Ten things I noticed while looking at good art

Jim and I went to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts yesterday to see the pieces on loan from the Louvre. This is probably as close as I'm going to get to the famous museum.

1. I picked out pieces from all the eras I've studied so far in my two humanities classes. I got a kick out of seeing examples for real and being able to pinpoint a time period and sometimes even a general European place from whence the artist came.
2. Even art museum tour guides can be really funny. Even OLD art museum tour guides can be funny. I wanted to be a part of one of the tours just so I could follow this old tour guide with unruly white hair and pants hitched up to his chest and a loosely knitted woolen vest, and listen to his love of art that showed in his exuberant story-telling.
3. This painting by Georges La Tour made me laugh. I love the lady's facial expression--her eyes look so far off to the side. You can just tell she's a part of the cheat going on.For some reason she reminds me of Pearl Forrester.
4. Vermeer's painting was pretty small. It was way cool, don't get me wrong, but for some reason, quintessential masterpieces, in my mind, are large. Mom says Ms Mona L. is pretty small (Mom has been to the Louvre "so many times" that's she's forgotten half the art she's seen there).
5. The last big piece in the exhibit (by John Martin) looked like the painted equivalent of Faust (literary or musical). Lots of "roasting in hell" in that picture.
6. I felt out of place among all the arty-types who wore odd clothing and strange hats and hair twisted in popcorn-like shapes.
7. Even the forgeries on display were beautiful.
8. It was a popular exhibit, this Louvre showing. The rest of the museum was as empty as the vacuum of space.
9. I shouldn't have gone on such a long walk in the morning beforehand. My feet were sore when we got to the museum.
10. It is nearly impossible to leave the museum, and not because there is a lot of good stuff to see. It's because the place is a maze built in a warp in space! I could not have found my way out of there with a map and breadcrumbs leading the way! Each room led to another room that led to another room that led back to the first one. I swear that the rooms can change places just to screw you up. We had a hard time finding an exit and when we did, it was on the other end of the city (almost). We actually had to go outside, walk across a plaza to the way we went in and just so we could find a bathroom. The experience reminded me of the Eagles song, "Hotel California":
Last thing I remember, I was
Running for the door
I had to find the passage back
To the place I was before
"relax," said the night man,
We are programmed to receive.
You can checkout any time you like,
But you can never leave!

Comments

Jenni said…
I'm glad you had such a nice time looking at art. That sounds like a good field trip. Your description of getting out reminded me of "Murder By Death" when they come back to the room and it is empty.
It was exactly like that! And that's what we thought of too.
Jen said…
Ooh, what an artful experience for you! With Mike as a husband I'll never get the chance to tour Europe and see the Louvre in person. I do enjoy a good museum once in a while.
Jen said…
Doesnt "louvre" mean toilet in french? And jen, I tried to get you to go to the national firearms museum when we were in DC and you wouldnt go. So dont say I never take you to museums...
Concerned Citizen
Dennis said…
Dear Concerned
You may have confused Louvre with the British term for toilet which is "loo" but I'm not sure. Also sincce Louvre is pronounced with a silent R how should Favre be pronounced? Should it be Fave, or should Louvre be pronounced with the R before the V?
What's wrong with the firearms museum? It is after all a museum.
Jen said…
See what I have to live with, Sara?!?