ArtSmart Roundtable | Daydream Tourist

Aug 7

Baroque gallery, National Gallery of Art

Masterpieces for Free: An Art Day in Washington DC

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we are treating you to An Art Day in some of our favorite city. Check out all the stories below!

Pablo PIcasso's "Family of Saltimbanques" at the National Gallery of Art

Viewing “Family of Saltimbanques” in the Picasso Gallery at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC

I am so lucky to live in Washington DC! We have interesting architecture, great music and performing arts organizations, very active international Embassies, beautiful public art and monuments, and an incredible collection of museums and galleries. Since the National Gallery of Art and Smithsonian Museums are administered by the US federal government, admission is always free. While this is a dream come true for DC’s students, it is great symbolic gesture for visitors to the city – the visual arts should be enjoyed freely and shared with all. With all the special exhibits to see, I practically get an “art day” every month and so I absolutely recommend an art trip to DC!

Jul 7

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Brunelleschi the Architect: More Than Florence’s Duomo

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we are looking at architecture. Check out all the stories below!

Florence Cathedral Duomo (Photo: Flickr, Bruce Stokes)

If you know Florence, Italy, then you know Filippo Brunelleschi. He was the architect who designed and constructed the soaring dome of the Florence Cathedral. While still impressive today, this engineering feat was revolutionary in the 15th century. But what many people don’t realize is that Brunelleschi completed several other equally influential buildings in Florence. Brunelleschi’s chapels and churches set the standard for Renaissance architecture by re-introducing and expanding on Roman architectural concepts. The harmonious and proportioned designs of Brunelleschi’s buildings makes them a must-see, even in a city overflowing with fantastic art.

Jun 2

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Painting with Light: Vermeer’s Interior Scenes

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we picked an abstract topic – Light. Check out all the creative stories below!

I timed my last international trip perfectly. My entire 12 hour lay-over in Amsterdam would be devoted to seeing the newly renovated Rijksmuseum. It was definitely worth powering through the jet-lag to visit this incredible collection in its elegant new galleries!

Vermeer, "Woman Reading a Letter", Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Johannes Vermeer, “Woman Reading a Letter”, 1664, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

While looking at the Dutch masterpieces in the main gallery including Vermeer’s Woman Reading a Letter, Mr. Tourist asked innocently, “So why are Vermeer’s paintings so famous?”

Without even hesitating I answered, “It’s how he painted light.”

May 5

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The Bayeux Tapestry: Storytelling in Fabric

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme. This month we are focusing on Art Experiences. Check out all the inspiring and fantastic stories below!

Norman horsemen riding into Battle from the Bayeux Tapestry

I’ve joked before about my “art pilgrimages” but I truly think some works need to be seen in person. There are details that can not be conveyed in photographs, and sometimes the scope and effect of the piece can only be appreciated in front of the artwork. I’ve experienced this sense of presence most intensely with the 12th century Bayeux Tapestry. Essentially a 230 foot long storyboard of exquisite embroidery, this object retells the the Battle of Hastings with drama, charm, and emotion. Without even realizing it, I spent 4 hours with the Bayeux Tapestry and loved it!

Jan 6

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Threatened Venice: Why You Need to Visit Now

Happy 2014! Ready for another exciting year of the ArtSmart Roundtable? Of course! This group brings together some of the best art-focused travel blogs to post on a common theme each month. To wish you all a happy New Year, this month we’re focusing on Art to see in 2014! Check out all of the ArtSmart posts below.

While I’m sure my friends are taking a very optimistic interpretation of this month’s topic, it actually got me thinking, “What do I need to see now before it is gone?” This last year brought us the destruction of UNESCO World Heritage sites in Mali, rising tides encroaching on Pacific Islands, further decay at Pompeii and threats to the archaeological sites in Egypt due to on-going political turmoil. There is a distinct possibility that our human actions (whether environmental or political) will destroy magnificent works of art and history critical to our cultural heritage. I can think of one complicated and threatened city that deserves a visit before it changes irrevocably. If you haven’t been, now is the time to see Venice. Hopefully you will see how beautiful and timeless the city is and can become an advocate for its preservation.