it.

811
00:38:54,133 --> 00:38:56,066
{\an1}But if your partner
absolutely hates it,

812
00:38:56,100 --> 00:38:58,100
{\an1}then I would imagine
it would make

813
00:38:58,133 --> 00:39:00,566
{\an1}a really boring date, right?

814
00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:05,800
{\an1}Around this corner should be
my favorite object.

815
00:39:05,833 --> 00:39:07,400
Look at it!

816
00:39:07,433 --> 00:39:10,233
{\an1}The Striding Figure With Ibex
Horns and Upturned Boots.

817
00:39:10,266 --> 00:39:11,600
And no pants.

818
00:39:11,633 --> 00:39:14,366
{\an1}It feels like someone
with a sense of humor made him.

819
00:39:18,766 --> 00:39:22,833
{\an7}That didn't occur to me,
but sure.

820
00:39:22,866 --> 00:39:25,200
{\an7}Also like, why boots
but no pants?

821
00:39:30,333 --> 00:39:31,600
I love him.

822
00:39:34,966 --> 00:39:38,766
So like this
is all carved plaster.

823
00:39:38,800 --> 00:39:41,500
{\an1}The Moroccan Court is one of my
favorite places in the museum.

824
00:39:41,533 --> 00:39:44,900
{\an1}It's intimate and it's a moment
to just breathe and relax.

825
00:39:44,933 --> 00:39:46,533
{\an1}To do that and feel safe,

826
00:39:46,566 --> 00:39:49,133
{\an1}given everything that's been
happening with COVID,

827
00:39:49,166 --> 00:39:50,533
{\an1}it feels exceptionally lucky

828
00:39:50,566 --> 00:39:53,333
{\an1}to be able to have access
to things like that.

829
00:39:55,366 --> 00:39:57,133
{\an8}Yeah, I think so.

830
00:39:57,166 --> 00:39:59,333
{\an7}Well, none of the security
guards scolded us

831
00:39:59,366 --> 00:40:00,966
{\an7}so I think that's a win.

832
00:40:02,733 --> 00:40:04,200
{\an8}Yeah.

833
00:40:08,933 --> 00:40:10,333
{\an8}Okay.

834
00:40:11,800 --> 00:40:13,466
This one?
- Yeah.

835
00:40:13,500 --> 00:40:15,266
-For now, yeah.

836
00:40:15,300 --> 00:40:17,333
[ Laughs ]

837
00:40:21,066 --> 00:40:24,533
{\an1}-Occupying a five-block-long
site on 5th Avenue,

838
00:40:24,566 --> 00:40:28,700
{\an1}The Met exerts a magnetic pull
on the art-fancying rich.

839
00:40:28,733 --> 00:40:30,100
-Good girl.

840
00:40:30,133 --> 00:40:33,433
{\an1}-Every evening Dan Weiss
walks his dog Ali

841
00:40:33,466 --> 00:40:35,366
{\an1}along the west side
of the street,

842
00:40:35,400 --> 00:40:39,500
{\an1}knowing he's just feet from
millions of dollars of treasure.

843
00:40:39,533 --> 00:40:41,933
{\an1}-Well, one of my predecessors
said that

844
00:40:41,966 --> 00:40:44,466
{\an1}one of the missions
of this museum

845
00:40:44,500 --> 00:40:47,233
{\an1}is to get all of the art
on that side of the street

846
00:40:47,266 --> 00:40:49,333
{\an1}onto this side of the street.

847
00:40:49,366 --> 00:40:52,133
{\an1}And for 150 years this is
what we've been doing.

848
00:40:52,166 --> 00:40:54,100
{\an1}Our building is filled with art

849
00:40:54,133 --> 00:40:56,633
that used to be
across the street.

850
00:40:56,666 --> 00:40:58,300
What a good girl!

851
00:41:02,366 --> 00:41:04,200
-We live right
across the street.

852
00:41:04,233 --> 00:41:06,966
{\an1}Some of the exhibitions
do have lines that go

853
00:41:07,000 --> 00:41:10,200
{\an1}right in front of our...
Our... the sidewalk here.

854
00:41:10,233 --> 00:41:14,200
{\an7}-And we're fortunate to have
The Met as our neighbor.

855
00:41:14,233 --> 00:41:17,166
{\an1}We look out and we see
the Temple of Dendur

856
00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:21,366
{\an1}and the northern part
of the museum.

857
00:41:21,400 --> 00:41:23,633
{\an1}-We've been married 63 years.

858
00:41:23,666 --> 00:41:25,133
-That's all.

859
00:41:25,166 --> 00:41:27,266
-We first started
collecting posters.

860
00:41:27,300 --> 00:41:28,900
{\an1}-Then we went to prints.

861
00:41:28,933 --> 00:41:31,900
Then we graduated to paintings.

862
00:41:31,933 --> 00:41:34,733
- Oils, paintings.
- Oils and period furniture.

863
00:41:34,766 --> 00:41:36,533
{\an1}Some ancient textiles.

864
00:41:36,566 --> 00:41:39,733
{\an1}Glass, contemporary paintings.

865
00:41:39,766 --> 00:41:42,433
{\an1}-Their floors are groaning
under the weight

866
00:41:42,466 --> 00:41:46,066
{\an1}but their greatest passion
is as light as air.

867
00:41:46,100 --> 00:41:48,733
{\an1}-We have a wonderful
bamboo collection.

868
00:41:48,766 --> 00:41:50,633
{\an1}We walked into a gallery,

869
00:41:50,666 --> 00:41:54,133
{\an1}Diane said, "I've never seen
anything quite like these.

870
00:41:54,166 --> 00:41:56,933
{\an1}These are just wonderful."

871
00:41:56,966 --> 00:41:59,333
{\an1}A spark went off and we decided

872
00:41:59,366 --> 00:42:03,533
that we would try
to put together a collection.

873
00:42:03,566 --> 00:42:07,633
{\an1}-Within 20 years their
collection numbered 130 pieces,

874
00:42:07,666 --> 00:42:11,333
{\an1}built with the help of their
neighbors across the street.

875
00:42:11,366 --> 00:42:16,633
{\an7}-So this artist dips it into
hot water to make it soft.

876
00:42:16,666 --> 00:42:18,800
{\an1}And then he bends it.

877
00:42:18,833 --> 00:42:21,366
{\an1}-Monika Bincsik and others

878
00:42:21,400 --> 00:42:23,966
{\an1}have become part of our family
in a sense,

879
00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:26,966
{\an1}as we have become part of
The Met family.

880
00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:31,900
{\an1}-In 2017, Monika and the Abbeys
staged an exhibition.

881
00:42:31,933 --> 00:42:34,100
It revealed that
this specialized art

882
00:42:34,133 --> 00:42:36,100
{\an1}was no niche interest.

883
00:42:36,133 --> 00:42:40,333
{\an1}-We had over 430,000 people.

884
00:42:40,366 --> 00:42:42,333
{\an1}-We... we were speechless,
really.

885
00:42:42,366 --> 00:42:46,666
{\an1}We didn't have really any idea
about the quality;

886
00:42:46,700 --> 00:42:48,166
{\an1}we knew it was terrific,

887
00:42:48,200 --> 00:42:50,333
{\an1}but we... we were not, uh...

888
00:42:50,366 --> 00:42:51,933
{\an1}It was just for us.

889
00:42:51,966 --> 00:42:53,633
{\an1}-We did it because we loved it.

890
00:42:53,666 --> 00:42:56,933
{\an1}We feel that it's only fair
for the world to see them.

891
00:42:56,966 --> 00:42:58,566
{\an1}-Its like what you do
with your children.

892
00:42:58,600 --> 00:43:00,600
I mean they... you have them

893
00:43:00,633 --> 00:43:02,600
{\an1}only for a certain period
of time.

894
00:43:02,633 --> 00:43:04,400
{\an1}-And out... and out they go.

895
00:43:04,433 --> 00:43:11,800
{\an8}♪♪

896
00:43:11,833 --> 00:43:15,200
-On October 29th,
"About Time" opens.

897
00:43:15,233 --> 00:43:20,133
{\an1}The annual Costume Institute's
exhibition is still a big draw.

898
00:43:20,166 --> 00:43:23,933
{\an1}New York has always been
America's fashion capital.

899
00:43:23,966 --> 00:43:26,033
{\an1}The faithful turn out in droves

900
00:43:26,066 --> 00:43:28,533
{\an1}for Andrew Bolton's
costume drama.

901
00:43:28,566 --> 00:43:30,633
{\an1}-The Met gala was cancelled
so the,

902
00:43:30,666 --> 00:43:33,266
{\an1}like, the exhibition is very,
very anticipated.

903
00:43:33,300 --> 00:43:35,600
{\an1}-I mean, it's the best
for costuming...

904
00:43:35,633 --> 00:43:38,100
- Yeah.
- It's the best for fashion.

905
00:43:38,133 --> 00:43:39,766
-Head of Security Keith Prewitt

906
00:43:39,800 --> 00:43:43,133
{\an1}makes his own fashion statement.

907
00:43:43,166 --> 00:43:47,500
{\an7}-I've always attributed
the way that I dress

908
00:43:47,533 --> 00:43:49,300
{\an8}to my time
in the Secret Service.

909
00:43:49,333 --> 00:43:51,300
{\an1}When you're with the president
and vice president

910
00:43:51,333 --> 00:43:54,133
{\an1}of the United States, you have
to be dressed accordingly so.

911
00:43:56,566 --> 00:43:59,933
Yes, I was...
Or navy blue or Cambridge grey.

912
00:43:59,966 --> 00:44:03,433
{\an1}This is the fall edition.
[ Laughs ]

913
00:44:03,466 --> 00:44:07,966
{\an1}-The churn of time is the engine
of the modern fashion industry.

914
00:44:08,000 --> 00:44:09,400
{\an1}Andrew Bolton's exhibition

915
00:44:09,433 --> 00:44:13,366
{\an1}invites contemplation
of things eternal.

916
00:44:13,400 --> 00:44:15,900
{\an1}-It's been really cool to see
people really getting deep

917
00:44:15,933 --> 00:44:18,266
{\an1}into observing the comparisons.

918
00:44:18,300 --> 00:44:20,500
{\an7}And then they come through
this way,

919
00:44:20,533 --> 00:44:23,633
{\an7}and they sort of are amazed
by the mirrored room.

920
00:44:23,666 --> 00:44:30,900
{\an8}♪♪

921
00:44:30,933 --> 00:44:33,933
{\an1}-To see the reflection
of the pieces on the ceiling

922
00:44:33,966 --> 00:44:35,966
{\an1}and experiencing each piece

923
00:44:36,000 --> 00:44:39,533
{\an1}in three dimensions
was really extraordinary.

924
00:44:39,566 --> 00:44:44,800
{\an1}-Somehow The Met manages to show
clothing and show fashion

925
00:44:44,833 --> 00:44:47,466
{\an1}in a new way each time.

926
00:44:47,500 --> 00:44:49,933
{\an1}-Just the space is so beautiful

927
00:44:49,966 --> 00:44:51,942
{\an1}and just really like a treat
for your eyes, you know?

928
00:44:51,966 --> 00:44:53,166
{\an1}I feel like it's a nice,

929
00:44:53,200 --> 00:44:56,033
a little bit
of escapism right now.

930
00:44:56,066 --> 00:44:59,700
{\an1}-Every year, as always,
inspiring, innovative.

931
00:44:59,733 --> 00:45:01,866
Like, mind blown
every single time.

932
00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:06,566
{\an1}-We're so excited to see
this exhibit

933
00:45:06,600 --> 00:45:08,433
and unfortunately
we did not get in.

934
00:45:08,466 --> 00:45:09,766
{\an1}The guard did not let us in.

935
00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:11,909
{\an1}- They were sold out.
- We tried so hard. We wanna see

936
00:45:11,933 --> 00:45:13,809
{\an1}all the art and fashion.
- We love clothing and fashion.

937
00:45:13,833 --> 00:45:15,109
{\an1}And it's like the only thing
to do

938
00:45:15,133 --> 00:45:16,576
{\an1}in New York City right now so...
[ Laughs ]

939
00:45:16,600 --> 00:45:18,009
{\an1}-Yeah, there's not really much
going on, everything is...

940
00:45:18,033 --> 00:45:20,109
{\an1}- There is nothing else going on.
- Everything is banned,

941
00:45:20,133 --> 00:45:23,600
{\an1}we can't go out after 10:00.

942
00:45:23,633 --> 00:45:25,266
{\an7}-At the end of October,

943
00:45:25,300 --> 00:45:28,733
{\an8}the streets
around the museum turn ghoulish.

944
00:45:28,766 --> 00:45:30,333
{\an8}It's Halloween.

945
00:45:30,366 --> 00:45:32,933
{\an7}The Met pumpkin, like the Great
Hall floral display

946
00:45:32,966 --> 00:45:34,666
{\an7}that changes every week,

947
00:45:34,700 --> 00:45:39,433
{\an1}is provided for in perpetuity
by a single bequest.

948
00:45:39,466 --> 00:45:41,100
{\an1}The financial structures,

949
00:45:41,133 --> 00:45:43,700
tax write-offs,
and corporate sponsorships

950
00:45:43,733 --> 00:45:45,966
that keep
the whole art sector afloat

951
00:45:46,000 --> 00:45:49,500
{\an1}might be about to change.

952
00:45:49,533 --> 00:45:51,333
{\an1}It's election time.

953
00:45:51,366 --> 00:45:55,233
{\an1}President Weiss is a politician
with a small "p."

954
00:45:55,266 --> 00:45:56,909
{\an1}-No one really knows
what's going to happen

955
00:45:56,933 --> 00:45:59,533
{\an1}in one of the greatest elections
in American history.

956
00:45:59,566 --> 00:46:01,400
{\an1}And the consequences
of one outcome

957
00:46:01,433 --> 00:46:03,200
{\an1}or the other are seismic.

958
00:46:03,233 --> 00:46:06,000
{\an1}And I would maintain
that we're not partisan,

959
00:46:06,033 --> 00:46:07,833
{\an7}but we are political.

960
00:46:07,866 --> 00:46:12,000
{\an7}Political in the sense that what
politics ultimately is about...

961
00:46:12,033 --> 00:46:13,700
is who gets what.

962
00:46:13,733 --> 00:46:16,333
{\an1}-The Met has money worries,
but is wealthy

963
00:46:16,366 --> 00:46:18,633
{\an1}compared to smaller
institutions.

964
00:46:18,666 --> 00:46:21,700
{\an1}Some industries have received
a COVID bailout,

965
00:46:21,733 --> 00:46:23,733
{\an1}but there has been
little for the arts.

966
00:46:26,366 --> 00:46:30,533
On November 3rd,
America goes to the polls.

967
00:46:30,566 --> 00:46:32,900
{\an1}Ken Weine and his wife, Barbara,

968
00:46:32,933 --> 00:46:37,166
{\an1}join the rest of America
by the television.

969
00:46:37,200 --> 00:46:38,933
{\an8}-There was a line
about six people deep

970
00:46:38,966 --> 00:46:41,166
{\an7}at the liquor store tonight.

971
00:46:41,200 --> 00:46:44,733
{\an7}-I do think that it's an
obsession for people this year.

972
00:46:44,766 --> 00:46:47,900
{\an1}-I am hopeful that it will be
decided by 11:00 tonight.

973
00:46:47,933 --> 00:46:51,233
{\an1}Jeremy, our son, thinks Friday
at the earliest.

974
00:46:51,266 --> 00:46:53,333
{\an1}Barbara will not engage.

975
00:46:53,366 --> 00:46:55,366
{\an1}-On the sofa and on the fence,

976
00:46:55,400 --> 00:46:59,533
{\an1}Ken speaks for a huge
and diverse institution.

977
00:46:59,566 --> 00:47:01,433
{\an1}-The stakes are really high
for New York City.

978
00:47:01,466 --> 00:47:04,133
{\an1}The economic impact
on the pandemic,

979
00:47:04,166 --> 00:47:06,566
{\an1}um, is everywhere.

980
00:47:06,600 --> 00:47:09,000
{\an1}What that means for the dozens
and dozens

981
00:47:09,033 --> 00:47:12,500
{\an1}of cultural institutions
across the city is devastating.

982
00:47:12,533 --> 00:47:14,700
{\an1}When you read the paper,
and the Germans

983
00:47:14,733 --> 00:47:17,900
{\an1}threw billions of Euros
at the arts world,

984
00:47:17,933 --> 00:47:21,300
{\an1}and so did, you know,
parts of the EU,

985
00:47:21,333 --> 00:47:22,876
{\an1}that's not gonna happen
in the United States,

986
00:47:22,900 --> 00:47:26,700
regardless of who wins tonight.

987
00:47:26,733 --> 00:47:31,033
It really exposes
the American model of...

988
00:47:31,066 --> 00:47:33,866
Of funding
of cultural institutions.

989
00:47:33,900 --> 00:47:36,266
{\an1}We fund our museums,
our hospitals,

990
00:47:36,300 --> 00:47:39,900
{\an1}our universities, our libraries
through private philanthropy.

991
00:47:39,933 --> 00:47:43,666
And, okay,
what's gonna happen now?

992
00:47:43,700 --> 00:47:46,633
{\an1}This isn't said out of worry
of what will happen to The Met.

993
00:47:46,666 --> 00:47:52,466
{\an1}The Met will continue to be
a strong, important institution.

994
00:47:52,500 --> 00:47:53,833
{\an1}But what that means for

995
00:47:53,866 --> 00:47:55,966
the dance company
in Staten Island,

996
00:47:56,000 --> 00:47:58,933
{\an1}or the small museum
in The Bronx,

997
00:47:58,966 --> 00:48:02,566
{\an1}that'll, you know, that writ
large across the country,

998
00:48:02,600 --> 00:48:04,233
{\an1}it's really challenging.

999
00:48:04,266 --> 00:48:07,566
{\an1}I just this afternoon
was going back and forth,

1000
00:48:07,600 --> 00:48:11,466
{\an1}"Should I send a note
to our department saying

1001
00:48:11,500 --> 00:48:13,300
I won't cross
any partisan lines here.

1002
00:48:13,333 --> 00:48:16,900
{\an1}Sending strength to each of you
and to our city and nation,

1003
00:48:16,933 --> 00:48:20,466
{\an1}as we get ready for whatever
this next chapter will bring."

1004
00:48:20,500 --> 00:48:22,066
{\an1}But look, we're New Yorkers,

1005
00:48:22,100 --> 00:48:24,466
{\an1}we've both lived here
for 30 years... ish.

1006
00:48:24,500 --> 00:48:25,866
- Yeah.
- Right.

1007
00:48:25,900 --> 00:48:27,276
{\an1}-We are in very much
of a bubble here

1008
00:48:27,300 --> 00:48:29,866
{\an1}where people pretty much
are all on the same team.

1009
00:48:29,900 --> 00:48:32,233
{\an1}-It's not hyperbole when you see
the historians

1010
00:48:32,266 --> 00:48:34,600
{\an1}and the commentators on TV
saying this is

1011
00:48:34,633 --> 00:48:39,266
{\an1}the most important election
in our lifetimes,

1012
00:48:39,300 --> 00:48:42,466
{\an1}if not the, you know,
modern history of America.

1013
00:48:42,500 --> 00:48:46,000
{\an1}We've been through
intense elections but...

1014
00:48:46,033 --> 00:48:49,500
{\an1}nothing compares to what
our city and country

1015
00:48:49,533 --> 00:48:52,166
{\an1}is going through right now.

1016
00:48:52,200 --> 00:48:56,133
It's 7:15!
We have so long to go!

1017
00:49:00,566 --> 00:49:05,533
{\an1}-Three days later, Ken Weine has
no fingernails left to chew on.

1018
00:49:05,566 --> 00:49:08,733
{\an1}-Having waited months
and months for the election,

1019
00:49:08,766 --> 00:49:10,033
{\an1}sure enough, here we are,

1020
00:49:10,066 --> 00:49:12,500
and the counts
are still going on.

1021
00:49:12,533 --> 00:49:15,966
{\an1}The news is kinda coming at us
in many different ways.

1022
00:49:16,000 --> 00:49:17,666
{\an1}The virus is raging again.

1023
00:49:17,700 --> 00:49:20,666
{\an1}We had this news alert
that Pfizer...

1024
00:49:20,700 --> 00:49:22,900
{\an1}a vaccine... that's great.

1025
00:49:22,933 --> 00:49:24,666
{\an1}But you gotta think,
for this museum

1026
00:49:24,700 --> 00:49:27,300
{\an1}to be working to the capacity
it needs to,

1027
00:49:27,333 --> 00:49:29,233
{\an1}how long is that gonna take?

1028
00:49:29,266 --> 00:49:32,366
{\an1}You know, The Met is a place
where we plan things,

1029
00:49:32,400 --> 00:49:34,000
you know,
we have 40 exhibitions;

1030
00:49:34,033 --> 00:49:36,366
{\an1}an exhibition takes three
to five years

1031
00:49:36,400 --> 00:49:38,400
{\an1}for its gestation process.

1032
00:49:38,433 --> 00:49:42,566
But we don't know
what's going to happen...

1033
00:49:42,600 --> 00:49:44,633
{\an1}days ahead of us right now.

1034
00:49:44,666 --> 00:49:50,266
{\an1}What makes this environment
so challenging,

1035
00:49:50,300 --> 00:49:53,866
{\an1}it's not necessarily,
"Did my candidate win or lose,"

1036
00:49:53,900 --> 00:49:58,600
{\an1}it's that uncertainty,
I think, is wearing on people.

1037
00:49:58,633 --> 00:50:03,666
And we have just
unending uncertainty right now.

1038
00:50:05,866 --> 00:50:08,666
{\an1}-The Met holds art
from five millennia...

1039
00:50:08,700 --> 00:50:12,633
{\an1}objects that have seen
pestilence and upheaval.

1040
00:50:12,666 --> 00:50:16,433
{\an1}Taking the long view
comes naturally to Dan Weiss.

1041
00:50:16,466 --> 00:50:20,300
{\an8}♪♪

1042
00:50:20,333 --> 00:50:22,466
{\an1}-The Egyptians left
so many records.

1043
00:50:22,500 --> 00:50:27,000
{\an1}There is so much papyrus
material that survives.

1044
00:50:27,033 --> 00:50:29,366
{\an1}I'm trained as a medievalist
and a classicist

1045
00:50:29,400 --> 00:50:33,066
{\an1}and I tend to gravitate
towards that material.

1046
00:50:33,100 --> 00:50:34,833
There's something
really powerful

1047
00:50:34,866 --> 00:50:38,666
about the history
of the Egyptian civilization,

1048
00:50:38,700 --> 00:50:40,866
that it endured
for three millennia.

1049
00:50:40,900 --> 00:50:42,433
Three millennia!

1050
00:50:42,466 --> 00:50:46,300
{\an1}The American experiment
is now at 250 years.

1051
00:50:46,333 --> 00:50:49,633
{\an1}I think at this moment
in our history, in 2020,

1052
00:50:49,666 --> 00:50:52,666
{\an1}the American question is open.

1053
00:50:52,700 --> 00:50:54,566
{\an1}With all of the advances

1054
00:50:54,600 --> 00:50:58,000
that we have made
in technology and science,

1055
00:50:58,033 --> 00:50:59,473
what we have done
with that knowledge

1056
00:50:59,500 --> 00:51:02,633
{\an1}and that insight is,
I think, disappointing.

1057
00:51:02,666 --> 00:51:04,333
That, as we stand
in this museum,

1058
00:51:04,366 --> 00:51:06,666
{\an1}surrounded by the history
of great civilizations

1059
00:51:06,700 --> 00:51:08,900
{\an1}that have come and gone,

1060
00:51:08,933 --> 00:51:13,466
{\an1}ours is more advantaged,
more progressive,

1061
00:51:13,500 --> 00:51:16,333
more informed
than any other in history,

1062
00:51:16,366 --> 00:51:18,900
but, thus far,
it's an open question

1063
00:51:18,933 --> 00:51:20,666
{\an1}as to how long we'll endure,

1064
00:51:20,700 --> 00:51:22,433
and what we'll do
with our knowledge.

1065
00:51:22,466 --> 00:51:24,733
And at the moment
it's hard to say.

1066
00:51:24,766 --> 00:51:32,266
{\an8}♪♪

1067
00:51:32,300 --> 00:51:35,166
{\an1}-CBS News, and we are coming
on the air with breaking news...

1068
00:51:35,200 --> 00:51:37,700
-On November 7th
comes resolution.

1069
00:51:37,733 --> 00:51:40,833
{\an7}-...projects that Joe Biden
has been elected

1070
00:51:40,866 --> 00:51:44,100
{\an7}the 46th president
of the United States.

1071
00:51:44,133 --> 00:51:52,133
{\an1}[ Honking, cheering
and applause ]

1072
00:51:52,866 --> 00:51:56,066
{\an1}-In New York they're dancing
in the streets.

1073
00:51:56,100 --> 00:52:00,933
{\an1}But in many states, citizens
feel cheated and aggrieved.

1074
00:52:00,966 --> 00:52:03,133
{\an1}At The Met, Director Max Hollein

1075
00:52:03,166 --> 00:52:06,700
{\an1}is with Jackson Pollock's<i> 
Autumn Rhythm.</i>

1076
00:52:06,733 --> 00:52:09,500
-I just find it
absolutely breathtaking.

1077
00:52:09,533 --> 00:52:12,766
{\an7}And I... I still remember
when I was a young kid

1078
00:52:12,800 --> 00:52:16,066
{\an7}and came first to The Met
from Vienna, Austria,

1079
00:52:16,100 --> 00:52:19,133
{\an1}it was an even bigger canvas
back then

1080
00:52:19,166 --> 00:52:20,966
{\an1}when I was a small child.

1081
00:52:21,000 --> 00:52:24,666
{\an1}The collection is, of course,
what excites us

1082
00:52:24,700 --> 00:52:29,700
{\an1}and what excites every curator
to be part of this institution.

1083
00:52:29,733 --> 00:52:32,166
{\an1}-In the Musical Instruments
Department,

1084
00:52:32,200 --> 00:52:35,033
{\an1}Jayson Dobney shares
that excitement,

1085
00:52:35,066 --> 00:52:40,500
{\an1}and a Met Stradivarius,
with musician Mariella Haubs.

1086
00:52:40,533 --> 00:52:42,966
[ Playing ]

1087
00:52:43,000 --> 00:52:46,900
{\an1}-Already in the last, uh,
year or two we've focused on

1088
00:52:46,933 --> 00:52:48,833
recontextualizing our collection

1089
00:52:48,866 --> 00:52:51,000
and we'll be even
more prioritized now

1090
00:52:51,033 --> 00:52:52,566
{\an1}coming out of this crisis.

1091
00:52:52,600 --> 00:53:00,600
{\an8}♪♪

1092
00:53:02,600 --> 00:53:06,566
{\an1}-The Met is about to turn 151.

1093
00:53:06,600 --> 00:53:10,666
{\an1}For Dan Weiss, it's been a year
to remember.

1094
00:53:10,700 --> 00:53:12,966
{\an1}-And my job as a leader,
to be surrounded

1095
00:53:13,000 --> 00:53:15,733
{\an1}by people of such great talent
and dedication,

1096
00:53:15,766 --> 00:53:18,333
{\an1}who love this place
as they do, is inspiring.

1097
00:53:18,366 --> 00:53:22,266
{\an8}♪♪

1098
00:53:22,300 --> 00:53:24,466
{\an1}-The president and the director

1099
00:53:24,500 --> 00:53:28,266
{\an1}are about to change the museum
for good.

1100
00:53:28,300 --> 00:53:30,500
-The movement for
Black Lives Matter

1101
00:53:30,533 --> 00:53:33,066
{\an1}and all the questions
of social justice

1102
00:53:33,100 --> 00:53:37,266
{\an1}and against discrimination
and against racism,

1103
00:53:37,300 --> 00:53:39,166
has a lot to do, for sure,

1104
00:53:39,200 --> 00:53:43,033
{\an1}with how this institution
is being staffed,

1105
00:53:43,066 --> 00:53:45,833
{\an1}and how we act as an institution
in the community.

1106
00:53:45,866 --> 00:53:49,566
{\an1}But it also has to do about
not only what we show,

1107
00:53:49,600 --> 00:53:52,966
{\an1}but also how we show it and what
kind of context we provide.

1108
00:53:53,000 --> 00:53:57,100
{\an8}♪♪

1109
00:53:57,133 --> 00:53:59,566
{\an1}-I think it is a remarkable
moment for us,

1110
00:53:59,600 --> 00:54:02,733
{\an1}this moment of COVID
and Black Lives Matter,

1111
00:54:02,766 --> 00:54:07,333
{\an1}and political distress all in
this country at the same time.

1112
00:54:07,366 --> 00:54:10,166
{\an1}Whatever comes next,
only time will tell,

1113
00:54:10,200 --> 00:54:12,800
{\an1}but I think we all recognize
this is a turning point.

1114
00:54:12,833 --> 00:54:20,833
{\an8}♪♪

1115
00:54:25,666 --> 00:54:28,133
{\an8}♪♪

1116
00:54:28,166 --> 00:54:32,033
{\an7}-To order "Inside the Met"
on DVD, visit...

1117
00:54:32,066 --> 00:54:35,100
{\an8}or call...

1118
00:54:35,133 --> 00:54:38,900
{\an7}This program is also available
on Amazon Prime Video.

1119
00:54:38,933 --> 00:54:46,933
{\an8}♪♪

1120
00:54:48,533 --> 00:54:54,766
{\an8}♪♪