“To
become a maker is to make the world for others, not only the material world but
the world of ideas that rules over the material world, the dreams we inhabit
and dream together.” Rebecca Solnit
Established art museums around the world continue to draw in
large crowds. There is competition with one another to stage monumental
exhibitions of works by classical masters and newer modern artists. Last month,
within days after the Louvre in Paris announced the largest exhibit of Leonardo
Di Vinci paintings and sketches ever assembled, over 260,000 advanced tickets
were sold.
Recently, the Arab world has challenged Europe by becoming a
new cultural center with The United
Arab Emirates capital of Abu Dhabi investing in art museums. The Louvre
Abu Dhabi opened in
2017, the Zayed National Museum is well underway, and plans for a branch
of the Guggenheim have
been announced.
If one is searching for a diverse cross section of humanity,
all participating in the same activity, an art museum is the ideal place to go.
Whatever the nationality or language, or background, art naturally causes
something to stir up in the mind. The
emotion may be curiosity, awe, or frustration at not being able to grasp the
artist’s intent, but it awakens something in all of us.
Art has the ability
to change perspectives, to look at life in different ways. Consider the different
emotions one feels when viewing the enormous scale of Michelangelo’s Sistine
Chapel; the minute details of Starry Night as envisioned by Van Gogh from his
asylum room just before sunrise; the curious splatters created by Jason
Pollock; or the political message embodied in Picasso’s epic mural Guernica.
Each work so different, inspired by pure ideas and histories, born from a few
supplies and a vision singular to the artist.
An art museum is a visual library with each painting telling
a story. It is an impossible task to “take in” the entire collection, or even
one floor. The average person spends 17 seconds looking at a work of art in a
museum, intent on quantity over quality. Understanding each work of art
requires the dedication to slow down, observe and interpret.
Experience has taught my wife and me to find a short term
special exhibit that draws our attention and to read about the curator’s intent
before seeing the paintings. We will often purchase the gift shop exhibition
guide to help us along. Many of the
exhibits we have attended in recent years are designed to focus on a certain
period of an artist’s career or to show collaboration and inspiration among
artists of the same period. All have left us energized and eager for more.
Over the years we have adopted one late Renaissance artist,
Caravaggio, as our special favorite. We
have scheduled a unique tour in Rome to view his work in small churches and
always seek out his paintings wherever we travel. We have read about his boisterous lifestyle
and can feel his spirit in his work, which influenced so many later artists.
So how can a family situated in Southwestern Pennsylvania learn
to appreciate art? Most accessible are the local schools, art galleries and
libraries that feature resident artists from time to time. Washington County
has developed a thriving art colony over the years that is well represented in
nearby venues.
A short drive will open a completely new level of exposure
to viewing art. The Pittsburgh Frick Museum, The Carnegie Art Museum and the
Andy Warhol Museum all offer excellent viewing experiences without being
overwhelming. It is a good idea to sign
up for the museum newsletters online to find out about ever changing exhibits.
Westmoreland County features a hidden jewel of an art museum, in
Greensburg. It is truly a regional
collection with a national presence.
For the more adventurous with a weekend to spend, New York
City (the Met., MOMA, The Frick, among others); Philadelphia (The Barnes, The
Museum of Art); and Washington D.C. (The National Gallery, National Museum of
Art, National Portrait Gallery) all offer world class experiences. While any destination
will be rewarded, our recent favorite is the Barnes, a new modern museum with
outstanding lighting, which features one of the best impressionist collections
to be found anywhere.
Lastly, on a cold winter’s night, when television reruns and
cable news do not excite, there are excellent presentations of art from the
world’s great museums on the internet. Staging a Michelangelo, Di Vinci, Van
Gogh, or Picasso evening can be great fun, especially when accompanied by a
biographical movie or National Geographic Special about the painter.
Art appreciation takes some work. One must break away from what is habitual and
ordinary in order to take in that which may not at first be clear. But the reward is a deep, mysterious and
beautiful experience, that one shares with all of humanity. According to Frederick
Nietzsche: “we have art in order not to die of the truth.” In today’s political
climate, he may have been on to something.
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