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Posts tagged ‘travel’

Jan 7

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ArtSmart Roundtable – Copley Library Galleries in Boston

The monthly ArtSmart Roundtable brings together posts from some of the best art history-focused travel blogs on a common theme.  For January (and just in time for your 2013 travel planning), we are discussing “The Best Museum You’ve Never Heard Of”.  This is a great topic and I can’t wait to read about all the great finds from the rest of the roundtable!  You can find links below to all the group’s articles.

Boston has some incredible art museums – The Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art and the (currently condensed) Harvard Art Museums .  While I definitely recommend these places, some of my favorite paintings in Boston are actually public art in the central library!  The Copley Square Library was constructed in 1895 and was decorated in a Renaissance revival and Beaux Art style.  Inside are three incredible and overwhelmingly beautiful mural cycles including one by my favorite portrait painter.  The Galleries are free, open to the public 6 days a week and worth a trip for any serious art lover. Read more

Dec 31

Pamukkale Travertine terrace detail
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Wonderous White Cliffs of Pamukkale

What happens when calcium rich spring water flows for thousands of years over a series of rock outcroppings?  You get the incredible “cotton castle” of Pamukkale, a rocky cliff side covered in an expansive, white layer of calcium carbonate and other minerals.  The sight is magnificent in scale and sublime in the natural details.

Pamukkale dried pools Read more

Dec 20

Swimming with columns in the Hierapolis thermal pool, Pamukkale, Turkey
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Swimming in Apollo’s Pool

Every good ancient Roman knew that bathing was important for one’s health.  Thermal springs were seen to be something divine and precious, often visited for their purported healing properties.  But why rely on historical accounts when you can see for yourself?  The thermal spring in the ancient city of Hierapolis, Turkey is active today, open for swimming, and even comes with some very authentic decorations!

Hierapolis thermal pool, natural spring spa with Roman columns, Pamukkale

Underwater archaeology? Not quite.

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Dec 18

Parthenon canvas print in lime kitchen

A Parthenon Canvas Print for My Kitchen

Like most people, I take tons of photos while traveling but never display them.  While I share pictures here, if you walked around my home, you’d never think I was so passionate about art and travel.  (That is, aside from the first painting of my “art collection”.)  So when I could get canvas prints from Printcopia, I jumped at the chance.

Parthenon canvas print

An homage to the Parthenon? The canvas print and several other Mediterranean travel artifacts

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Dec 11

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Hagia Sophia Trompe L’Oeil

Hagia Sophia trompe l'oeil, optical illusion painting

Something is not quite right with the Hagia Sophia gallery level.

The Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is one of the most beautiful buildings in the world.  The dome upon dome design creates an immense open space, but things are not exactly as harmonious as they seem.  To cover up the huge support structure, trompe l’oeil murals were added in the 19th century so that gallery would appear more uniform.  Finding these panels while you take in the breath-taking sight is an odd touch of reality in an otherwise divine architecture.

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