Beautiful Impressionist and Post-Impressionist exhibit in Houston: http://mfah.org/
From HeadforArt.com:
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Creativity
March 04, 2011
February 18, 2011
Benini Sculpture Ranch, Johnson City, TX
On a beautiful Friday in January, Melissa F and I decided to check out the Benini Sculpture Ranch. Formerly LBJ’s hunting camp, the Sculpture Ranch and Foundation moved here in 1999 from Florida.
We were expecting a short stroll with a dozen or so of the artist’s sculptures on display. Boy, were we wrong! Set on 140 acres outside of Johnson City, at least 60 sculptures by Benini and other contemporary artists were displayed among the hills and live oaks.
Scott Sustek (?) figure
Gemini's Song, Peter Mangan
Our neighbor, Warren Cullar, has three sculptures there…which I didn’t realize until I read through the listing.
(left to right) Easter Island, Pharoah's Treasure, Spirit Totem, Warren Cullar
The Studio building, a quonset hut, housed exhibits of Benini’s 80s-era paintings, small sculptures, and rotating exhibits of other artists.
We walked along the 1-1/2 mile path, marveling at the variety of sculptures.
Commedia dell’Arte series, Marshall Cunningham
The many kinetic sculptures by LaPaso were fascinating, especially when a breeze caught the copper cups and starting parts spinning. Our favorites included glass pieces that glowed in the sunlight.
We certainly didn’t understand many of the pieces, but they were fascinating. In particular, the ropes installation was intriguing.
Phantom Hill, Robert McConaughy
But our favorite was the Mother Tree. It’s nice to see they have a sense of humor around there.
We walked up the steep incline to the artist’s home, which used to be LBJ’s camping lodge. Benini offered us a ride, but we passed. The home has an amazing 360-degree view and is, of course, surrounded by sculptures.
I think the most special part of this collection is how carefully it’s been sited to complement the beautiful landscape. Even the birds agree. Can you see the nest inside the chest of this figure?
Untitled, Bob Fowler
The Sculpture Ranch is amazing and inspiring. I highly recommend you check it out.
Another sculpture ranch close by to check out:
Eyfells and Eyfells Foundation
www.eyfellsandeyfells.com
October 06, 2009
Cooperstown, NY
If your male friend is dying to go to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, sigh and tell him that you’ll sacrifice your day for him. Drop him off and then go have fun!
www.baseballhall.org
Cooperstown has done a wonderful job for those of us who would rather do other things.
In fact, you first stop should be the Chamber of Commerce to pick up the “Ladies Guide to Cooperstown.”
www.cooperstownchamber.org
www.visitingcooperstown.com
The restored buildings, landscaping, and cute shops make it a pleasant town to stroll in.
Make plans for breakfast or lunch at the Cooperstown Diner. This tiny gem is a local favorite, so there might be a wait during peak times. But it’s worth it! They are justifiably known for their burgers, which are huge and delicious. I really liked my breakfast plate of eggs, bacon, and an amazing grilled corn muffin. Everything that came out of the tiny kitchen looked and smelled fantastic.
136 1/2 Main Street
607.547.9201
www.cooperstowndiner.com
Fenimore Art Museum
James Fenimore Cooper, author of The Deerslayer and The Last of the Mohicans, came from an influential family in…Cooperstown! The museum is located in a 1930s neo-Georgian mansion on the site of Cooper's early 19th century farmhouse. This beautiful building houses a world-class collection of American paintings, folk art, historical artifacts, furnishings, and Native American art.
The grounds are lovely and overlook Lake Ostego, the famous Glimmerglass of James Fenimore Cooper’s writings.
Highly recommended!
5798 State Highway 80
www.fenimoreartmuseum.org
The kids would love the Farmers’ Museum where they can bob for apples, feed the animals, and watch blacksmiths at work.
www.farmersmuseum.org
We enjoyed the Fly Creek Cider Mill and Orchard. It was apple season—yummy! The apple cider doughnuts will drive you wild!
www.flycreekcidermill.com
Our favorite places to shop were Schneider’s Bakery (fantastic cookies) and the Savor New York store (food, soap, linens, and dog goodies from the Empire State).
Meet up with your baseball fan at the Ommegang Brewery and discuss your day. Only you can decide how much enthusiasm about Cooperstown you’ll let show after sacrificing your day!
www.ommegang.com
July 06, 2009
Quilt National at the Dairy Barn, Athens, Ohio
The Dairy Barn is an actual dairy cow barn built in 1914 that served the Athens State School. It has been renovated to serve as an art exhibit space.
I’ve wanted to go to Quilt National for years now. It’s probably the premier art quilt show, held every two years.
As you enter, the stunning “Memorial Day” greets you. The artist made a small American flag for each one of our 4083 troops who has died in Iraq (as of May 26, 2008). It is an enormous piece, even though each flag is tiny. That really puts into perspective how many 4000+ people are.
Many of the art quilts were basically paintings on fabric, some were sculptural, and some had social or political points of view. My favorites were intricately hand-embellished. It’s impossible to see the detail in a photo, but here is an example by Susan Krueger of the many processes she used in her quilt:
“Cotton, fabric paint; batiked, discharged, image transferred, appliquéd, embroidered, hand and machine quilted.”
And the stories were almost as fascinating as the quilts themselves, for example:
“…made up of many layers of fabric with separate but related compositions on each piece. After I hand stitch the layers together, I begin to cut into them. As I work toward revealing different parts of the layers, I discover that they are a lot like my own layers. It is difficult to cut into some parts, so I leave them be. I guess they are not yet ready to be revealed.”
Quilts are not the only thing exhibited at the Dairy Barn. A contemporary wood sculpture show will begin in September. Quilt National occurs in odd-number years and Bead International in even-number years. If you are ever within a couple-hour drive of Athens, Ohio, I highly recommend you visit this place. www.dairybarn.org
