Gloria J Zucaro's "Trip to MMOA"

Three of my artist friends from The Hoffman Estates Art League came over to my house at about 9AM Saturday morning.  I had been getting the house ready…all the outdoor decorations up, and the two small trees, inside, the Santas on the mantle.  They loved my house(or so they said! J)After the "tour" we drove up to the Milwaukee Museum of Art.  We went to the new exhibit called “Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Gainsborough”.  There was only one Rembrandt, but it was a self-portrait of himself at age 65.  He posed with his brushes and was all about showing the tools of his trade.  Very wonderful and awe inspiring to see in person.  The rest of the exhibit was other Old Masters paintings from a collection from the Kenwood House in London. Apparently the house which is open to the public and free, is being redone.  New floors, etc. so they decided to show the collection here in the States.  The collection will be shown in only four cities.  Exhibition Itinerary: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (June 3–September 3, 2012); Milwaukee Art Museum (October 12, 2012–January 13, 2013); Seattle Art Museum (February 14–May 19, 2013); Arkansas Arts Center (June 7–September 8, 2013).                                             See some art below the text.

Himself!

A Dale Chihuly Glass Sculpture on Main Level

Really great docent Geoff Simon who told us about this Picasso.  Picasso had just started this painting when he looked out his window and saw that the street was filling up with Allied soldiers as well as the French citizens.  He knew immediately that something dramatic was happening and put the date  13 .11. 44 on the bottom left corner.  He didn't sign the painting with his usual signature until it was actually finished.  

This is a Chagall that caught my attention

Pierre Bonnard (French, 1867–1947)

Girl in Straw Hat (Femme au Chapeau Rouge), 1903

Thanks to Sharron Boxenbaum for remembering the artists names and titles of these two paintings

 Jules Bastien-Lepage (French, 1848–1884

Le Père Jacques (Woodgatherer), 1881

 

The Museum itself is amazing!  The new part is all white marble floors and brilliant white walls and ceilings and is shaped like a giant bird.  The ”wings” going out from it expand three times a day.  Unfortunately we missed the one at noon because we didn't know about it and were in the middle of the exhibit.   See these pictures! 

View as we arrive

 Inside Main level(2nd floor of 3)

Looking Toward Lake Michigan

 Right side small wing with coffee shop for coffee & scones, etc.

 View out other end toward E. Michigan St. pointing camera almost straight up

A lower perspective same view

View down opposite side wing to older museum building exhibits at end(Dark area).  Both gift shops are on left side as you go down this hall.

 Inside one of the exhibit areas(Cubists) with Geoff(a docent) Sandy Schmidt(front), Sharron Boxenbaum, the President of the Hoffman Estates Art League (carrying purse over shoulder & gift bag) and Maria Vera.  I took several pictures in black and white for drama.

 We looked in a small gift shop of items typical of English lifestyle, and the larger regular gift shop.   We ate lunch about 1:30 in the café there.  The menu and food were themed with the show.  A picture and history of Kenwood  House on the Menu, then Fish & Chips, Bangers & Mash, and Pasties, etc. on the menu.  After lunch we looked at the impressionists, cubists, expressionists, Pop Art, etc.  We left about 4PM and got home about 5:15.  A great Day