Not Your Average Museum

This week my museum experience led me to the Burt Chernow Galleries, Housatonic Museum of Art in Bridgeport, CT. It was quite different from my other museum experiences as the gallery was smack in the middle of Housatonic Community College. At first I wasn’t impressed and I started to turn around and leave. But I quickly decided to stay since I was already there. I took a chance and I am so happy that I did.

I approached the small gallery on the first floor and entered a room where I was surrounded by what looked like sketches. There were religious prints and landscapes etched and engraved on laid paper from the Rembrandt collection and other 17th century printmakers. I walked to the back of the small gallery and wondered if this was the end of the art and began to dread my decision to stay. I poked my head out into the hall and lining the halls were paintings.

I wasn’t sure if this was part of the gallery but I followed the path of art anyway. In circles I went snapping photos of bright, beautiful oil paintings, a sculpture that resembled a ship laying on it’s side, a wooden sculpture, there were paintings all along the hallways. Very interesting, I thought to myself. I kept going since no one stopped me, inside the stairwells I went until I found myself on the second floor where there were more paintings and sculptures. I mean they were everywhere you looked. In the president’s office, yes I peeked there also, surrounding the student lounge, in between restroom doors (not your typical place for art), outside of classrooms, I even had to excuse myself a few times as students rushed by me to get to their classes. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, I had forgotten where I was for a

moment as each new piece reeled me in. So many questions began to run through my mind. Were the paintings done by the students? Does the art promote a better learning atmosphere? Why wasn’t this the norm in all colleges? It was a refreshing experience that I am happy I didn’t pass up. The painting that grabbed my attention, the one that I really liked was The Wall. It is a 40” x 50” oil painting done on canvas by Leonard Everett Fisher. It was a really simple piece but I loved the shadowed image of the man reaching for the sky trying to get to the moon that is partially blocked by this stone wall. For me it symbolized my journey towards earning my

bachelors degree. I see it, it looms above me but in order for me to get there, I must climb the wall of classes, leaving the shadow of my past behind me while balancing my work life and home life. I won’t look too far ahead of me for there are shadows of challenges and obstacles but one step at a time and I am almost there. Anyway, enough about my goals, this was the first time that I had seen a painting where the majority of the picture was done in shadows. I think that the artist did an excellent job of bringing in the light in the midst of darkness and it turned out to be a very positive piece. Now I don’t know if my interpretations were the author’s intent. I wonder about the gap in the wall, what does that space represent? Perhaps it is hope seeping through and encouragement from outside sources. It could mean a lot of things. That’s another reason I liked it, you can apply it to so many aspects of your life.
Like my previous museum visits this mod, I really enjoyed myself. Each new piece told a different story and my imagination soared. It’s like an out of body experience that I recommend to everyone. I am glad that I have had the opportunity to tap into my “artsy” side.

This weekend I visited the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art located in downtown Hartford, CT.

The Wadsworth which was founded in 1842 is one of the country’s oldest public art museums. The large collection consists of American and European paintings, sculptures, photographs and decorative arts.

I ventured up to Hartford on a beautiful day and like one of the other students mentioned in their blog, I spent more time there than I had planned on The museum which resembles a castle was beautiful and large.

I toured the first, second, third and fourth floors and finally had to take a rest. I was overwhelmed because I liked so many of the pieces and as I browsed from one piece to the next, the stories from the art, consumed me.

After my brief rest, I collected myself and my things and headed over to the piece that intrigued me the most.

I headed back to the European art collection to “The Feast of Herod”. The oil painting was completed in 1531 by a German artist named Lucas the Elder Cranach. The painting is done on panel that measures 32x47 ⅛ inches.

The painting shows Salome pictured with platter in hand, presenting the head of St. John the Baptist to King Herod. Apparently Salome was a dancer for King Herod and as a reward for her performance, he promised her the head of St. John. Now it’s just my guess but I think that King Herod’s henchman must have delivered the head to Salome and she decides to show off her prize to Herod. She dresses up in her most beautiful dress, covers her hair with a jewel studded wrap, applies her makeup and adds the final touch of her exquisite jewelry and heads over to the castle. Herod is clearly not expecting this spectacle as he is about to eat dinner with a few friends. Salome saunters into the dining hall and causes a scene.

I don’t know what exactly caught my eye first, perhaps it was the head on the platter (go figure) but I also think that the strong colors drew me in. The deep greens, blues and reds in the background contrast well with the bright white from the tablecloth. There was a crackled texture on the surface that represents authenticity and age. Cranach must have taken a great deal of time to add such great details to the clothing. From the tucks and ruffles in the gowns and robes to the pearls that adorn the gowns and necklines of Solome and the seated guest.

Cranach also did a very good job with the facial expressions, they were hilarious and individually they told a story. King Herod looks surprised and uneasy. There also seems to be a bit of fear in his eyes.
Cranach depicts St. John’s suffering well with the mouth slighted opened and the life-less, distressed eyes, and although he’s dead and decapitated, there’s not a hair out of place. Salome’s expression is one of confidence and she is clearly undistracted by the guest’s reaction. Salome’s posture adds a great touch as well and the shadow effect of her body and Herod’s presence on the tablecloth is pretty neat. The servant looks like he has seen this type of thing countless times, the standing guests are scared to look at Herod because this is embarrassing and as for the seated guests, the gentleman is disgusted as he points to the head and well the lady, she is wishing that she stayed at home.

I thought that it was interesting to know that this subject was popular during the 16th century. It served as an example of the power of women over men.

I really enjoyed the museum and I cannot wait to visit again with my family. In addition to the permanent collections they had exhibits on Race and Sport in America, presented by the Amistad Center for Art and Culture and Again, a catalogue of photographs depicting poverty in America from collector Mickey Cartin just to name a few.

Yale Center for British Art

This weekend I visited the Yale Center for British Arts located in New Haven. The center, which has four floors has the largest collection of British art outside of the United Kingdom. Their collection consists of paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs and rare books. Here are a few pictures from the permanent collection…

"The Death of Lucretia" Based on the ancient myth by Gavin Hamilton. Excellent use of color and expression.

Belshazzar's Feast and the message on the wall. I love the way the light shines from the moon and how the message illuminates the entire hall.....powerful stuff

A closer look at an evening gone wrong.

A comical look at the Twelth Night, Act III, Scene iv. Ramberg did a wonderful job with the characters, they take on a life of their own. Their expressions really add humor to the piece. The bright, bold colors really flow throughout the painting. I love the way that the monkey has the same gesture as the servant who is professing his undying love for Olivia. The illusion of the light reflecting off of the vase adds a great touch.

For me Olivia's dress really stands out. It looks so much like satin. I also love the dog's expression, barred teeth, he looks like he might lunge if Malvolio comes any closer.

Here's another painting that stood out.....

Cottage on fire... the color from the fire really pops. The trees cast an eery shadow as the moon beams through the trees.

My trip to the Yale Center for British art turned out to be a good one. I was really impressed by the oil paintings and the stories that each of them told. I even took some time to check out the Art and Emancipation in Jamaica exhibition but unfortunately couldn't take any pictures. It wasn't allowed. But I did enjoy the manuscripts, sketches, video and paintings.

I even took a cool flick of the view from the fourth floor.

The Cloisters

This week I visited The Cloisters in New York City. The Cloisters, a branch of The Metropolitan Museum of Art is located in Fort Tryon Park on the northwest tip of Manhattan overlooking the Hudson River. This beautiful, enchanting castle is breathtaking. The Cloisters is devoted to the art and architecture of Medieval Europe. As I drove into the park the first thing that caught my eye was the view of the George Washington Bridge and the Hudson River. I parked the car and quickly walked up the trail to the museum entrance. Once inside, I climbed the stone steps two at a time, admiring the limestone covered walls, the wrought iron banisters, antique windows and cathedral sized ceilings.

I proceeded into a courtyard where sunlight splashed onto a garden filled with rows of flowers, crab trees in bloom and a stone fountain. It was a very serene atmosphere. Along the perimeter of the garden were handmade, etched doorways, columns, and doors that led to rooms that held gothic tapestries, historical museum photos, religious paintings, sculptures, alter pieces and unpublished manuscripts and prayer books. The maze of rooms spilled out onto a terrace that surrounded an herb garden, providing another remarkable view of the Hudson. The smells were absolutely delightful.

I rested for a moment and took in the fragrant atmosphere before touring again. On the lower level sat another medieval garden and a café. I grabbed a bite to eat before revisiting a piece that caught my attention earlier. The Death (Dormition) of the Virgin Mary is an alter piece depicting the Apostles administering the last rites of the Virgin Mary. The alter piece was made in the late 15th century in Lower Rhineland, in the western part of Germany. The piece was created in the workshop of Tilman van der Burch and became part of the Cloister’s collection in 1973. The piece was carved out of oak. What made it so interesting is how the artist took isolated figures, the Apostles and the Virgin Mary, and strategically placed them creating a three dimensional structure.

The structure wasn’t very large, I figured it was about 5 feet in length and 4 feet tall. The exact measurements weren’t indicated. It looked like the apostles were visiting Mary in a church where heavy draperies cascaded from the ceiling to the floor, light fixtures hung overhead, lit dimly and sculpted angels covered the church walls. There was a bit of damage to the structure. Some of the apostles were missing hands and objects but that didn’t take away from the wooden beauty. Instead this caused me to imagine what they may have held as they visited Mary for the last time. It also made me wonder what actually took place at such a ritual. Was it a private ceremony exclusively for the apostles or were there others perhaps seated in the church pews? It appears as if one apostle may have held a candle, another looked like he was pouring oil or holy water perhaps to rub on Mary’s skin or on the cloth that shrouded her body. One apostle is kneeling in prayer, while another reads comforting scriptures from the Bible. Although Mary’s spirit was gone, it’s clear that they wanted to make sure that she was respectfully placed and seemed comfortable. The artist took great care in carving out the details of the soft, flowing robes, somber faces, and wall adornments. At certain angles the wood took on a look of marble or stone. It appeared very smooth.

I enjoyed my time at The Cloisters and would definitely visit again perhaps with family and friends. It is definitely one of Manhattan’s best, kept secrets and I recommend it highly. The museum takes you back in time and makes you forget about the city’s hustle and bustle. You can easily lose a few hours if you don’t keep track of time.

This week my children and I visited the New Britain Museum of American Art in New Britain, CT. The museum was small but quaint. The Museum’s permanent collection is made up of approximately 5,000 works of American art. There are 680 oil paintings, 1,050 drawings, 860 graphics, 160 sculptures, 25 photographs, and 1,460 illustrations. The museum houses a children’s art lab and a beautiful café on the park. We enjoyed walking around taking in the different styles before I zoomed in on a piece.

The piece that caught my attention was the “The Cycle of Terror and Tragedy: September 11, 2001”, by Graydon Parrish. The mural caught my eye immediately. It is humongous oil painting, standing 8 feet tall by 18 feet long. The painting took four years to complete and is an allegorical representation of the September 11th tragedy. It is mind blowing to say the least and very tasteful. I couldn’t capture the entire mural, so I broke it down in photos from left to right, which is how the cycle reads.

Here's my interpretation. The beach is a symbol of Manhattan the island. The papers sprawled around on the sand represent the United States Consitution. I think that Graydon used children to represent the innocent passengers on the highjacked airplanes. They are blindfolded because they didn't know their fate. The twins obviously represent the towers. The man dying represents the many victims, and the women mourning represent the victim's families. I think that the women are naked to reflect lonliness. The older man, lying on the flower petals represents the survivors in the building and in the surrounding areas. He is masked and lying down because he was hurt and will continue to hurt as a result on the hazardous chemicals he inhaled in the air. He is holding a red ribbon which is tribute to lives lost. This red ribbon around the young girl's eyes is hiding her youth and innocence from the destruction that has passed. The Statue of Liberty looms in the background to remind us of America's freedom.

My first trip was to the Yale Art Gallery in New Haven, CT. It was my first time visiting the museum and I was really impressed. It isn’t a huge museum but does house great exhibits in African, Asian, Modern and Contemporary Art. I spent a few hours there, walking around and looking at the various pieces of art. I finally narrowed down my choices to one from their permanent collection. I chose the one that really caught my eye.

The piece I picked was called “Sleeping Children”. It is a sculpture created by William Henry Rinehart in 1859. It was part of the museum’s American Art collection. The sculpture is contemporary and neo classical. When I first laid my eyes on it I thought that it was so beautiful and peaceful. After further research, I found that it was created as a gravesite marker. That kind of blew me away. The peacefulness of the piece symbolized death. Rinehart had created the piece in a time when the death of children was common. This was his rendition of the border between the sleep of life and the sleep of death.

The piece wasn’t very large in size, it measured 33.3 x 18 x 16 in. / 84.5 x 45.7 x 40.6 cm. It was carved out of white marble. As I approached the piece, what caught my attention was the detail. The first thing that I observed was, the children. They looked to be about three or four years old. They looked to be at rest, undisturbed and unaware of their surroundings. It was very comforting. They looked angelic. The smooth white surface of the marble was shiny and almost iridescent. The children seemed so life like in appearance. Rinehart had done an excellent job in carving out their physical features. From their cherub faces, to the folds in the skin around the wrists, to the tendrils that cascaded onto the pillow, I thought that I was looking at real children. I loved the intimate way that they laid and the calmness he created. It led me to wonder if Rinehart had used models or pictures of children sleeping to help him achieve the result of the image. I also loved the details of the bed on which the children lay. It looked like a throne. Well I guess that it was a shrine. Anyway, the detail in the pillow was remarkable, I had to touch the pillow to remind myself that it was marble. It looked so soft and inviting. The sheets gave the final touch of carved perfection. Rhinehart had somehow captured the natural folds, drapes and tousles of the sheets making it appear like the kids were wrapped up snug.

I really enjoyed my museum experience and this particular piece of art. It caught my attention right away. I don’t really know what I noticed first but perhaps it was light reflecting off of the white marble that caught my attention. At first I was taken aback by the association of children and death but I couldn’t draw myself away from it literally. The more I took it in, the more questions began to flood my mind. I felt sorry for the children and their families. Who were they? Were they Americans? Why was death so common in 1859? Was it polio? The lack of proper healthcare and poverty must have been the reason for the deaths. My thoughts then turned to my own children and my family. How blessed we truly are to have food and healthcare resources. We complain about every little thing and we take so much for granted today, I went home and hugged them and thanked God for my angels. I also wondered how Rhinehart felt as he carved and sculptured away. How long did it take him to create the sculpture? Were the children his relatives? It’s amazing how much thought art can evoke in a person.

Schedule of Museum Trips

Week 2: Yale Art Gallery

Week 3: The Met, NYC

Week 4: New Britain Museum of American Art

Week 5: The Wadsworth Atheneum

Week 6: Yale Center for British Art

Week 7: Museum of Modern Art or Peabody??