A Walk Through the Art Institute of Chicago
For all the masterpieces at the Art Institute of Chicago, sometimes it is good to wander slowly and find new favorite paintings. Here’s a few works and details that jumped out at me this summer.
Posts tagged ‘museums’
Sep 25
3 Comments
Museum of Stained Glass Windows, Navy Pier Chicago
Have you ever unexpectedly stumbled on something amazing while traveling? The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows is just that! It is a free collection of art tucked into the Navy Pier in Chicago and is really a treat.
Underwater Archaeology Museum
Amphora display showing how containers were set upright into the ship’s hull and lashed together
Over the last 4000 years, small ships have darted throughout the Eastern Mediterranean with oil, olives, wine, raw metals and other trading goods. Since most of these early vessels were not particularly sophisticated, the waters around Turkey are littered with shipwrecks. After a tip from local sponge divers in the 1960s, the first underwater archaeology excavations were begun along the Bodrum coast. A lot of these findings can be seen today in the Museum of Underwater Archaeology housed in the 14th century Bodrum Castle.
The Painting Under the Painting – Picasso’s Old Guitarist
Partial grazing light image of Picasso’s “The Old Guitarist” as it hangs at The Art Institute of Chicago
It is not uncommon for artists to rework or even reuse canvases. Careful examination with scientific techniques can offer glimpses of pasts images buried beneath the surface. But sometimes you don’t need sophisticated instruments; sometimes the underlying image is very obvious looking at the final piece. This was my experience with Pablo Picasso’s “The Old Guitarist” and the ghostly woman’s face in the top center of the painting. Looking at it from the side and letting the light graze the image, you can see the depth of her face very clearly.
Chicago Art Institute Modern Art Wing
I spent most of the last week in Chicago including a full day at the Art Institute. It was my first visit since the opening of the new Modern Art Wing in 2009. Designed by Renzo Piano, the structure is glass with rib-like vertical and horizontal white elements resulting in an airy and light-filled space (even on a drizzly day) with incredible views of the city. It is a lovely, blank container for a good collection with some hidden green building construction.
Daydream Tourist 