Week 3: Jan. 21, 2024

Roman Gentleman, Probably found in or near Rome, About 120 C.E., Marble

Listen closely…

As I walked through the ancient art exhibit, this man spoke to me. He didn’t actually speak, but I laughed when that phrase went through my mind because one of the reasons I stared at him for such a long time was that there in the midst of all the Roman Emperors, soldiers, gods, mythical creatures, and flawless young women, was a grouchy old man who seemed to have a lot to say. He was wrinkled, with sagging jowls and a furrowed brow. He was lost in thought or perhaps composing a letter. He clearly had something to say.

And as I looked around the room at his company, it was also clear that no one was going to listen. They would fight their battles or carouse with Bachus or sit in their tomb to be honored and adored, but no one would listen to the old man with sagging jowls and furrowed brow.

Week 2: Jan. 14, 2024

Walking Wall, Andy Goldsworthy, American, 2019, Stone

Coming in from the cold…

I have to admit that when Walking Wall was first announced as a dynamic, outdoor art exhibit at the museum in 2019, I was skeptical. “It’s a wall…” But over the weeks and months as it crept over the empty field, crossed the street in the dead of night, slithered around the building and down the stairs, and finally passed through the solid pane of glass to reside, partially, in the hallway, I fell in love with it.

So, today I walked through the snowy remains of this week’s storm and saw the Walking Wall coming in from the cold and it looked so satisfied to shake off the snow and stay for a while.

Week 1: Jan. 7, 2024

Water Deity Headdress, Etim Abassi Ekpenyong, Nigerian, early 20th century, Wood, goatskin, and pigment.

Shadows in art…of art…

I set out looking for inspiration around the theme of “shadows in art” and ended up being intrigued by ‘shadows OF art’. This is probably consistent with my natural tendency to be equally enthralled by the museum itself as I am by the content of the museum. I am learning to photograph through glass and with different lighting angles in the museum and was pleased that the shadow of the horn takes on a ripple effect at the bottom because of the reflections in the glass.