"Maelstrom" on the Met

American artist Roxy Paine's special exhibition will soon close on November 29th. But before it does, it's definitely worth an hour or two to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden. Surrounded by the stunning panorama of Central Park, Paine's spectacular stainless steel sculpture, Maelstrom, measures an impressive 130-feet-long by 45-feet-wide. It dwarfs the roof deck's square footage and wildly intertwines above the roof itself.

The fun part about this sculpture is that you can walk through it. It's like exploring a labyrinth of giant tree roots, alive and organic, yet simultaneously harnessed and contained by their rigid, industrial welding. According to the artist's interpretation, "...the installation explores the interplay between the natural world and the built environment amid nature's inherently chaotic processes."

No matter what your individual interpretation of Maelstrom is, I highly recommend checking it out...and if the sculpture and setting aren't quite enough to draw you there, the Met's Roof Deck also has a quaint little bar/bistro that serves espresso, sandwiches, wine, beer, and martinis!