Contemporary Art at the Museum

Like this a lot

Can you see the face in the bricks?

From a distance it looks blanl

But there is a face there

Will everything be black, white or beige?

Spent some time this afternoon at the Fine Arts Museum.  Every  time I go there, I feel so lucky to live in a town with such a nice museum, and one that is free to the public.  Right now there is an exhibit of contemporary art that I have been wanting to view, so after this morning's routine I headed down to Place Gambetta. 

From a distance

close up

There are some interesting smallish bronzes in the courtyard, but the sum was positioned so that every last one of them was in the full heat of it.  I did take a cursory look, but will go back, earlier in the day when it's not so hot.

Reminds me M C Escher

So much hand work

The museum itself is not air conditioned, which on days like today poses special challenges.  There are portable unites placed here and there, in spots where they can be vented, but mostly the art is kept cool (and that's relative to the furnace temperatures outside) using fans.  Kind of like my apartment.  |It must be most unpleasant to be a docent on these hot days.

One of the more evocative pieces

Are these "office trailers" in the lower right|?

The first part of the exhibit led me to think that the whole show was going to be nothing but beige, tan, brown and blacks.  I am a fan of contemporary art and a fan of those colors, so I wouldn't have minded had it turned out that way.  There was more color in subsequent rooms.

A black sheep

Neverdid figure out what these clay pieces were

Today's visit found me taking photos of the work from both a "viewing distance" and then again close up, to see materials and techniques used.  There were some very interesting items, in terms of subject matter, composition and materials used.  I saw lots of things that I liked; some having a social message, some simply art for art's sake.  I saw one piece that I would hang in my home, but only one piece that I covet.  And it's 60+ years old.  

Rows and columns of little silver hands

Sign language letters?  Is there a message?

For reasons I don't fully understand, the art museum doesn't publicize their works often or well.  Hence, the museum is never crowded.  To be honest, I like that--I can look at a piece as long as I like, I can get as close to it (without touching, of course) as I like.  I can take photos....and nobody gives me a hard time about it--ever.  And of course, I don't use flash.  The last temporary exhibit I saw there was the Samurai exhibit.  I look forward to their next installation. 

One of my favorites--folded paper? LED lights?

From a distance