Sneak Peek: Bali in Amsterdam

Greetings from the land of cheese and chocolate — Amsterdam. Most of our visitors probably are asking, “Why are staff from the Asian Art Museum in Amsterdam”? Well, I’m here, along with objects conservator Mark Fenn and Associate Curator of Southeast Asian Art Natasha Reichle, planning for the first ever U.S. exhibition of Balinese art.

The exhibition, Bali: Art, Ritual, Performance, will open at the museum in February 2011. But like many of our exhibitions, years of work are needed to ensure that it is a spectacular success.

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Eating near the Asian Art Museum – Part 2

My last post talked about Vietnamese dining options near the museum.  But of course there are other cuisines nearby.  I still think the number one choice for lunch time dining is right inside the museum at Café Asia.  But here are some other choices if you find yourself leaving the museum and wanting to have lunch or an early dinner near the museum.

Ananda Fuara salad and samosas. http://www.flickr.com/photos/maxkiesler/ / CC BY 2.0

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Eating near the Asian Art Museum

What should you do when you are visiting the Asian Art Museum and discover you’re hungry?

First, the Asian Art Museum has its own Café Asia and the food is delicious. The line moves quickly so you can get right back to the galleries, resource room, North Court or Samsung Hall activities — and of course the gift shop — in no time. If it is a sunny day you are in luck because you can sit outside on the terrace –– one of the very few al fresco dining options in the neighborhood.

Cafe Asia's delicious Chinese Chicken Salad

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Unpacking in the Forbidden City

We started unpacking and condition checking objects from the exhibition Power & Glory: Court Arts of China’s Ming Dynasty at the Forbidden City in Beijing.  Everyone working  here at the Palace Museum was required to wear a face mask — an effort to prevent Swine flu. Here is a photo of the unpacking team (that’s me  in the first row on the right, with Asian Art Museum conservator Mark Fenn beside me):

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Ming returns home

After a 12 month long US tour with stops in San Francisco, Indianapolis, and St. Louis, Power and Glory: Court Arts of China’s Ming Dynasty, has finally returned home to China. This is the end of a project that I have worked on for more than three years.

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