Editing Metropolitan Museum of Art (section)

== Special exhibitions ==
The museum regularly hosts notable special exhibitions, often focusing on the works of one artist that have been loaned out from a variety of other museums and sources for the duration of the exhibition. These exhibitions are part of the attraction that draw people both within and outside Manhattan to explore the Met. Such exhibitions include displays especially designed for the [[Anna Wintour Costume Center|Costume Institute]], paintings from artists from across the world, works of art related to specific art movements, and collections of historical artifacts. Exhibitions are commonly located within their specific departments, ranging from American decorative arts, arms and armor, drawings and prints, Egyptian art, Medieval art, musical instruments, and photographs. Typical exhibitions run for months at a time and are open to the general public. Each exhibition provides insight into the world of art as a transformative, cultural experience and often includes a historical analysis to demonstrate the profound impact that art has on society and its dramatic transformation over the years.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metmuseum.org/special/ |title=The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Exhibitions |publisher=Metmuseum.org |access-date=June 11, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923193603/http://www.metmuseum.org/special/ |archive-date=September 23, 2011 }}</ref>

In 1969, a special exhibition, titled "Harlem on My Mind" was criticized for failing to exhibit work by [[Harlem]] artists. The museum defended its decision to portray Harlem itself as a work of art.<ref>{{cite journal| title=Black Artists and Activism: Harlem on My Mind (1969)| first=Bridget R.| last=Cooks| journal=[[American Studies (journal)|American Studies]]| date=Spring 2007| volume=48| issue=1| pages=5–39| doi=10.1353/ams.0.0137| url=http://www.theasa.net/journals/name/american_studies/3958/| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018041457/http://www.theasa.net/journals/name/american_studies/3958/| archive-date=October 18, 2014}}</ref> [[Norman Lewis (artist)|Norman Lewis]], [[Benny Andrews]], [[Romare Bearden]], [[Clifford Joseph (artist)|Clifford Joseph]], [[Roy DeCarava]], [[Reginald Gammon (American artist)|Reginald Gammon]], [[Henri Ghent]], [[Raymond Saunders (artist)|Raymond Saunders]], and [[Alice Neel]] were among the artists who picketed the show.<ref>{{cite web| title=Norman Lewis – First Major African American Abstract Expressionist| author=Michael Rosenfeld Gallery| publisher=Violette de Mazia Foundation| access-date=March 19, 2015| url=http://demazia.org/features/norman-lewis-first-major-african-american-abstract-expressionist| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021221800/http://demazia.org/features/norman-lewis-first-major-african-american-abstract-expressionist| url-status=dead| archive-date=October 21, 2014}}</ref>