Art that moves you

Fellow art lovers, what are some exhibitions you've seen that had the greatest impact on you? Here are a handful I've been blessed to attend:

• Mickalene Thomas: Origin of the Universe, Brooklyn Museum

• Basquiat and the Bayou, the Ogden

• Kehinde Wiley: A New Republic, Brooklyn Museum

• Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving, Brooklyn Museum

• Implicit Tensions: Mapplethorpe Now, the Guggenheim

• Queen: An Exhibition at the Xavier University Art Gallery

Viewing impressive paintings or sculptures is an experience I'm always grateful for. I'd love recommendations for artists I should put on my radar.

... I've never been to an art gallery...

I've been lucky to live in places like New York City or New Orleans where they exist in abundance. If you ever visit, there are lots of wonderful art events throughout the year. Art for Art's Sake takes place in the Warehouse District every Autumn. It's pretty much an extensive gallery crawl with dozens of venues hosting exhibitions all on the same night. Plus lots of complimentary wine is served!

But outside of events like that, I sometimes find galleries to be intimidating as it can be hard to tell which ones are public vs private. And though I aspire to be one day, I'm not a collector and have no plans of acquiring any large-scale pieces.. so I feel self-conscious and like I'm taking up space being a window shopper. I'm much more at home in museums.

Hopefully you find some that interest you in Jacksonville!

... I've never been to an art gallery... Originally Posted by ClaireBarsett

So ? Go !

https://www.yelp.com/search?cflt=gal...ch%2C+FL+32250

Girl, you need to go!! Every city has great museums. When I’m on tour I ALWAYS leave a day to see a museum.
Smithsonian’s are a huge part of what make DC and New York a paradise for history buffs.
These world class museums encompass art, science and technology, and natural history in abundance. Plus, they are all free everyday. Most of the names are self-explanatory, so take your pick for whatever you’re in the mood to learn on your visit.

The Nelson-Atkins in KC has a very well rounded collection and is always free.
and, speaking of well- rounded ....

I have been through many art museums, none of them really stand out in my mind though.

I was stationed in Scotland for a few years, and I really enjoyed touring some of the old castles. I like studying the stonework and how the structures were fit together. Also, many of the estates have armories where they display large collections of old weapons and armor, I do enjoy looking at that.

I was stationed in Naples Italy for a few years. They have many museums. We homeschooled our children, so my wife and children spent a lot of their time exploring those museums. Old Roman coliseums that have been buried by volcano ash get rediscovered routinely, so they clean them up and offer tours. Those are pretty cool.

In Naples on the horizon, you can see Mount Vesuvius and on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius are Pompeii and the Herculaneum. That is a neat place to explore. I have been there many times.

I drove a school bus loaded with boy scouts down to Mount Etna once for a campout. We hiked up the side of the active volcano, right up to the edge of the cone. Where we watched hot lava shooting up in the night air. So hot your face could feel the heat like standing around a huge camp fire. And it was loud too.

Near Naples is Apollo's oracle, the Cumaean Sibyl from when it was a Greek colony.

We took a car ferry over to Greece and drove around over there for a week. The ancient site of the original Olympic games is a neat place to be.

We spent a day exploring the ancient Greek city-state of Mycenae. Everyone we met was very friendly.

We enjoyed ancient Corinth, the museum there is loaded with fantastic stone statues.

One time I took a month of personal leave and went to Egypt with a tourist group. We spent much of our time on a paddleboat going up the Nile River, stopping at each of the archeological dig sites. The Valley of the Kings, each of the Pyramids, etc. That was a lot of fun until every one of us in the group all got sick from food poisoning.

Another year I spent my personal leave going with a pastor friend of mine, his degree is in archeology and he took a group to Israel for 3 weeks. I met the group at Tel-Aviv. We spent the whole time exploring sites discussed in the Old Testament. My friend did a sermon at each site, he had a professional cameraman filming each sermon and I worked as their gaffer. I still have videos of those sermons and lots of photos.

In Jerusalem, outside of the city wall, there is an old entrance to a stone quarry that leads underneath the Temple Mount. I was able to take a tour of that quarry. That was a big deal for me.

Unfortunately, in my case, it is a classic scenario of, "easier said than done."

I have a full time job in Retail as a Operations Supervisor that works me 40+ hours a week. I get paid a decent rate plus over time and my manager is a pretty cool guy, so, I'm not going to start complaining. On top of that, I am married and I have three small children. Plus, one car. My husband and I rarely get days off together but even if we did, an art gallery isn't something he'd want to do. Plus with three small children, it would be out of the question. I'd have a husband who WOULDN'T want to be there, and three small children who wouldn't be interested. I have always feared being that parent who tried bringing their baby to the movie ONLY for the baby to start crying half way through. Or a better expression, those parents who bring their kids on a plane and the kid is screaming the whole time? Of course, I wouldn't let my children continue on causing a scene but the idea alone, gives me anxiety.

When I'm not working, I am at home with my kids. And when I'm not with my kids, I am at work. Escorting is in a literal sense, "My Hobby". When I am contacted with an interest to get together, I will request that day off so that I am able to meet with the individual without schedule restrictions. But even then, I'm having to schedule two weeks in advance with my job in order for this to happen. Why am I escorting if I have a job? I get to go out and meet new people. I get to do what I really enjoy and get paid doing it. In a strange way, I kinda do consider this private time together my, "Me" time. Regardless of what I might think about the growing consumers that come into my choice of employment, I do enjoy one on one and getting together with a large group of people that I know for social events.

@ Lena, tell me, how was the Mickalene Thomas: Origin of the Universe? Oh, that sounds beautiful. Space, the last frontier. I have a small collection of wall art, nothing fancy, stuff I've gotten from second hand shops, thrift stores, you name it. I've started collecting a light gathering of Chinese/Japanese art and decor to fill my walls. My favorite piece looks, "Personal", I will add a picture of the art below so you can see what I'm talking about. I can't recall where I got this piece from, nor do I know who the artist is. Regrettably, I have to say that I do not read or speak the language I am currently trying to decorate my home with. [/end]



@ Anastasia, you sound like a wonderful travel companion. Regrettably, I don't see myself traveling to New York or anywhere outside of Jacksonville any time soon. BUT, I hear you loud and clear. It's important to make time for oneself. [/end]

I wish I could find someone who would enjoy going to these things with me. Heading to a social event full of strangers is... well- nerve wrecking. But I'm an escort? Don't I meet with strangers? No. I have a 168 hour policy. I like to think I am meeting with a friend by the time the appointment comes to date. PLUS, I would like to discus what it is we are seeing while spending that time bonding. Intelligence is the new sexy. Call me a zombie because I love me some juicy brains.

@ Joey, Thank you for the link, it's nice to see that I actually only a stones throw away from some of these. They give me a few date ideas. That is, if my partner is interested in going with me! [/end]

Intelligence is the new sexy. Call me a zombie because I love me some juicy brains.

Originally Posted by ClaireBarsett

Glad there are ladies out there that are interested in intelligence as well. I find an intelligent woman very sexy and stimulating!

While it is fascinating to go to museums and see historical art, I prefer small contemporary art galleries. When it comes to historical art I like the ground breakers, the artists that pushed the edge and broke the boundaries. Art history was a long time ago, can't remember the particular artists. I know them when I see them.

Nothing moves me more than running into a random art gallery and seeing someone's personal work. And not always paintings, actually rarely paintings. Sculpture gets me the most or photography. The most recent was in Marfa. There was an exhibit of thousands of small white paper cups layered and placed to look like a rolling sand dune. It took up most of the huge room.

Thinking a bit more...there is art to decorate your home and there is art to be experienced.

While it is fascinating to go to museums and see historical art, I prefer small contemporary art galleries. Originally Posted by lovingcamela

First Fridays. Crossroads . KCMO ( wink-wink)

This moves me.
Or at least parts of me.
Artist : Dave Sheridan.

I for one am looking forward to my trip to the Kimble in Ft.Worth for the Monet exhibit.

I absolutely love art and its beauty. I can get lost in it