Catherine McCurry

Ivana and I went to the Met today with the intention of breaking the rules. This in itself breaks an implicit rule of museum attendance – we were not there to appreciate art, but to play with the institution.

My idea, before I got there, was to take on the role of a museum guard and deliver instructions to my fellow patrons with some sort of authority. I wore a blazer, hoping that would help. I thought I would ask people to tie their jackets around their waists, or police a specific work of art and tell people the best distance and angle to view it from. Turns out, I’m a chicken. The museum was crowded, the guards were everywhere, and I couldn’t bring myself to tell people what to do. Especially since it would draw immediate attention.

Instead, we looked for opportunities as they presented themselves. I ended up getting up close and personal with restricted areas and specific works of art, and recording the visit in different ways. The guards only seemed to be concerned about three things: touching the art, using a flash when photographing, and shooting video anywhere in the museum. So that’s what I did.

In the zen garden, a guard had her back to me while I was standing in a roped in area. I began to feel bold and toed the restricted zone.

I brought a small item I made from discarded glass, electronics, and paper napkins. I thought I would leave it in the corner of a room, but this cubbyhole in a Sumerian called to me. I snuck it in and photgraphed it.

I photographed a guard talking to a janitor and used a flash.

nicetrythough

I sat at a locked desk in a hallway and began to make a phone call. I was immediately scolded by a guard who warned that I would be kicked out. He ended by saying, “Nice try, though.”

kissing

I lovingly kissed a Roman statue while being shooed from the museum at closing time. Actually, I kissed her about 5 times for proper documentation, and none of the 4 guards in the room noticed.