When you have cabin fever but the weather isn't exactly cooperating, you start looking for indoor places to explore. That's how Denis and I came to visit the
Phoenix Art Museum. When you become members of places like the Desert Botanical Garden or the Phoenix Zoo, every other place in town starts sending you temptations via USPS. When Denis received one from the Phoenix Art Museum, we decided to book a trip on Dial-a-Ride and check the place out.
Denis had never been there, and the last time I'd visited had been in the early 1980s when a fantastic exhibit of world famous Impressionist art came to town. At that time, there were two buildings on site: the museum and the main branch of the Phoenix Public Library. The library moved to a brand-new (and much larger) building further south on Central Avenue, so the Phoenix Art Museum could then take over the site and expand. And expand it did!
On that long-ago visit of mine, there were only two things the museum had that grabbed my attention, the fabulous
Thorne Rooms and a portrait painted by one of my favorites, 18th-century French portraitist,
Élizabeth Vigée LeBrun. Now the museum is on three different levels and has a lot more to offer, so much in fact, that Denis and I couldn't get to all of it in one visit. (You know what that means.)
Let me start you on a virtual tour of the museum. I hope you enjoy it.
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Denis zipping past the Museum Shop. Somehow, both of us managed to stay out of there; however, I won't be responsible for what happens on future visits!
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Denis and I didn't have time to check out this particular exhibit. Another reason for us to come back.
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from The World Stage: Brazil Series, "Marechal Floriano Peixote". (2009) Artist: Kehinde Wiley. This one was so dynamic that it seemed to jump off the wall and smack me in the face.
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"Another Sioux Chief" (1979) Artist: Fritz Scholder.
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"Roma". Glazed earthenware. (1984) Artist: Betty Woodman.
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Shoes and buckles c. 1775, Great Britain. Silk brocade with silk edging; cut steele beads.
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Closeup of buckle. This reminds me that I also want to go back to wander through the fashion design wing.
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"In Order to Forget" (1996) Artist: Kcho. "Explores the plight of the balseros, or those who departed on makeshift rafts to seek political asylum in the US. Here, a homemade kayak shaped from fiberglass balances precariously on a sea of beer bottles. The surface of the boat's shell resembles human skin that has been parched by the sun. The beer bottles suggest that inebriation at home might offer an alternate form of survival to risking passage across the Atlantic Ocean."
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A selection from the display of cameos.
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Posters from artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec and Mucha.
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The lighting was horrible here. "Defend Yourself, Cabrón" (1995) Artist: Michael Cajero. Made from gift wrap and aluminum wire.
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I'll end here. In the weeks to follow, I'll share the Thorne Miniature Rooms as well as exhibit of art from India and Western American art. I hope you've enjoyed this first part of the tour!
Another virtual tour. Thanks for the photos. Another treasure to be found in Phoenix. There seem to be so many. Great that you and Denis were able to get there and have accessible transportation. But what restraint to bypass the Museum Shop. We await information on future sojourns there, and whether or not you could bypass it a second time.
ReplyDeleteIt would all depend on what they had in their display windows as to whether or not I could resist going in on future trips.
DeleteLOL. So true.
DeleteI remember that Impressionist Art exhibit in the '80s (I'm sure it is the same one!) because it made a stop in Houston as well. It was wonderful and remains my all-time favorite art exhibit that I've ever attended, but this one looks very interesting as well. I'm glad you got to attend and I look forward to your future posts about your visit.
ReplyDeleteIt had to be the same exhibit, Dorothy. It was fabulous!
DeleteOh, Cathy, I could stay there all day and lose myself in those beautiful things! So much richness, too. People think about huge museums like MoMA or the Tate, but smaller museums often have such amazing displays.
ReplyDeleteI tend to gravitate toward smaller museums.
DeleteLoved getting this virtual tour of the Pheonix Art Museum! And those silk brocade buckle shoes are so awesome. :D
ReplyDeleteThey were one of my favorites. :-)
DeleteSmaller museums allow for more discoveries, and more time to appreciate exhibits without feeling crowded by hordes of other visitors. I'm looking forward to the next segment of this story.
ReplyDeleteI loathe being in the midst of hordes of people, and I learned that early afternoon on Thursday is a very good time to visit the Phoenix Art Museum.
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