Daydream Tourist

Jan 31

The Tourist in the Digital Age

After two recent trips (domestic and international), it was clear to me that we are now traveling differently compared to even 5 years ago. Our electronic gadgets, which have become a big part of our daily lives back home, are just as much a part of our leisure time and travel experiences. Thanks to a 7 hour flight home, I had some time to reflect on what this all means. The age of portable digital devices means some really exciting changes for the traveler, and some changes that don’t seem right.

The Good

A young couple reading a much more detailed tour of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul on their iPad (Photo: Daydream Tourist)

Examining Michelangelo’s Unfinished David-Apollo

Michelangelo’s David-Apollo on display at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC on loan from the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Florence (Photo: adapted from NGA publicity materials)

I personally love artworks with a little mystery and what could be better than an unfinished sculpture by Michelangelo? His David-Apollo is currently on display at the National Gallery of Art in DC until March 3^rd, on loan from the Museo del Bargello in Florence. The sculpture is so named because there is no real consensus on whom it depicts. In 1530, Michelangelo started a small marble of David. It has been speculated that he abandoned this symbol of Florence and tried to adapt it to a classical Apollo but ultimately left the piece unfinished. To me, there is no evidence to suggest that this figure was ever meant to be an Apollo. More likely, it was a victim of Michelangelo’s legendary perfectionism. The beauty of unfinished pieces is that one can walk around them, examine the carvings and try to understand the master’s thought process up close.

The Gates in Central Park 2005

As the East Coast prepares for a very cool spell this weekend, I thought I’d dig up some bright and joyous winter pictures. “The Gates, Central Park, New York, 1979–2005” by Christo and Jeanne-Claude was erected in Central Park for two weeks in February 2005. Given my love of contemporary art and temporary installations, it was a given that I would make an art pilgrimage* to see The Gates in real life. And it was so worth it! The dramatic orange structures really popped against the frosty ground, bare trees and grey city. The heavy canvas flags whipped and snapped in the wind but from a distance appeared to floated and swung peacefully as they wound down the park trails. Read more

Jan 15

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Curators Have All the Fun: San Diego’s “Behold, America!” Exhibit

How would you arrange pieces in an art gallery? Should paintings be placed in groups by artistic movement? Does it makes more sense to see everything in chronological order? Should geographic differences and temporal differences rigidly divide works?

Time period, artistic movement, and geography are often used to organize a museum. Imagine how many times you’ve entered into the first room of “old” art and then walk forward in time through each successive room. Changing this classic approach, San Diego’s three major art museums put together something a little different which I thought made for a really incredible show. They’ve combined works from their very unique collections into thematically based exhibits broadly entitled “Behold, America!” on display until Feb 12, 2013.

Photo of the Week – San Diego Sunset

I hope everyone’s 2013 is off to a good start! I spend the holidays in lovely San Diego with family and friends. The hills and coastline are so beautiful there. The only thing prettier was probably the spectacular sunsets!

Daydream Tourist

Because there are way more than seven wonders in the world.

Examining Michelangelo’s Unfinished David-Apollo

The Gates in Central Park 2005

Curators Have All the Fun: San Diego’s “Behold, America!” Exhibit

Photo of the Week – San Diego Sunset

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