Iowa SlingShot Trip

Filled with all of the wonderful foods of Thanksgiving, SuperJ and I are off to visit the flat-lands of Iowa and the Nipp-ster.

Stop #1: #169, The Figge Art Museum, Davenport, Iowa

I'ts been awhile since I have had a couple hours to examine the new Davenport Museum of Art, now known as The Figge(like figgy pudd'n). In a new location with a new name and a new building it's enough to consider this a new if not different museum than the old Davenport. I believe the collection remains the same but I can't say that I remember any of the work currently on display.

The new space is oh-so contemporary with the ususal seemingly wasted space a-la MCA. With several large galleries there is an exhibition on quilts that spans two floors and an exhibtion of the paintings of comedian Martin Mull. I do have to say this new building is titanic(great for exhibiting art) compared to the old space, but more sterile(not cozy or inviting. Kinda like a hospital).

Ok, so I like to patronize the art centers I visit. I spend fare amounts of money on memorobilia. I just don't understand why museums of any magnitude fail to stock the basics in their giftshops: pencils(everyone uses these), mugs(your staff drinks coffee) and postcards of the permanent collection. So what do you stock? Stuff from the Met, Art Institute or the Louvre. Tacky scarves and the no-name dinner-ware and chromed overpriced trendy crap does not allow the public to remember you establishments name!(just a pet-peeve!)

Stop #2: #170, UIMA or University of Iowa Art Museum, Iowa City, Iowa

Plans are uncertain with the Nipp-ster so I decide to go to UIMA. Next time I visit I will know where to park. After a walk through campus and over the main bridge we find the museum. About an hour before close we take in what seems to be a deceptively small university museum, but looks are deceiving! There is a great, no awesome contemporary collection including a Pollock mural. I move through the museum like a sponge taking in paintings, photographs and sculptures. I come to the farthest gallery near the rear of the museum and what I expected to be the end has actually just begun. A rather large space with a solo exhibit of the paintings of Jules Kirchenbaum. While I enjoied the work it was unsettling and somewhat remniscent of Witkin's photographs. Feeling satisfied that I saw "everything" currently on display, I was horrified to discover another gallery... an exhibit of 50 more pieces depicting animals and human-animal relationships and annex extension of modern art. Figuring that the museum is about to close I head to the giftshop to donate some money and it is closed. It closed a half hour ago. Hmmm... I guess they don't want my money? After spending 16 years in retail still I'm surprised that most museum giftshops don't have a clue. "Giftshops should stay open past gallery hours to rake in all of the money lost from lull in donation, membership and government allocation."

So we vacate the museum and notice the UI Art Center across the road. It's closed but it's architecture is cool and there is some form of exhibit inside! We may have to come back tomorrow!

We finally meetup with the Nipp-ster and head downtown to meet her friends, eat, drink and be merry. We park and are cutting though an open business to get to the bar and what do we find? Yup! A used bookstore! But not any used bookstore, it's Uptown Bill's Small Mall. Woo Hoo! After some aquainting I remember seeing the movie Bill with Mickey Rooney when I was a kid. SuperJ went to hunt down some biography and I hit up the CD's which the gentleman assured me was picked over. I ended up finding some good stuff anyway. In the book section I found some fun art related material as well. I always love a couple of good finds. Now food, then sleep. And up in the morn to see some more of UIMA and beyond.


Stop #3: #171, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, Iowa

I can't believe how many old Carnegie libraries I've visited. From street level the building was ominous. Up the front stairs and into the botanical gardens(?). How unusual to find a good sized botanical garden as the ticketing area of an art museum. The humidity was pleasant for an overcast November day in Cedar Rapids. The main exhibit filling three galleries was a show of midwestern centric art by known and unknown midwestern artists. I can say that while some of the work was under par, I can give much kudos for pulling off an exhibit focusing on the midwest! Did I mention Grant Wood's presence here. A very large collection of prints, drawings and paintings by the Cedar Rapids native, go figure! For whatever reason Marvin Cone had been under the radar, but no longer! I actually like his work more than Wood's. It's interestng and disturbing to see how artists are regionalized. Cone's work is nothing short of Brilliant! he landscapes are warm and inviting, his urban/abstract pieces verge on Gunther Gerszo. Most of his work is located at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, so go and check it out! I am sure you will be pleased.

Stop #3b Grant Wood studio, Cedar Rapid, Iowa

The Cedar Rapids Art Museum holds the deed to Grant Wood's Studio and it is open to the public. At a location not to far from the museum in the attic above of an old carriage house is the what Grant Wood called a home and a studio. more to follow.




Stop #4: Dubuque, Iowa

Stop #5: Galena, Illinois

The Triangle Trips

Indianapolis the Triangle Trips
SuperJ had a conference in Indianapolis so I decided to go with her and take day trips to some of the art centers off the beaten path. Each day's route sort of formed a triangle, thus "Triangle Trips".

Day One: 11/03/06

Stop #1: (#161)The Anderson Fine Arts Center, Anderson, Indiana
The Anderson Fine Arts Center is housed in an early Carnegie Center and is a very ornate place indeed and an excellent place for an art exhibition. American Scenes: The Art of Don Austin was a series of enjoyable illustrative styled paintings and prints reminiscent of Tom Benton in subject but a little less polished. There was also an exhibit from the permanent collection that involved pieces that had been purchased from the annual juried exhibitions from the last 50+ years. There were some really great pieces, even a painting by Lillian Fendig(a gallery in the Carnegie Center in Rensselaer is named for her). I really enjoyed the pieces from the collection because a majority of work were from Indianapolis regional artists that had traveled the world and brought it home with them in their art. A great show!

Stop #2: (#162)Ball State University Museum of Art, Muncie, Indiana
A seemingly small building from the outside, it houses a great collection of art. A lot of pre-twentieth century work with a sprinkling of turn of the century, impressionist and modern art as well as some contemporary pieces. Something I noticed immediately upon entering the museum were the 38inch and 47inch bronze figures of "Diana" by Paul Howard Manship. They were placed closely as if for comparison. It was unusual having two nearly identical pieces side by side.

Stop #3: (#163)Minnetrista, Muncie, Indiana
It's website says it is a Museum and Cultural center so I stopped in to check it out. As I approached by car I noticed some monumental sculpture on the grounds and I was hoping for an art exhibit of some sort inside the museum. As it turns out there was an exhibit of kites from around the world. Not what I had in mind and time was short and I still had some more stops to make. I made my way to the gift shop to get some things and I noticed some paintings in a large conference room. It turned out to be a portraiture exhibit. I'm glad it caught my eye, the greeter didn't seem to know anything about the portraiture exhibit or even care. The show was made up of pencil and ink drawings as well as paintings that spanned over a hundred years. All of the work was from regional artists and there were some really great pieces. This made my stop worthwhile.

This experience sort of reminds me of an occasion a couple of years ago at a "cultural complex" that shall remain nameless. We stopped to see the "art museum" section of this complex. It was expensive too. So we pay the lady and go up to the second floor. The lights are on the art is hung and the doors are locked and the art galleries are closed. The sign on the gallery door said they were hanging a new exhibit. Normally I don't have a problem with this except NO-ONE MENTIONED THE ART GALLERIES WERE CLOSED WHEN THEY WERE TAKING MY MONEY and there were no signs at the counter stating this. I realized that the State I was in is not know for it's fine art but come on! The lady behind the desk called the assistant director(who had to be no older than 18) and she told me that they couldn't give me a refund but could give me a free pass for the next time there is an exhibit since I already paid the admission and the only sections open were the children section, the gift shop and the food court. I told her I was an art critic and that I would be happy to view the gallery since most of the work is already hung. She couldn't do that because security wouldn't let her. I said security could escort me through the exhibit. About this point a guy behind the counter says he knows how to do refunds. I was relieved, got my money back and got out of there asap! I believe in satisfying the customer(I worked retail for 16yrs, you don't have to give away the store just give the customer his money back!) Ok no more ranting... sorry.

Stop #4 Richmond Art Museum, Richmond Indiana
*Canceled* out of time

Stop #5 Dayton Visual Arts Center(DVAC), Dayton Ohio
*Canceled* out of time

Stop #6, (#164)Dayton Art Institute, Dayton, Ohio
It was dark and some rain but I made it, The Dayton Art Institute! It is somewhat dark inside but I find my way to the front desk and imagine that "no entrance fees" except for special exhibits. Great I'm in. I find the contemporary section and work my way around to a Sheeler painting I've never seen before. "Stacks in Celebration" 1954 is an oil on canvas approximately 22"x28". I love this painting, a later painting and really polished. It almost looks as if there are solid layers of color applied to the canvas. The most attractive a smokestack I've ever seen. There was a full instalation Skoglund; Shimmering Madness. I was wondering where the thrashing sound was coming from... in all an enjoyable experience and a great art museum.

Day Two: 11/04/06

Stop #1: Terre Haute, Indiana
I stopped at a little coffee shop and wandered around while I was waiting for the Museum to open. I spied a little place crammed into the metropolis's storefronts called the Illiana Arts Alliance. There was a variety of work from local and regional artists. A nice surprise that they were open early on a Saturday morning. I went over to the (#165)Swope Art Museum. Coming around the corner of the Swope I noticed there was a separate entrance for the Halcyon gallery. It is part of the museum building that was vacant except for the summer months when the Swope held childrens art classes. Two ladies approched the museum with an idea to use the space the rest of the year for a contemporary gallery. A great idea! There was a two person show at the time of my visit but the 1st annual juried show was in the works. The gallery is actually quite large and bright and viewable from the street. The Swope: something I noticed right off was the huge "Diana" sculpture that greeted me as I entered the mueseum. It had to stand over 10ft high and was gold in color. Identical to the two at the Ball State Museum of Art. The story as the receptionist told goes... when the old director left and the new one came on board they found this statue in parts up in a storage area. It's actually made of plaster with a gold paint. If it's not a Paul Manship statue It's a damn good reproduction.

Stop #2 (#166)Indiana University Art Museum, Bloomington, Indiana
After a long strange trip that included a overcast day and a surly Dairy Queen clerk I made it to Bloomington, Indiana. I always love trying to find parking on college campuses. Well luck was with me this day as the three spots designated for visitors one was actually available in this packed parkinglot. The building reminds me of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. A large wedge pointing into space houses several galleries and a world class collection of art. In one of the first floor galleries the exhibit Contemporary Painting from the Guilin Chinese Painting Academy made and impression that I will not soon forget. I often lump traditional art together in my mind as more craft that art. This exhibit has changed this for me.

Day Three: 11/05/06

Stop #1 (#167)Indianapolis Arts Center in Broad Ripple
more to come

Stop #2 (#168)Eitlejorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis, Indiana
more to come