Wednesday, May 5

North Carolina Museum of Art, Part One

My title for this one: "Walk softly and carry a big stick!" On April 25th, a group of women from our neighborhood went to some of the grand opening ceremonies for the new building of the North Carolina Museum of Art. I took lots of photos, and owing to the crowds, I wasn't able to get info on everything. I apologize in advance for not being able to tell you the artist and title of each photo.






A beautiful statue.









This is a rendering in frosted glass of a classical dress, apparently wind-blown.










In the African Galleries; I would call them totems.









This is intricate bead work, with very tiny glass beads. They may not all be glass, however. I forgot what I read about it.










Ceremonial tribal dress, displayed on mannequins.









This collection of heads is mounted on the wall. At first glance, they appear to be identical, but when you see them up close, you can tell that each one is an individual and some face outward, while some are in profile. The title (if I remember correctly) is "Congregation." Below is a close-up.



















Click to enlarge.











This is not a good photo because this statue is a gorgeous color of lapis blue. She has been in the museum for many years, but I can't remember her name or the artist. Someday I 'll get a better picture of her; she is truly elegant.




























Looking back toward the entrance.









Gorgeous green glass (my favorite color). I didn't get to read about this one either.









I believe these are by Jaume Plensa, but I can't swear to it. There are three of them and each one "sits" on the wall just under the ceiling. There is writing on each of them; lit from within.












A view of the outside of the building. The inside is so beautiful and light-filled, that I cannot understand why the exterior had to look like metal warehouses. The old building looks like a concrete bunker and now this. *sigh* There were so many possibilities for the design of a museum that would be just as beautiful on the exterior as it is inside - but that's not what we got. I don't get it.

Next to the building stands a bare tree made of metal. I don't quite get that either.





Recently, I posted about this video which was cast onto a wall in the museum and shows a tree in all the four seasons. The woman in this photo was dancing; part of the continuous performance art that took place during the opening. I couldn't get the video to upload, but at least you can see the tree.



Here is part of our group - completely wind-blown - as you can see. I didn't find out about the piece of art behind us, but it looked like something from the petrified desert to me.



Come back tomorrow for the rest of the photos, which include paintings. I will be working today and for the next three - so visiting may be sparse.

16 comments:

Anna said...

Beautiful photos of arts and flowers! About frogs: love them too, check out www.mio.se, see if you can order the frog...-otherwise I can bring you one, would love to come to USA..:-) Anna

Gilly said...

That looks a really fascinating place. I would have to take it very slowly, a bit at a time. I particularly liked the lady in lapis blue and the metal wall hanging.

And your group looks a really friendly, interesting group of ladies!

sage said...

Thanks for the tour--it's been years since I've been to there (to the old building)

Arkansas Patti said...

They really didn't make the exterior inviting but what treasures inside. I can get lost in such places.

tiff said...

oh, I'm sure the building design is some minimalist expression of something or another. :)

Or maybe....it's what's inside that counts. :)

Olga said...

You are lucky to have something like this nearby. I loved the beads with faces.

oklhdan said...

Beautiful pieces...I agree with you, why such a plain building for such beautiful art?

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Pat said...

So often one isn't allowed to take photos - you were lucky. Lovely lot - especially the glass one. I wonder how many ladies embiggened the first one? I did;)

LL Cool Joe said...

I love the frosted glass sculpture and the ones sitting on the wall.

Very cool mix of styles.

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Anonymous said...

I like the green glass also....
~S :)

Blond Girl said...

Wow. Beautiful stuff. I would have loved to see all that. I would need to go without my hubby and daughter, though. Both of them would have been too impatient to let me read the descriptions. As to that first statue? I could just see the caption; "The next one who laughs at my hiney gets it with the club!"

Joy Des Jardins said...

Some outstanding pieces Judy. I especially like the dress in frosted glass...and the statues. What a wonderful place to visit.

Ginnie said...

I'm so glad it's open again. I love going there and they have a great restaurant too.

Granny Annie said...

I had never heard of the artist Michael Richards, (only the one that played Kramer on Seinfeld). To learn of his bronze using himself as the mold and depicting the WWII Airplanes crashing into him displaying the injustice done to the black pilots known as the Tuskegee Airmen. Then to have his own life brought to an end in the World Trade Center 9/11 by airplanes crashing into him. What irony.