Art

I recently switched to the Google Chrome browser and have been pretty pleased with it. I was even happier to discover a free new “plug-in” for Chrome that displays a different cat from the catabulous Metropolitan Art Museum’s art collection each time you open a new browser tab!

Designed by recent Cornell Tech alumna Emily McAllister during an internship at the Met’s Media Lab, Meow Met is super easy to install and features works of art spanning thousands of years and ranging from Ancient Egyptian jewelry and sculpture to contemporary American photography. I’ve been using the plug-in for over a week now, and while I’ve seen several items repeat themselves, the feature still shows me new art work every day.

The picture that appears when you open a new tab is often a cropped version of the artwork, focusing on the cat. If you click on the title of the artwork (in the upper left corner of the screen,) a new page will open that shows you the entire piece, along with information about the artist, medium, when it was created, and how the museum acquired it. Most of the works are listed as “not on view,” so by using Meow Met you can enjoy feline finery that’s not even on display at the museum! You can also share the cat art on various social media platforms, or download it for your own enjoyment. I’m certainly enjoying it myself, and it’s always fun to see what kitties are going to pop up next on my computer! Two paws up for Meow Met!