What I Did on My Summer Vacation:
Part I
It’s been years since I’ve experienced a three-month long vacation. But now that I’m a student again, that’s exactly what I’ve been enjoying this summer. My first adventure took me to southeastern Pennsylvania for a two-week visit with my Mother. While there I visited the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, and the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
At the Philadelphia Museum of Art I saw three exhibits — Paris Through the Window: Marc Chagall and His Circle as well as Collab: Four Decades of Giving Modern and Contemporary Design, and Unsettled: Photography and Politics in Contemporary Art — and loved all three. At the National Jewish Museum I toured the entire museum and came away somewhat disappointed at the lack of content but enthralled by the building’s architecture designed by James Polshek and Ennead Architects.
I went to the Brandywine River Museum intent on viewing the large collection of Andrew Wyeth, Jamie Wyeth and N.C. Wyeth art. I got that and more as I was treated to a guided tour led by the energetic Victoria Wyeth, granddaughter of Andrew. She added personal insight into the family business that only a Wyeth could share.
Has anyone noticed how airports have become mini-art galleries? Arriving two hours early for a flight can leave a lot of free time to roam the airport hallways. While waiting at the Philadelphia airport I wiled away the hours looking at works on display from local artists. I especially liked the “Beer Bottle Clock” made out of 300 beer bottles by Stanley Clockworks. Leora Brecher’s ceramics “Cloaked” and “Ebb & Flow” are beautiful pieces.
Once back in Sacramento a day of wine tasting led to Bumgarner Winery in the Sierra Nevada foothill community of Camino. The tasting room is located in a 100 year old barn, meticulously restored by winemaker Brian Bumgarner. It features the original beamed ceiling, a richly textured weathered wood exterior and a beautiful wine bar fashioned from the trunk of an old oak tree. An exhibit of paintings by Ashley Bennett Stoddard from her Art & Soul Tour 2011 was on view.
It turns out wineries aren’t the only adult beverage destinations to display works of art. On a visit to Oak Park’s BFD (Brew, Ferment, Distill) home-brew supply store, on Sacramento’s Second Saturday, I found a wonderful photography show featuring the work of artist Rawi Nanakul. The subject matter of Nanakul’s photos is the beer making process. Surprisingly, the photographs are not printed on paper but on aluminum with beautiful results. Nanakul’s specialty is photographing all things related to beer.
In between visiting art galleries and wineries I managed to see Woody Allen’s new movie, “Midnight In Paris.” What a fun film for anyone who loves art and Paris, particularly the Paris of Picasso, Hemingway and Gertrude Stein. I recommend seeing this film in the big theater. It won’t be the same on a small screen.
For a visual tour of my summer vacation art adventures, please click on the Photo Diary found on this blog site.
