New York Adventure Club

Tickets: $18.88 ( incl. $3.88 fees ) (includes access to the full replay for one week)

Click the link below to officially register for this experience:

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1978425526006

While museums of every kind are ubiquitous in most cities throughout the world, where did the idea of showcasing items in a room originate from? It's time to unearth the origins of these institutions, which not only became spaces to house tangible treasures, but also havens of profound intangible contemplation and discourse.

Join New York Adventure Club as we delve into the history and evolution of public collections, from the inaugural Ennigaldi-Nanna "museum" in Iraq (circa 530 BCE), through the corridors of Ancient Greece's Mouseion, and finally to the museums of the 19th century as we recognize them today.

Led by art historian, museum guide, and New York Adventure Club lecturer Mariska Beekenkamp-Wladimiroff, this virtual experience through the origins of museums will include:

• The earliest forms of collecting and learning, where the emphasis was on comprehensiveness rather than the confines of a physical structure
• A look at the intriguing concept of studioli, spaces dedicated to personal enrichment and contemplation
• The captivating realm of Cabinets of Curiosities, where preservation, categorization, and the pursuit of knowledge converged
• The intellectual landscape of The Enlightenment, a cultural movement that propelled the quest for knowledge forward
• An exploration of museums in the 19th century, entwined with notions of civic pride and the burgeoning free education movement
• Insights into the contemporary criteria defining what truly constitutes a museum

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Mariska — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week!
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser — Google Chrome is the most compatible. Exact technical requirements and a webinar user guide will be shared in the automated confirmation email upon registration.
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week

About Mariska
Mariska is a Social Psychologist by trade but took up her love for the arts again after the birth of her children. ​
Heavily pregnant with number 3, Mariska finished her MA at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London, in Dutch Baroque Art. Soon after this she was lucky enough to lecture for the most wonderful group of students. She decided this was what she wanted to do and set up Art Historical London offering art historical lectures, courses, tours, travel and events from London and Amsterdam, and since 2020 online. ​
Fully accredited in the UK to teach the over 16, Mariska also lectures for NAFDAS, an arts education society with members in the UK and Mainland Europe, New Zealand and Australia. She is a lecturer with the public program of the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London, and can provide live, online and recorded lectures for groups or individuals.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Photo Credit: Main - Wikipedia, Top Right - qubpublichistory.wordpress.com
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment

Tickets: $18.88 ( incl. $3.88 fees ) (includes access to the full replay for one week)

Click the link below to officially register for this experience:

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1977397845185

A newly transformed gallery can reshape the way we see art, inviting visitors to experience familiar collections through a fresh lens. The Metropolitan Museum of Art achieved exactly that in 2025, unveiling a revitalized Michael C. Rockefeller Wing that reimagines how we engage with its celebrated holdings, important new additions, and contemporary commissions. What new insights emerge when its artworks are presented in a space designed to honor their depth and complexity? Get ready to step into this bold renewal and discover how thoughtful design can illuminate the stories and meaning woven into these remarkable works.

Join New York Adventure Club for a three-part series exploring the renovated Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, home to one of the world’s most important collections of art from Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania. In Part Three: Arts of Africa, we’ll explore the extraordinary artistic traditions of sub-Saharan Africa, examining how these works embody complex belief systems, social structures, and creative lineages that extend from the Middle Ages to the present.

Led by Sylvia Laudien-Meo — art historian, museum educator, and NYC tour guide — this art-centric virtual journey will feature:

• Highlights from over 170 cultures, featuring masks, sculptures, architectural elements, and diverse materials shaped by regional traditions
• A look at unique Christian artworks, including Kongo sculptural pieces and Ethiopian illuminations and murals
• Examples of early 20th-century European modernism influenced by African art, featuring artists such as Picasso, Derain, and Matisse
• A focus on female artists and their expertise, from ceramics and textile dyeing to beadwork and basket weaving
• Insights into African fabric arts, including design traditions, symbolism, and material innovation
• A look at the exhibition Iba Ndiaye: Between Latitude and Longitude, centered on a promised gift from this celebrated Senegalese master, and contemporary works by leading African artists such as El Anatsui, Abdoulaye Konaté, and Joel Andrianomearisoa
• A selection of contemporary African photography, featuring pioneering photographers like Seydou Keïta, Samuel Fosso, and Zanele Muholi

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Sylvia — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay through one week after the entire series concludes.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week after the series finale
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week since the series finale, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

The Met's Rockefeller Wing Series
Part 1: Arts of Oceania (Monday, January 5 @ 5:30pm ET)
Part 2: Arts of the Ancient Americas (Monday, January 12 @ 5:30pm ET)
Part 3: Arts of Africa (Monday, January 19 @ 5:30pm ET)

About Sylvia
Sylvia Laudien-Meo is a freelance Art Historian who works in and around the city in various capacities, specializing on Modern and Contemporary art, with a strong focus on Public Art. She teaches art history at Fairleigh Dickinson University and has been working as a museum educator at MoMA, the Guggenheim and the Jewish Museum for over many years, engaging visitors in conversation based, interactive art experiences of permanent collections and changing exhibitions.
For the Municipal Art Society, UFT, Brandeis Univ., and private clients, she has been touring the city for over 20 years, exploring art and architecture, parks, neighborhoods and history. Working in various different capacities gives her a unique opportunity to make intriguing connections and weave together the complex perspectives that make out the tapestry of our fascinating city.
SLM holds a Masters Degree in Art History (with minors in History and American Studies) from the Joh. Gutenberg University in Mainz, Germany, as well as a Tourism degree from the EST in Paris France.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Art & Entertainment

Tickets: $18.88 ( incl. $3.88 fees ) (includes access to the full replay for one week)

Click the link below to officially register for this experience:

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1978413972449

Before the rhythm of modern city life, the New York City neighborhood of Greenwich Village was a tapestry of farms, grand estates, and even the site of a notorious prison. What was life like on the margins of early New York in the 18th century, before urban streets and village squares emerged? It's time to discover the hidden histories and early characters that shaped this rural outpost into the iconic destination it is today.

Join New York Adventure Club as we explore the fascinating early landscape of Greenwich Village before 1800 — a neighborhood where working farms stood alongside opulent country estates, and a newly built state prison laid the groundwork for a growing community.

Led by historian Tom Miller, our unique exploration will include:

• The story of New York’s first state prison, Newgate Prison, built in 1797 near what is now the West Village waterfront — its need for guards, staff, and suppliers gave rise to a growing local community
• The farms and estates that once defined the area, including the sprawling grounds of British officers and prominent American families who sought refuge from the dense city to the south
• Early domestic architecture that shaped the village’s identity, like the modest wooden home of Thomas Paine, standing near today’s Bleecker and Grove Streets
• Elegant Federal-era residences in a rural setting, including the 1799 mansion of Joshua Isaacs, which stood out as one of the earliest grand homes north of the city
• The evolving fate of these structures, from demolition and obscurity to the few rare survivors that still echo the Village’s 18th-century roots

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Tom — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Tom
Architectural and social historian Tom Miller is the author of Seeking New York, Seeking Chicago, as well as the popular blog “Daytonian in Manhattan.” Since 2009 Tom has published a blog post on a different Manhattan location every day — now totaling nearly 4,600.
His research and reporting focus as much on the social histories of the buildings — the tragedies and sorrows, triumphs and scandals of the people who built and lived in the houses — as on their architecture and styles.
Tom Miller’s retelling of these stories make the buildings come alive; and suddenly they are more than brick, marble, and limestone, but the histories of real people.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Neighborhoods

Tickets: $18.88 ( incl. $3.88 fees ) (includes access to the full replay for one week)

Click the link below to officially register for this experience:

https://www.nyadventureclub.com/event/1978828805225

Before it became home to the world’s most celebrated art collection, the Louvre was a fortress, a palace, and a symbol of royal ambition. How did centuries of power, politics, and artistic patronage transform this grand architectural landmark into the most visited museum on Earth? From medieval walls to revolutionary masterpieces, it's time to uncover the hidden history behind Paris’ cultural crown jewel.

Join New York Adventure Club as we trace the Louvre’s evolution into the world’s most visited museum — a journey shaped by centuries of monarchs, revolutionaries, and visionaries who redefined the role of art in society.

Led by art historian Tosca Ruggieri, our virtual exploration into the origins of the modern museum will include:

• The medieval origins of the Louvre as a defensive stronghold, and its transformation into a royal residence under the French monarchy
• The role of kings, queens, and court artists in shaping the Louvre’s identity as a center of artistic patronage long before it became a museum
• The impact of the French Revolution in redefining the Louvre as a public institution, forever changing who art was for and how it was displayed
• A closer look at overlooked masterpieces and quiet corners of the museum, revealing hidden stories often missed by hurried visitors
• How the Louvre’s layered architecture and vast collection reflect centuries of shifting power, cultural ideals, and national identity

Afterward, we'll have a Q&A with Tosca — any and all questions are welcomed and encouraged!
Can't make it live? Don't worry, you'll have access to the full replay for one week.
See you there, virtually!

*Immediately upon registering, you will receive a separate, automated email containing the link to join this webinar
**For the best possible viewing experience, please ensure you're using the latest version of your internet browser
***A full replay of the experience will be available to all registered guests for up to a week
****If the event has already passed, but it's been less than a week, you can still register for it on our website's active replay section!

About Tosca
Growing up amongst the artistic treasures of North-Eastern France and Tuscany, art inspired Tosca from an early age. This led her to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in Art History in Paris as well as a Master’s Degree in Art & Archaeology from EPHE-Sorbonne. She also holds a Master’s Degree in Arts & Cultural Management from King’s College London.
After a career in art galleries across London and teaching art history at French universities, Tosca embarked on creating Art with Tosca to share her passion for art. In D.C., Tosca crafts and leads curated tours of the National Gallery of Art, highlighting the museum’s collection of masterpieces from the Italian Renaissance to Modern masters.
Tosca wants to make art history accessible, interesting and engaging by transporting guests through centuries of art, either from the comfort of home through numerous lectures and virtual events, or locally in Washington D.C. through the halls of the National Gallery of Art.

Disclaimer
By attending a New York Adventure Club experience, you accept our terms of service.
Categories: Virtual, Landmarks