Copying The Vine at The Met
My copy of The Vine 23”H x 17”D x 10”W
In the Spring of 2016, I was accepted into The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Copyist Program to create a model size of one of my favorite pieces, The Vine, by Harriet Whitney Frishmuth. Over a span of eight weeks, I had a mere 24 hours to study and sculpt in the Engelhard Court, among The Met’s wandering and very curious visitors.
As a sort of personal, social experiment, I left a note encouraging spectators to tag my instagram handle in any photos they happened to take. The result was heartwarming; not only did I receive numerous photos, but also sketches of me sculpting by other artists. Near the end of my temporary residency, a kind, older, art lover, who I had spoken to a number of times, gifted me a thumb drive of progress images they had taken. The experience was thrilling and extremely rewarding. The memories of it never fail to put a smile on my face.
Later, The Met’s media team contacted me and invited me to participate in The Met’s 360° Project. I am featured in The Charles Engelhard Court video, which is one of their six award winning videos showcasing some of their iconic spaces.
For artists who are in close proximity of New York City, I strongly suggest applying to this program. It is an incredible opportunity and an absolute thrill: The Copyist Program