Daydream Tourist

Sep 12

Blended Architecture in Chiesa Matrice, Erice, Sicily

Sometimes on the quest for art, you end up learning a lot more about the history of a place. I didn’t expect to find Norman castles and churches in Sicily but it is hard to deny the thick bulky structures when you find them. I also didn’t expect to find detailed decorative elements reminiscent of the Middle East but there they were. What became Sicilian Norman art is a blend of cultures and adds an exotic flavor to an already interesting mix of Greco-Roman and Baroque architecture on the island. Once you factor in 19th century restorations with a mind of their own, you find can find some complex and beautiful churches. I found one such example of blended art in the little town of Erice and the Chiesa Matrice Church.

Beautiful ceiling details

Sep 5

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Rookwood Pottery Factory (& Bar?)

I’ve already mentioned that Cincinnati is known for being the home of Rookwood Pottery. While Rookwood pottery today is produced in a modern facility, the original factory is still available for visits. The only catch is that the plant responsible for classic American Arts & Crafts design is now a restaurant and bar which gives you the rare opportunity to eat in a kiln!

A kiln in the dining room of the Rookwood Bar & Restaurant.

Sep 2

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John Singer Sargent’s Travel Pictures

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we are discussing Travel Art! You can find links below for the rest of the group’s posts this month. I take a lots of photos when I travel but I really admire those who can sketch cities, landscapes and people when they travel. An incredibly talented artist (although I am biased), John Singer Sargent is the epitome of the artist-traveler in that he captured his destinations in rich and brilliant but ephemeral scenes.

John Singer Sargent - Grand Canal, Venice

“Grand Canal, Venice”, 1904-1907, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC

Aug 27

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A Fun Evening at the Cincinnati Art Museum

When the first thing you see inside a museum is a Chihuly hanging over a classical male statue, you know that you’re in for something good!

I wandered into the the Cincinnati Art Museum with no expectations. I’d forgotten to check their collection ahead of time and I didn’t know what the special exhibits were. I ended up having what was probably one of the funnest museum experiences I have ever had! The programing, creative presentation of their art and friendly staff were so impressive that I left at the end day totally floored and a new fan of the Cincinnati Museum.