My three years in Paris have exposed me to more art than any other time in my life. I always loved art. But I do have a limit for museums. My brain will only take so much input and then it shuts down.
What I notice now is my immediate recognition of an artist. Before, I would have a good idea, but now, pretty damn sure. And when it’s a new work for me, I still can figure it out.
The DeYoung in San Francisco is a wonderful museum. They have great relationships with other international museums and I have seen masterpieces there. Or at their sister the Legion of Honor. And I am sure NYC also has incredible museums – duh. The Met. MOMA.
But Paris. 10 to 12 great places that have at least two expositions a year. That can mean 24 exhibits! The normal collections are beautiful and breath-taking but these exhibit! I am seeing paintings that are off in Tokyo or Denmark or Russia that I would otherwise never get the chance to see. AND they have many works from a collection particular. That means a private collector has allowed the painting they own to be shown. I might make it to Denmark, but I am certainly not going to be invited in if I just walk up to a door and knock and ask to see their Renoir. Let alone know what door upon which to knock!
I have discovered Pissarro this year. There were two exhibits dedicated to him and some of his paintings were just at the Jacquemart Andre museum I visited this week. And Monet, of course.
And the Nabis. I discovered this school of artists at an exhibit at the De Young of works from the D’Orsay. And particularly the works of Maurice Denis. He became a commonality between me and a French friend. She directed me to two gallery showings of his work. Again, from private collections. And a week ago I discovered a museum dedicated to him out in St Germain en Laye. It was his home. So much fun.
I have a Gaughin exhibit to attend this afternoon. Not overly excited but it should be good.
Yesterday I went to the NYC MOMA expo at the Louis Vuitton Foundation museum in the Bois de Boulogne. Cleary I do not overly care for modern art. It was the most expensive show I have ever attended. Well, it was only 16 euro. But I zipped through it in 25 minutes. So per minute, very dear. Most things left me cold. I do like the collections at the SF MOMA. But I am not heading for NYC for MOMA in the near future. However, I did discover the terraces of the building. It is a building designed by Frank Gehry. I’ve visited before and always loved it. But never found this higher level. Great views of the park, La Defense and even the Eiffel Tower.
Speaking of which, they are building some type of glass wall around it for security. Well, it will be better than the fences. But still. And I am sure not glass – some high-powered bullet proof plastic? Still it makes me sad to think there has to be such protection around it. I am glad I have visited before this was necessary – and I mean 1960 and 1970. Just like Stonehenge. My family drove up and parked off the road and simply walked over to the stones to touch them, to meander, to even climb a bit. Now they aqre also fenced in. And the regular isitor gets to walk around them from a distance. About 10 years ago I revisited the place and was able to take an early morning group visit to inside the stones themselves –but with a guard present. No more than 8 of us and 6 left early. That allowed my friend and me to wander alone… with the guard… and look don’t touch!)
Infinite Paris 