Today we visited the Brücke Museum, which had come highly recommended by one of Matt’s colleagues. It is devoted to the German Expressionist group Die Brücke. Nestled in a wooded area near Grunewald, the museum is pleasant enough, light-filled and modern. But the visit was disappointing. The current exhibition is about the handcrafts of this art movement, including metal, wood, … Read More
Berlin – Day 2
I first saw the Reichstag Building shortly after the Wall came down. At the time it stood scarred and grimy, its stone walls pocked with bullet holes from the Battle of Berlin in 1945. It felt less like a government building than a wounded monument. At the time, the government was operating in Bonn. Later I returned after its dramatic … Read More
Berlin – Day 1
After many visits to Berlin over the decades, beginning about a year after the wall came down, I have returned to this fascinating city. I thought I’d seen a lot of Berlin, but I’m staying in a neighborhood entirely new to me, the Grunewald district. It’s a very green area, dotted with artificial lakes and very expensive mansions. My nephew … Read More
Grounds for Sculpture, NJ
Just over an hour from New York City, Grounds for Sculpture is one of the most joyful and unexpected art experiences I know. I’ve been there many times and each visit reminds me how much fun it is. Spread across 42 landscaped acres, it combines “serious” art with whimsy, humor, and surprise. This is not a place where you walk … Read More
Longwood Gardens, PA
A very short entry, since the photos speak for themselves. The only thing I will say is that since the last time I was there, the new greenhouse opened. It is airy, light and beautiful.
Menomonie and Wausau, Wisconsin
First, a weather report. Yesterday, it was raining but warm. I woke up this morning to frigid conditions, 28 degrees to be exact. I went out the door and could see my breath. I wasn’t happy. I set out this morning to spend time at the Franconia Sculpture Park. When I arrived, it became obvious that wasn’t going to happen. … Read More
Minneapolis and Northfield, Minnesota
Before taking Judy to the airport, we squeezed in visits to two more Minneapolis art venues. The first, The Northern Clay Center (NCC), had been a client many years ago. None of the people I know still work there, but it was fun to revisit it. NCC is a working and teaching studio, with a gallery and shop. I still … Read More
Hastings and Prescott, Minnesota
Two things reshaped our plans for the day. We woke up to a cloudless sky and warm temperatures, clearly a day to be outside. Then, scrolling through Facebook, a follower suggested a stop in Hastings to see the work of Dale Lewis. Given his motto, “It’s okay for fine art to be fun,” I knew this was a place I … Read More
Minneapolis, MN – Day 1
Art, old friendships, and a touch of nostalgia made for a full day. My college friend Gary, his wife Marcia, and, for many years work, have brought me to Minneapolis again and again. One of the clients I worked with was the Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA). That’s where we started the day. I was hoping that some of my … Read More
Madison to Minneapolis
Today was a driving day, a LOT of driving. Had we gone directly, it would have been 270 miles. But we opted for backroads, increasing both the distance and the appeal. Rather than recount every small town we passed through, I’ll simply say the scenery was bucolic. Farms looked well-kept and prosperous, some fields freshly plowed, others left fallow and … Read More