An Uptown Adventure Opens Up The World

At the Bronx Museum of the Arts and the New York City Branch of The Explorer's Club and an outing with National Geographic

Last week I tagged along with the Scholar Wife and Renaissance Son to the Bronx Museum of the Arts, which is holding its sixth biennial. At the D.J.-ed reception party on the second floor we saw two spirited young women dressed as pop art — one was an homage to Jean-Michel Basquiat (she wore his crown) and the other celebrated Andy Warhol, with his signature Velvet Underground banana floating over her head.

It’s nice to be reminded that while some people are so separated from truth and beauty that they succumb to the demands of politics and hurl pumpkin soup at the Mona Lisa, others still celebrate the creative lights who are no longer with us but continue to remind us what being human is all about.

My favorite piece from a show full of daring multi-media and installation works was a grand painting by Saba Farhoudnia called “If I were Elaine de Kooning.” It’s better if I just show you:

Inspired by Elaine de Kooning’s daring abstract expressionism, Farhoudnia gives us a meta portrait of what her studio would look like if she were able to fashion it in the style of her muse. The painting invites long gazes and reveals new things over time. It is also a worthy homage and a celebration of human creativity.

Another way to celebrate human creativity is by living an adventurous life and prioritizing both travel and experience. We left the Bronx for a party at The Explorer’s Club, organized by members trying to encourage art world interest in the 120 year old Manhattan institution.

The Club is a bit like being invited into the mansion of a time traveling genius. Its book cases are filled with memoirs of arctic and desert expeditions, of quests to find sunken ships and of mankind’s journey to the moon. A stuffed polar bear glowers in a sitting room while a framed flag in the parlor commemorates an arctic journey made when some parts of the world were still unknown to people.

Speaking of the unknown world, that’s been the subject of the National Geographic Society since its founding in 1888. Thanks again to the Scholar Wide, the Middlebrow was able to attend NatGeo’s event celebrating the top 20 travel experiences of 2024, which include bucket list items like Nairobi-based safaris, ski tours of Eastern Europe and meals in Austin, Texas. The uplifting, but sadly necessary message from National Geographic’s editor at the start of the year? Plan your vacations and use every day you’re given. Pew Research said last summer that 46% of U.S. workers do not use all of their annual paid time off.

It’s not always possible (or fair to ask) that every bit of paid time off is used for exotic travel or expensive frills and no doubt we all have “time off” that doesn’t feel like time off because of family, health or other obligations but National Geographic’s curation of things to do is thoughtfully spread among attainable and aspirational experiences. The Society’s very smart focus for 2024 is all about helping people reclaim their time and encouraging employers to make sure that employees feel secure and able to do so. Small adventures count. A day here and there counts. Take care of yourselves!

It’s easy to become cynical and to believe that a demystified world has been robbed of its dragons and shadowlands, but that’s really not true. I’ve lived in New York City since 1999 and had never before been to either the Bronx Museum or the Explorer’s Club. We miss things around us every day and forget that mysteries and surprises abound behind an illusion that we think is mundane.