The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is currently hosting the exhibit “Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156-1868." This exhibit is the decade-long project of Morihiro Ogawa, the Met's consultant for Japanese arms and armor. Most of the pieces included in the exhibit are designated National Treasures or Important Cultural Properties. Several, such as the 12th century cavalry armor, will only be on display for two weeks of the months long show. The show includes every piece of Japanese arms and armor: the helmet, the body armor, the sword, and the sheath. Some designs are simple and elegant; others are pure ostentatious and showy. The exhibit emphasizes the cultural and aesthetic extremes of Japanese culture, permitting the public access to a rare artistic treat. The exhibit runs through January 10. Join discussion...

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is opening an exhibit on Islamic art today, September 23rd. The exhibit will feature manuscripts, miniatures, carpets, and architecture since 7th Century Middle East. This exhibit opens at 9:30 on the 23rd and will remain open through October, closing on Halloween. Join discussion...

Over the years, Robert A. Ellison Jr. has amassed a large collection of art pottery. There are few art pottery collections, but his is considered to be one of the best. Now he plans to donate some 250 pieces to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where they will grace the museum's Charles Englehard Court in the newly-renovated American Wing. The museum's current collection of art pottery is lacking, and this will be an incredible contribution, showcased in glass cases on the sunny mezzanine. They will be exhibited starting on May 19 of this year. Join discussion...

When Phillipe de Montebello, the current director and chief executive of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, retires on Jan. 1st, he will be succeeded by Thomas P. Campbell. The article gives biographical details on Campbell, who grew up in England and attended various schools, focusing on painting, theater, academics, and then tapestries. In 1995 he began work at the Met as an assistant curator, and in 2003 became a full curator. He has organized two tapestry exhibits at the Met in the past six years, and he has been the supervising curator of the Met's first department with a computerized database (the Antonio Ratti Textile Center). He is hoping to tailor some aspects of the museum to web audiences in order to reach out to more people as well as keep up with the quickly developing technological world. He also wants to begin to incorporate more contemporary art into shows at the Met, without losing sight of the fact that above all, it is an "encyclopedic museum." Join discussion...

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) returned a wine bowl called the Euphronios krater, which is about 2,500 years old. Along with the museum’s return of the wine bowl, Shelby White, a board of Trustees member for the Met and benefactor, has agreed to return 10 other artifacts from her private collection, which has never been done before. Italy claims that many artifacts were stolen and smuggled out of the country before having been acquired by art institutions. Italy is trying to gather as many as possible and will be displaying the artifacts in an exhibition, “Nostoi: Recovered Masterpieces” through March 2 at the presidential palace, Quirinale. The Met is not left empty handed though because three vases have been loaned to the museum. Join discussion...