CBS 2 At The Met

CBS 2 At The Met: Classic Fantastic

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Old and new, in perfect, artistic harmony. "Classic Fantastic" features 75 modern and ancient designs, including furniture, ceramics and glass in one gallery.

On the Classic side you'll see updated designs that reflect tradition and continuity.

Fantastic fits in on the opposite end, that's where art takes a surreal spin. Associate Curator Jared Goss told CBS 2's Dana Tyler that this exhibition travels through time. Goss said, "It's the entire 20th century from 1900 until the present day more or less. And I wanted to show how, particularly, the classical language provides an ongoing source of inspiration for designers even to the present day."

Museum visitors will see how an Italian design team named "Studio 65," found inspiration, and comfort in the classic form of an Greek column.

Goss explained, "It is a chair made out of foam. It's from 1965, of course the ionic column capital couldn't be more historical pop icon of historicism. Tyler added, "Not that we're ever allowed to sit in it, but it looks like if one were to sit in it!" Goss replied. "Exactly. Well, what's interesting about it is that one expects a column to be made out of very hard, cold marble. But, in fact, this is made of very soft, pliable foam. So when you sit in it, you're supposed to sink right in to it."

Gardeners will be attracted to this colorful Art Deco screen. it was a big hit at an art fair in paris in 1925. It was designed by a man named Paul Vera, who is a landscape designer and that is why we have all of these motifs of plants and flowers and gardening devices." According to Goss.

Over on the fantastic side, Goss pointed out his favorite object in the show, that's been in storage since 1927.

"It's a really odd mix of modern design and an attempt to revive beautiful, luxurious porcelains that were very popular in the 18th century. And we have all of these crazy figures that look like they have come -- stepped -- straight out of the pages of the Arabian Nights. There's exotic dancers. And, in fact, the one dancer turns into this pagoda vase. So it's a really crazy design that has no basis in history, but purely an object of fantasy.

Tyler pointed out furniture that would suit Goss who is very tall.. Tyler said. "It looks like a desk made for you Jared!" Goss laughed. "Exactly! It's a really interesting piece. Really fantastic decor which is somewhat illusionistic, but it plays a real games with interior and exterior space. For example, this very strange, concave architectural element floating in space against this staircase. It's a very interesting piece because you're never really quite sure what you're looking at. It looks like an architectural model, but then again, it really isn't!"

Imagination at play and on display. "Classic, Fantastic at the Met.

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