I had a meeting in Chicago today. I love Chicago. The downtown canyons, the incredible architecture (Trump notwithstanding), the vast array of cuisine options, the lakeshore. Mmmm.
Anyhoo, after driving 3 hours for a one-hour meeting, I was not keen on getting back in the car directly….aaaannnd I was just two blocks from the Art Institute.
So I indulged in a couple of hours of art appreciation. Here are some of my peregrinations:
There were some fabulous finds in the Architecture & Design galleries in the new Modern Wing. An homage to Edison in the form of a holographic light bulb hovering within a plastic cylinder hanging from the ceiling. A disintegrating and reforming spider’s web projection which swayed and stretched and – TWANG! – snapped strands as you moved in front of it, your body’s motion and position dictating the distortion and movement of the web.
Then, in Impressionism, a square white room lined on all four sides with Monets. Hay bales, Parliament, bridges, all glowing from within. The room had a light that was so different from all the others, generated by the colors – how does he do those colors?? – radiating from the canvases. I felt warmed and peaceful, and once again am convinced of Monet’s greatness. Looking closely at the canvases, you can see that he did not slather on the paint. His separate brush strokes can be seen, and bare canvas peeks through throughout. Up close, it is hard, if not impossible, to understand how he was able to capture the light and the mood and the time of day with the daubs of color – they appear to have no form, no pattern at the distance from which he must have applied them. Amazing.
Threading my way through galleries on my way back to the entrance, I stumbled upon a case which nearly brought me to tears.
I collect ceramic plates with blue glazes – all styles, all eras, as long as there is the blue which feathers out under the clear glaze coating, even infinitesimally. I am awed by the interplay of blue on white. In this case were three examples of this color pattern which are so beautiful that I completely understand the “I Want It” of art collectors.
Here’s one:
Meissen Porcelain, designed by Henry van de Velde, 1904/05. The spare simplicity of the art deco styling. You can’t see it well here, but the rim itself is raised in complementary shapes. I long to touch it.
The Art Institute had just the demitasse and saucer, but they blow me away:
Gebruder Bauscher, by Peter Behrens, 1900/02.
And finally, a bit different – this is stencilled, not an underglaze, so it is much crisper.
Wiener Porzellan, by Jutta Sika, 1901/02.
I feel so good after spending time in the company of beauty.
Have you seen any of the episodes of Craft on PBS? I caught part of one – very good! Check it out.
Having formerly lived in Chicago it was a treat to visit the Art Institute on a regular, but not frequent basis.
I still remember my first visit and oft saying “I remember that one (painting, sculpture, whatever) from Humanities in college.” In a way it was odd to be in the actual presence of work I had only ever seen as a photograph in a textbook.
I had that reaction, forkboy, when I stood in front of Seurat’s La Grande Jette. It was pretty amazing to see it in person – it’s HUGE! And massively impressive.