Hosting our guest from the WFTGA, Maricar Donato

It was my pleasure today to spend time with Maricar Donato, Trainer extraordinaire from the World Federation of Tour Guides Association (WFTGA).  Maricar was visiting New York and staying at the Row Hotel in Times Square, where she met with a group of members of GANYC on Thursday.  This morning I was able to spend some additional time with Maricar.  We met at the Arch in Washington Square Park, and continued on to visit the Grey Art Gallery at NYU.  Maricar and I were excited to explore the current exhibition at Grey Gallery entitled "Global/Local 1960-2015: Six Artists from Iran."  The exhibit features works by three generations of Iranian artists born between 1937 and 1982.  Some ten works by each artist examine their individual artistic practices through shared aspects of their Persian heritage.   One of the reasons for Maricar's New York visit was to see this exhibit, as she prepares for the next WFTGA Convention to be held in Iran in 2017.  Our next stop was the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The Met is my home away from home, being on staff as a volunteer for the past 9 years in the Marketing and External Affairs Division.  Again, Iranian Art was the subject of our visit.  Maricar had the wonderful oportunity to experience first hand, the Met's rich collection of the Arts and Crafts from Iran - as we strolled through the Islamic Art Gallery.  I wish we had more time to spend together but Maricar had a 5:00 Amtrack to catch back to Washington, D.C.  GANYC hopes that she will return soon. It was a pleasure to have her here!

Bob Gelber, Corresponding Secretary, GANYC Board