Thursday, November 6, 2008

Art at the Met

As I mentioned, I recently had the opportunity to spend some time in Manhattan. Even though I live only a 45 minute (express!) train ride from Manhattan, I rarely take the time to take advantage of this. So when friends and family visit, it is often tops on their list to see some of the NYC sites.

After spending about 15 hours in Manhattan with Chelle on a Friday, I realized she was eager to return for a 2nd day. I was dubious my aching feet and legs were up for it - but I couldn't complain as she was sporting a huge blister on the bottom of her foot and she was game. So in we went - with the specific purpose of hitting the Met.

As a designer by trade, Chelle is of course drawn to museums. I, in contrast, have no artistic capability, but I admire art is most forms like a hungry man eyes a juicy hamburger. I wish so much to be a part of that world at times, but if you don't have natural talent you must have an incredible drive and discipline to learn and maximize any talent you do possess - and neither seem to work for me...at least not right now. Hubby has an amazing talent and I have no doubt some day we will enjoy retirement that includes partial ownership in an artist co-op or the like where he can paint and photograph all day and kibbitz with fellow artisans all night. That's my idea of heaven, to just being amongst all of that talent.

Of course if you've been to the Met you know you can spend a week there and not absorb the entire place. So we focused on a few key exhibits - my favorite is always the painting galleries, but there was a special exhibit that we went to first that truly caught my imagination and was totally worth the train ticket, the blister aggravation, and the walk in the wind and rain.
"Rhythms of Modern Life is the first major exhibition in the United States to examine the impact of Futurism and Cubism on British modernist printmaking from the beginning of World War I to the beginning of World War II...The exhibition features prime examples of graphic work that celebrate the vitality and dynamism of modern life..."





Here are some of my favorites:




If you have the opportunity to see the exhibit in person I highly recommend it! And if you don't, find your own local art connection. No one should go too long without a visit to a gallery or museum. It is healing to the soul and inspiring to the imagination.

5 comments:

KiKi said...

Far out.
I'm going to have to check it out myself.

Pat said...

Since when isn't writing an art form. You demonstrate great talent in your writing no matter what the topic. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences.
P.S. I particularly liked the first two prints.

Stephanie said...

I very much agree with Pat. Your favorites are incredible. I am not "artistic" either, but I do love art. I will definitely make a trip to The Met when I have the opportunity to visit Manhattan again.

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

My favorite part of traveling to big cities is the museums. That looks like a wonderful exhibit.

Mama Lou said...

I agree with Pat about your writing.
On the other hand I am surprised about your choices in Art as they look very Picasso-- like and I did not know you liked cubism or such defined line art.
Anyway, the experience to visit a Museum with a friend is a plus and the enjoyment you felt dispite the rain and wind.