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Thousands of New Yorkers attended the celebration of the reopening of the Rockefeller Wing at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Saturday, May 30th. On the steps located on 5th Avenue and 85th Street, the MET had a massive celebration with performances and festivals that celebrated the countries that are displayed in the renovation of the 400,000 square feet gallery space on the museum’s south side.

The Rockefeller wing, named after the Anthropologist Michael C. Rockefeller, was closed down to the public in 2021. After four years, the wing reopened with a $70 million renovation with an expansion with new galleries for the Arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania.

The MET held the ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon celebrating the diversity of the wing’s expansion. There were the opening remarks from Heidi Holder, Frederick P., and Sandra P. Rose Chair of Education at the MET. “I would like to welcome you to the opening of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing!” she said. “I am so thrilled to be here and to celebrate this historic milestone for the museum and the City of New York and the world. We are happy to have you and everyone who came all over the world to create an amazing day for all of you!” she said.

The ceremony kicked off with energetic performances from the Maori Delegation from New Zealand that performed traditional Maori haka and chants and traditional Maori dances used in welcoming ceremonies to tell stories and express feelings.

Next, Laurie Cumbo, Commissioner of Culture Affairs for New York City, took the stage in traditional dressings and took a moment to speak. “This is what New York City is all about!” said Cumbo. “There is a beautiful diversity that is New York City. The grand reopening of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing brings over five continents of incredible artifacts. Over 1,800 artifacts from five different continents!” she said

Cumbo then introduced the Grammy-Award Winning Mexican band Mariachi Real de Mexico who came on the stairs of the MET and performed their original music with live instruments with guitars and violins.  The final performance was the Senegalese drumming ensemble Magatte Fall and MAX Percussion. They took the stairs at performed live with African drums and had traditional Senegalese dancers.  The crowd clapped and cheered for the high-energy performance.

The streets in front of the Met held a food festival with traditional food from all the countries that are on display in the new Rockefeller Wing. Some of the food vendors include authentic Peruvian/Incan by Chief Gabriel Gavilan from the Mistura Peruana Restaurant. He served slow-roasted lamb with Maori spices and mint sauce. Other vendors include Vincent Farms Natural Foods from Sierra Leonean, and the Ghenet Restaurant serving authentic Ethiopian food.

After the opening ceremony, attendees got to enter the new wing. On the south side of the museum, art lovers get a view of the new eye-opening exhibit. Some of the exhibits include the Ceremonial House Ceiling of the Kwoma people from the Village of Mariwal in New Guinea. This a floor-to-ceiling display of a true balance of forces involved in bringing the new Oceana Pacific Asia Wing at the Metropolitan to life after 50 years of holding the ancestral spirits of the Kwoma people.

Other eye-catching displays were the traditional face masks, photography from WWII from Zanzibar in East Africa, and religious artifacts, like Crucifixes from the Republic of the Congo off the Western Coast of Central Africa.

The wing was designed by WHY Architecture. The exhibit was an engaging exhibit that brought pride to each country in the exhibit. The wing was immersive and an architectural tribute with both a reimagination of tradition and innovation.

Photo Credit: Sherica Daley