A few weeks ago, on a ridiculously cold day, my husband, best friend and I visited The Art Institute of Chicago. I had been especially wanting to see this museum as every person I have met in Chicago has raved about The Art Institute. Their criticism surely did not disappoint as the museum was amazing, packed with every period and style of art of which one could hope. Most of our time was spent in the Impressionist galleries and then the European art, though we also glanced into the Modern wing and explored a Byzantine art exhibit, called Heaven and Earth. Even though we spent the entire day, we saw less than half of the museum, not to mention the changing exhibitions.
Though exploring museums is always exhausting- we totally gave in to an essential caffeine break upstairs in the Modern wing- I love how inspired I feel during the experience, and the lingering inspiration afterwards. There is nothing like the stimulus of experiencing a piece of art in person. Viewing it in a book or on film is never the same. How your exposure changes with distance. Up close and from a distance can be so different that you almost feel as if you are seeing a new piece. The color is also something that can never be interpreted visually, unless you are there to see it. I have always loved the Impressionist painters and really enjoyed Monet and Degas, but seeing Renoir and the vibrancy of his works were particularly striking. Before I did not really find his works to fit my personal taste- something about the style and content I didn't enjoy- but I was blown away by the pieces.
There is also something exciting about seeing a piece of art or work by an artist that you have heard about for years and even studied, finally in person. The gargantuan sizes of El Greco's The Assumption of the Virgin and Georges Seurat's Sunday Afternoon on the Island of the Grand-Jatte were beautiful to behold. I also love finding a work of art that I have never heard of, not even the artist, and being stopped in my tracks of how interesting it is. Harald Sohlberg's Fisherman's Cottage and Pardon in Brittany by Gaston La Touche were two paintings that I would have never expected to even like, yet I found them so compelling that I spent several minutes viewing each.
Oddly enough, one of my favorite times that day was not seeing the finished art on display, but watching the people create who were there for to study one particular piece. The artistic talents on display were variable, of course, but I loved watching the art in motion. Our favorite current exhibit was the Byzantine art from Greek collections: Heaven and Earth. It featured gorgeous icons from the 14th and 15th centuries, mosaics, and hand-painted Gospel books... all emanating an other-worldly, Holy feeling.
And two Culture Thrift tips for you for free admission: every Thursday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. admission is free for Chicago residents and the first full weekend of every month is free for Bank of America members! I didn't know about either before we went! The Bank of America deal is especially great because it is not Chicago based- museums all over the U.S. are free for card holders! With just a little investigation, you can easily make culture attainable and part of your life.
I can't wait for my next artistic outing, which is doubly exciting considering the weather is finally easing up. I never experienced weather joy in 45 degrees, but it is such a difference!
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