Willow Tea
Who knew? Cranston – Stuart and Catherine. They invented it. He thought of it; she ran with it as his biggest competitor. A famous architect of the time designed her Willow Tea shop. It’s all retold in the Kelvin Grove museum. And! We had a reservation that very afternoon. How neatly serendipitous is that! Really! The décor was as it was shown in the museum right down to the distinct high-backed chairs. My research assistant (wife) outdid herself this time, for sure! Chuckle, I was tickled pink!
Scene this?
California. Museum. Boredom. Sometimes there is enough art, too much. I need to do some. So, I got the nearest willing subject and made her walk the museum for me. And then I made a composite. More fun. There are many ways to have fun in a museum. Aren’t there?
Weary
We were in the museum and I sat to wait. I contemplated. And, I photographed. Me, you, and the mirror reflection. Fun! And, then ala Andreas Feininger, I paid homage to an image that stuck in my memory. Are there new photos or are there copies of something previously done? Either way, we had fun while I waited and rested.
After a while, it felt like we were in a photo booth. Well, no, but it was fun anyway.
Art?!
No! Well, sometimes it ain’t art. Well, no, someone loves it enough to hang it in the museum. My stuff’s not hanging. So, it’s art- there’s. But not to me. Are you following along here? ‘cause as far as I can judge, there’s no skill to slapping up random shapes of color. It just fails to “call” to me. Obviously, someone thinks this is important. And, I see “emperor’s new clothes.” So, make the “piece” your own.
Art
We’re at it again. Think Salvador Dali and the flying cats – Philippe Halsman. I don’t remotely pretend to greatness. But once in a while inspiration strikes. Art. I was already warned to never – ever – consider tossing my cats into a picture. Ever! Meanwhile we did this poorly lit moody picture. As a critic might comment, it was to enhance the moment and add mystery. None of that… it was just dark in the museum and I was too lazy to do any more.
Side by side
This is pretty easy to do, for me. Why not? It was an unexpected fun interlude in St Michael’s. We wandered in via a back street. A few hundred yards further on the road was a giant parking lot. We dropped in and spent the day. Fun! Right or left?
Cubist
I could be wrong. But she reminds me of Picasso. Compliment? Sure! I’m probably wrong. But the artist recalls cubism. It’s not my cup of tea. But, I can appreciate the talent.
Sometimes it ain’t art…
So much art, so little time. It’s about fun, right? ‘cause sometimes it ain’t art.
Do you need an explanation? Or, do you get it? Explanation? Is art fun? Serious? Did you ever have the sneakin’ feelin’ the artist is havin’ a laugh on you? On me? Someone actually bought this to hang on a wall. Some walls are better than others. I wish I could do art like this…
Soup
Iconic! We saw it! Andy Warhol, remember him? He painted a soup can and gained fame for it. He was the first to think of it. At the very least he was the first to execute the work and call it art. We were there. It’s about as iconic as standing before the Mona Lisa. Not the same, but nonetheless, it’s famous. I did not expect to see it nor to find it. But there! This was not on my bucket list. But we stumbled upon it. No one else in the museum was the least bit excited. It’s kind of like meeting the Beatles. Who?
Random
Washington is full of museums and official buildings of significance. There’s no way to know what’s what or all the names of places while wandering in a single day. Photo ops abound. There is plenty to see and to admire. The museums are free. Well, tax dollars paid for most of it. Why are they all in Washington? Or, is it like the Catholic church? All roads lead to Rome?
