* Audio Tour Organized by The Costume Institute Highlights Historical Fashion Depicted in the Met's Collections
The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Audio Guide program will include a new tour, Costume: The Art of Dress, narrated by actress Sarah Jessica Parker, beginning November 25, 2008.
Costume: The Art of Dress Audio Guide, organized by The Costume Institute, will highlight historical costume in the Museum's permanent collections including painting and sculpture. The cultural significance of fashion throughout the ages, from the ancient world to the present, and the role it plays in expressions of social status, power, wealth, ceremony, taste, and sex will be explored through approximately 20 works of art.
"As a devoted and long-time fan of the Met, it gives me great pleasure to narrate this exciting and surprising history of the art of dress," said Sarah Jessica Parker. "To be part of the Museum's programs, in this way, is a great honor and privilege."
Originally conceived three years ago as a tour led by Museum volunteers to augment the two exhibitions organized by The Costume Institute each year, The Art of Dress has become one of the most popular guided tours in the Museum. From an ancient Greek chiton on the Statue of a Woman in the Greek and Roman Galleries to the period dress of portrait subjects rendered by artists such as Rembrandt and Renoir, the audio tour supplements the volunteer-guided tour, which will continue to be offered Tuesday through Friday at 1:45 p.m.
"Looking beyond our encyclopedic collection of costume to the Museum's other treasures puts clothing into a historical context," said Harold Koda, Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute. "Walking through the galleries listening to Sarah Jessica Parker's narration will bring a sense of discovery and delight to the experience."
Listeners can sample recordings, in any order they choose, of interviews with The Costume Institute's Harold Koda; Andrew Bolton, Curator; and Chris Paulocik, Conservator; as well as commentary from curators and conservators from other areas of the Museum, including Greek and Roman art; arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas; medieval art; arms and armor; Egyptian art; European paintings; and Asian art. A brochure available at Museum entrances will list the audio stops by gallery. In the galleries, works included on the tour will be labeled with the letter "C" and numbers that correspond to the brochure listings.
Developed in collaboration with the Museum's curators and educators, Audio Guide programs provide valuable insight into the Museum's vast permanent collection and special exhibitions--all in one player. Constantly updated, the program currently contains more than 94 hours of audio commentaries, including special selections such as Art and Music, an architecture tour of the Museum, a family Audio Guide specially designed for younger visitors, and The Director's Selections, a highlights tour of 60 masterpieces narrated by Philippe de Montebello that is available in eight languages (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin, and Korean).
Audio Guides are available in the Great Hall or at the entrance to selected special exhibitions for a $7.00 rental fee ($6.00 for Museum Members, $5.00 for children under 12, and $4.00 for groups larger than 15).
The Audio Guide at the Metropolitan is produced by Antenna Audio, the leading provider of audio and audio-visual interpretation to museums, exhibitions, historic sites, and visitor attractions around the world. Antenna Audio is a fully owned subsidiary of Discovery Communications, LLC.
