How Great The Art

Saving the best Museums with the best memories for last.  This picture is the actual day of my sixtieth birthday.  It was one of my favorite days ever.   The first time I went to the Barnes was with friends.  We went to college together, and we laughed our way through this museum.  I felt like a little kid who was laughing in church and I was going to get in trouble.  By the fourth room we went in, I just couldn't figure anything out.  I became unhinged!  Every room is a mix of colors, artists, time period, countries of origin and hinges!  So,  the questions began what's with the hinges?  What does each room have in common?  Why did he arrange these like this?  Where did he get all of his money?  I wonder what the original house looked like?  Can you still visit the original home?  It was the most fun I have ever had in a museum. I saw a movie about the Renior collection and it helped with a lot of my qu...

So, the last ten years my museum experiences were mostly influenced by my daughter.  And, another great influencer is the internet.  Thank goodness for the internet , which takes me to a different destination everyday, while I am stuck at home.  I was feeling the same way a few years ago.  It was the dead of winter and I started my search of impressionism.  It brought me to a sight for the top 25 places in the world to view Impressionism.  I was surprised how many I visited.  Then when I came to see there was a collection on view in Shelburne, Vermont I was so happy.  I was visiting Burlington and going right by there for training at April Cornell.  But, this part wasn't open during the winter.  So, it had to wait until a visit during the summer.  It really was amazing, the whole place is amazing.  Electra Havemeyer Webb was born to collectors during the Golden Age.  She grew up in an apartment in New York City. ...

Ahhh the unexpected.  There were so many places I wanted to see in London,  but it was great each day how we approached it.  We ended up going on the Red Double Decker bus every day.  And, we kept on passing the Somerset House on the river.  One day while passing by I googled it and found out it had a huge Impressionism collection.  I never heard of it before.  When we would pass by I could see it's beautiful architecture and huge courtyard.  This is when the postcards I collect come in handy.  I can match the postcards with the pictures on my computer, because sometimes the computer doesn't include the location for every picture. I remember vividly taking this picture and what to include.  The decorative molding and color of this room was stunning.  The color of the walls with this painting were breathtaking.  The painting is called Vase of Flowers by Monet.  I love the colors and the fullness of the bouquet.  A...

I love the Victorian time period.  Love the architecture, furniture, and most of all victorian scrap.  Impressionism happened during this time but, are rarely associated with each other.  And, most of all the discovery of color in printing came out of this time.  Lithography was a method used to layer colors and it is really when graphic arts began.  Advertisements used beautiful scenes and flowers for motifs.  They were so beautiful everyone couldn't throw these scraps away and preserved them in scrapbooks. For a long time I would think during our lifetime what did we not throw away and couldn't think of anything.  But, then when Glen thought of upcycling our record collection it was a light bulb moment.  He used the actual records and I loved to go through the record sleeves to make file folders,  post cards, greeting cards, decopauged boxes and scrapbooks out of the covers.   So, this visit to the Victoria and Albert museum wa...

This was the day after Christmas,  Ian and Kaylyn's  last year at U Arts.  We all enjoyed this visit.  I was surprised how big the Brooklyn Museum was.   We took the train and Ian was really good navigating the subway to get there.   We mainly went to see the Mickalene Thomas Exhibit.  It was described as dazzling and it really was.  Those are all rhinestones in her work, which is hard to see.  The name of the exhibit was the Origin of the Universe.  There were 93 pieces of her work and I was stunned!  She is from Camden, New Jersey, she used her mother as her muse, she bought the rhinestones from Michaels, and was born in 1971.  Never in my wildest dreams after my college studies, did I ever think an exhibit like this would happen in my lifetime.  It was powerful. Another Powerful work is the dinner party.  It's permanent home is now at the Brooklyn Museum.  I know I saw it before when it had been trave...

I saved the Museums that impressed me the most for the last week.  And, maybe you have noticed the pattern.  It's my daughter who is teaching me and inspiring me.  I never would have gone to the Corcoran for the 30 Americans show if it wasn't for my daughter.  I was blown away.  I took the pamphlet, and wanted to go back no sooner then I got home.  The gallery is part of a college of Art and Design.  It had a calendar full of the Artists actually visiting with it's students and the public.  I never got back there.  And, I was stunned when I did google the Museum a few years later, it had closed in 2014.  Yesterday gave me the chance to read about the closure and what happened to the collection.  It was a beautiful collection, a lot of Reniors.  They were given away to mostly to the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC and many other museums only in Washington DC. I shared the picture of  the Nick Cave's sound suit, ...

The Art Institute of Chicago is one of my favorites.  Glen and I went in 1989 by train as a stop on our way to Seattle.  Kaylyn and I went in 2015 to see Ian play with the Toasters.  We spent a long day at the Art Institute of Chicago, the Contemporary Museum of Art, the Butterfly Conservatory and a gallery with a special exhibition of Mickalene Thomas.  It was a magical trip as we saw ladybugs everywhere we went.  It was late October, but the weather was beautiful.  The biggest and best surprise was the David Bowie exhibit from the V&A at the Contemporary Museum of Art. But, back to the Art Institute of Chicago.  As you walk up to the museum with the large lions outside, there is always a familiar feeling I get.  And, when we look at the paintings I get the same feeling.  Then Kaylyn reminded me of the Ferris Bueller movie and how they spent the afternoon at the Museum.  My favorites are Saturday in the Park by Suerat and of co...

It's Memorial Day weekend during a pandemic.  It is a weekend to remember the fallen.  Usually, a parade in every town of America would take place.  Giant flower wreaths are placed on the Memorials of our local heroes.  This weekend especially seems a little odd to me.  As, we still are under orders here in New Jersey to only leave our homes for our essential needs.  The weather isn't helping either, as it is gray, rainy and today it is chilly.  So, it is hard to write with any optimism.   I did choose a Museum dedicated to American Impressionism .   I think after doing all of these posts I see why I like Impressionist paintings so much.  If I compared walking through a museum to life, the impressionist period would be what brings the most feeling of happiness and joy.  Walking through the rooms we see the paintings from centuries before and they are dark and most of the subject matter is solemn.  But, when you walk into a r...

The Art of the Cover Band.  The Cover bands of the Jersey Shore created a music scene.  And, that scene made us come alive.  It was great joy and fun.  We were spoiled, because we experienced this since the age of eighteen.  And, really spoiled because up until this summer, we could experience it every summer since.  It changed.  But, last year the Parker House was still making the news for the overcrowding and being a  nuisance to the neighborhood.  There are a lot of cover bands who I used to see forty years ago, still play in Jersey shore bars today.  Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of summer and all of those times.  Like many, this weekend is no different.  It is pouring rain.  But, that didn't matter if you were in a bar listening to a cover band.  So, this summer the bars will be closed.  Asbury Park has announced all concerts and shows are cancelled.  Even, the ones on the beach on Thursda...

My kids are so much better at many things then me, especially selfies.  This is one of my favorites.  We had visited the Impressionism exhibit before I was going to the Barnes for the first time, and ending the night seeing Todd Rundgren for the first time.  It could be one of the best days ever.  This museum never disappoints.  I think it may be the first Museum I went to as an Art student.  I went along with a friend to the Annenberg exhibition in 1989.  I am pretty sure this is when my friend and I made a deal.  No matter what cost the book was for the exhibition, we were going to buy it.  I flipped through the book yesterday.  I am still happy we made that deal.  But, going to exhibitions has changed so much.  Sometimes the cost of an exhibit is as much as the book.  So, I don't really buy the books anymore.  I tried to enjoy the museum virtually, but this one I really enjoy going in person.  It is the ...

There are some museums that actually make me feel powerful.  I always end every visit gazing into Starry Night, by Vincent Van Gogh.  This visit was very special.  We went to the Brooklyn Museum and the MOMA .  Kaylyn did more research on our visit the night before, then I did.  She watched a movie on Cindy Sherman the night before.  Honestly, I don't like and could even say at times, I hate Contemporary or Modern Art.  But, with knowledge I grow to appreciate it.  So, as we walked around  Kaylyn really had to explain to me what I was seeing.  Cindy Sherman actually has an instagram account, which I now follow.  From time to time I will hear her name mentioned in a comedy and I am proud of myself for getting the joke.  Without this visit, I am sure I would have never known who she was or her work.   So, what kind of Art does Cindy Sherman create?  She is a photographer.  She uses herself as her subject. ...

To say I love London is putting it mildly.  It could be raining and I would still want to ride on the top of the double decker bus.  Every aspect I would love.  Our days were long.  Waking early and sitting and having breakfast and jumping on the bus or walking Hyde park and visiting a museum or two.  Most nights were spent in Piccadilly and seeing a show.  I loved the pubs for lunch and dinner.  Loved the sounds.  We stayed in London by Hyde Park and we slept every night with the windows open.  Not a person, car or bus to be heard.  I love to hear the language.  It is as if they are singing.  And, kindness and politeness prevail.  Even the signs are kind.   Glen and I would crack up every time we saw the sign that would say "Mind your head  ".   And, the humor, we laughed a lot.   So, I wasn't surprised this morning when I visited the National Gallery's website.  It is full of visuals and ev...

Wow, this is so good to do.  It really gives me an appreciation for all the Art Museums I have been to.     When I researched this trip I found the Matisse at his Studio exhibit which needed a ticket.  So, Glen opted to walk through the museum, while I waited on line and went through this very well curated exhibit.  It was very exciting to me, because of the way it was curated.  With each painting it included the real objects from Matisse's studio, from his still lives.  It wasn't a large exhibit, so I was glad to go through very quickly and catch up with Glen. In order to do these blog posts, I had found my art museum postcards in all different boxes of paperwork.  I have been sorting and purging which feels really good.  I filed the postcards according to the Museum.  And, that is how I am posting through each collection of postcards.  I remember we were at this museum late, so I never made it to the store to buy postcards. ...

I was lucky enough to visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art twice.  During this pandemic the Museum had a visit from some penguins from the Kansan City Zoo.  As you walk up to the Museum, you know it is going to be a fun experience.  There is a giant sculpture of a badminton birdie on the lawn.  The first time I went, it was coming home from our cross country trip to Seattle.  Glen wanted to go to the Truman Library, and to fit everything in, we went our own ways that day.  It ended up we stayed in the area a few days.  After each day, we told each other our experiences and actually looked at real estate one day.  We went to see a beautiful Victorian home in Independence, Missouri.  It had a beautiful parlor and grand staircase as we walked in.  When we got to the kitchen it made my heart go pitter patter.  It was tiled in beautiful toile blue and white tiles.  I gave Glen the look, and he knew what that meant.  As we ta...

I think the Metropolitan Museum of Art gave me the true appreciation of Art and impacted the quality of my life.  It taught me lessons in friendship, family and myself in the relationship we have with Art.  My first lesson was knowing I could go there by myself and enjoy the experience.  I realized how blessed we are to be able to hop on a train and take a taxi to one of the best museums in the world.  That was big for me to overcome the fear of the city.  The second was to go with friends and be able to go at a pace and have someone to talk to at lunch or on the way back home.  To be able to relate to each other about our favorites and really just how lucky we are to see great works of Art.  And, then my family who always tries to make me happy with a trip to the museum.  The picture of us above was on the rooftop of the Metropolitan which has a fantastic view, sculptures and cocktails! This morning when I was gathering thoughts for what ...

Sometimes the unexpected is the best museum experience.  In 2001 I was hired to work at Boscov's.  I decided I needed to go on a little getaway before I started the training.  I read about a special Impressionism exhibit in Massachusetts.  Kaylyn and Ian were ten years old and I told them we would be going on a road trip for a few days.  It was a beautiful ride and I remember the Indian trail and ride through the Berkshires.  My dad would take us up there many weekends each summer for many years.  We also saw some go carts that I could promise they could go on after the visit to the Clark museum. The main reason I can remember these museum visits, is I would buy postcards of my favorite paintings.  They included Renoir, Monet and Morisot.  I shared a little bit about Berthe Morisot earlier and decided to share her still life above.  This museum has a vast Impressionist collection, and with the Exhibition it was quite the treat. ...

The Louvre was the most anticipated museum I ever entered.  It is a mixture of old and new.  When we arrived by taxi.  A man came up and took the polaroid picture (on right top of book) and handed it to me.  I said "Merci" and he said "Twelve american dollars, please" and I handed him the picture back.  He wouldn't take it.  I gave him the money.  When I travel, I always have my cash planned out and he put a wrinkle in my day already.  Then there was a long line outside to get in.  Then there was a long line inside to get a ticket.    And, when we did get inside the crowd just takes you to the Mona Lisa, there really is no choice where to go.  By the time we arrived at the room where she was, the room was so full we could only catch a glimpse and this crowd was still moving.  We decided to go wait on line for lunch, so we could sit and set out a plan for the afternoon.  I still can't believe a building so massive, ...

I had made this book in a class at Creative Escape the year before.  I used it as a planner.  And, it had folders in it.  I used the folders for the postcards I was collecting from museums and at the markets.  I loved the clock on the cover, it became really perfect after seeing the Musee D'Orsay in person.  I was so excited to go to a Museum in France that was totally devoted to Impressionism.  It was Kaylyn's senior year in High School and she was taking Art and French and was a joy to be in Paris with.   What I remember most was the building itself.  The building was originally a train station and could be seen on the river as we took a boat ride from the Eiffel tower. It was going to be torn down in the early 70's.  But, the building was saved and became a Museum in 1986.   It is massive, and the architecture is stunning.  The clock is huge and when you get inside and can look through the face it is quite an experience. ...

While we are in Washington D.C., let's visit the Phillips Collection.   We went as a family in 2002.  The print of this painting has been hanging in my dining room since 1994.  When my children saw the genuine painting in person, it was like they saw a celebrity.  It was so fun to watch them really enjoy it.   The next time my friends and I went, we saw The Boating Party, an exhibition in 2016.   An outstanding exhibition that was devoted to this painting and brought works by Renoir from all over the world to include.  When I saw these paintings of the dancers, I felt like I saw a rock star, too.  It is a tiny reproduction I have in my dining room, also.  The actual painting is huge and practically life size. Love the detail of the dress, and the lines of the work curving up to the fan.  The expression on her face is full of love and joy.  What I really liked about this exhibition is depth of study of these works. Showi...

Out of all the Museums I have ever visited The National Gallery of Art is my favorite.  Glen and I went there for the first time on our first anniversary in 1983.  Exhilarating would be the word to describe how I felt walking through  the Museum for the first time.  Washington DC is a great destination on the weekend.  Because, their hotel rooms are actually priced the best, because Congress and Senate are usually not in session.  Also, all the museums are free.  I usually do a lot of research before I visit and try to see as many big exhibitions as possible.  In 1989 I think I visited the most.  There were Van Gogh, Degas,Gaugiun, and O'Keefe exhibits that were astonishing.  Vast collections that were crowded and exciting.  Most of these shows my girlfriend and I would drive down early in the morning and drive back that day. The last time I visited it was with two girlfriends and we came upon an unexpected Vermeer exhibit....