Tag Archives: art

Philly – A Weekend

Posted in Bookish, Cultured, Gallery, Vacations by

There was a part of me that assumed I couldn’t travel on my own, and it was that part of me that I wanted to challenge. Travelling with friends is fun – as long as you and the friends are compatible travelling companions, and I’m lucky to have some good friends that are great travel buddies. Still, I wondered what it would be like to set my own pace, to wake up at 11 am and spend three hours wandering a museum or sitting in a park reading a newly purchased book from the local bookstore, simply because I fancied doing so at the time. So, when I was started feeling a deep desire to spend time alone, I took a random weekend trip to Philadelphia.

I had to set goals, I wanted to see two places of interest, the Liberty Bell and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and I wanted to visit at least one local bookstore – if I purchase something, that would be a plus!

After arriving by Amtrak on Friday afternoon, making my way to my Airbnb for the weekend (in the heart of the city!) and finding some cheesesteak at Reading Terminal Market, I decided to map out my weekend. The next day I’d try to visit the Liberty Bell and take a walk across town to the museum, then the following day it would be bookstores and shops. Continue reading →

Museum Mile 2011

Posted in Cultured, Gallery, My New York by

It's fun to walk - and take photos - in the middle of 5th Avenue

Yesterday was the 33rd Annual Museum Mile Festival in New York City.

Last year I visited the Guggenhiem Museum which is known for it’s spiral shape and was also the most expensive Museum. It was crowded! We took about 30 minutes to get into the museum itself and spent another hour or two browsing the collection. Afterwards I ran into my Aunts and mom … what are the odds?

This year, I decided that it was time to visit museums I wouldn’t usually visit, so we visited the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum and the Museum of the City of New York.

While waiting in line to enter Cooper-Hewitt we bumped into one of my aunts! I suppose the odds aren’t that slim.

The Cooper-Hewitt had two large exhibits. The second floor held the Color Moves: Art and Fashion by Sonia Delaunay exhibit. There were a lot of patterns and prints done by Sonia Delaunay that was made into fabric and the fascinating thing was its similarity to the prints in today’s fashion.

The first floor of the Cooper-Hewitt held the Set in Style: The Jewelry of Van Cleef & Arpels exhibit and this was a hit, mostly amongst the ladies. I love jewelry as much as the next woman, but I found a lot of the pieces too grandiose – which, I suppose, was the point. I did enjoy the butterflies though and the jewel-encrusted dancers.

The Museum of the City of New York had a Joel Grey/A New York Life exhibit on the second floor. In this exhibit I realised that Academy and Golden Globe awards aren’t large, even though they seem large on the television; that sometimes pictures of rusty chain links on a pink, flaky wall can look extremely artistic. Also, that I should have married a wealthy man in the 1800s if I wanted to have a fancy drawing room, complete with picture table and decorative fireplace.

The first floor contained a dollhouse which was exquisitely decorated. Which I wanted to take home. Which in turn reminded me of this – Grace White also has an Etsy shop, which I plan on browsing often. I think this was my favourite thing of the night!

The first floor also contained the The American Style: Colonial Revival and the Modern Metropolis exhibit, which is wonderful to view. It’s fun to imagine society in colonial times.

We must have walked at least three miles, so we ended the night with Shake Shack burgers and fries (yummy). Now I’ve visited four museums in the Museum Mile, just 6 more to go.

[photos courtesy of Cate!]

Commuter Art

Posted in Cultured, Gallery, My New York by

No really sure what exactly this is called, as I don’t recall seeing a plaque, so I’ll call is the Commuter Sculpture.

I saw it while at the Hempstead Long Island Railroad Station and I really enjoyed the detail of the train at the bottom. (Did you notice the laptop in the stack?)

They also had these artwork benches … I suppose it brings new meaning to the phrase, “sit on the luggage”. Does anyone say that?

Anyway, there is a book-bag just sitting on the bench, should I say something?

Alexa Meade: Painting Life

Posted in Cultured, Gallery by

I’m not an art buff, but I do enjoy a good painting or sculpture when I see one. Recently I happened across Alexa Meade’s work. The thing that makes her different is that she paints, but, she paints life. What you see above is not a painting on canvas, it’s painting on a person. I know it’s a bit crazy to get your mind around it – especially with the painting I’ve chosen – but she paints on a person and inserts them into, well, life.

I’m doing a poor job at explaining, just go and take a look at her work and you’ll understand.

The Roses on Park Avenue

Posted in Cultured, Gallery, My New York by

The Roses is the work of artist Will Ryman and is on display on Park Avenue (from around 57th street to 67th street) until May 2011.

It’s like taking a step out of the real world and landing in Wonderland. These oversizes roses, petals and bugs are beautiful and having the city as it’s background add a layer of whimsical to it.

I recommend checking this out before they are plucked away at the end of May.

[more pictures on Flickr]