Mental Preparation for a Trip to the Art Museum (2 of 5)
Mental Preparation for a Trip to the Art Museum (2 of 5)
Continuing on my walk to the Cleveland Museum of Art, I decided that, during my visit, I would keep my eyes open for art work that embodied this idea of contrasting elements. I thought I might find other work that balanced hard lines with free form shapes such as I had observed in Frank Gehry's Lewis Building and the art work displayed in the incongruous environment of that lobby.
And right off the bat, I ran into the work of the Women's Council of the Cleveland Museum of Art, which provides flower arrangements for display in the museum lobby each week. From a distance they look like abstract art, framed in white rectangles and squares. The natural materials break through the man-made lines and add dimension and texture to the composition. There you go, just the kind of thing I was ready to see!
Now, I expanded my quest for art work that balanced opposites to included pieces with a different kind of contrast. This sculpture by Jean-Léon Gérôme depicts the soft folds and draping of the human form... in bronze; a contrast between the subject matter and the medium used to express it.
Flower arrangement in the lobby of Cleveland Museum of Art
Continuing on my walk to the Cleveland Museum of Art, I decided that, during my visit, I would keep my eyes open for art work that embodied this idea of contrasting elements. I thought I might find other work that balanced hard lines with free form shapes such as I had observed in Frank Gehry's Lewis Building and the art work displayed in the incongruous environment of that lobby.
But, the more I thought about it, the more that seemed
rather limiting. I realized that what had
attracted me to these items was a sense of the unexpected. So, I entered the museum with an open frame of mind, expectant
of discovering examples of art that “pushed the boundaries”.
And right off the bat, I ran into the work of the Women's Council of the Cleveland Museum of Art, which provides flower arrangements for display in the museum lobby each week. From a distance they look like abstract art, framed in white rectangles and squares. The natural materials break through the man-made lines and add dimension and texture to the composition. There you go, just the kind of thing I was ready to see!
Now, I expanded my quest for art work that balanced opposites to included pieces with a different kind of contrast. This sculpture by Jean-Léon Gérôme depicts the soft folds and draping of the human form... in bronze; a contrast between the subject matter and the medium used to express it.
This is such an appealing piece that I want to show you multiple angles, as if
you are walking in front of it. Even these pictures don't do it justice, as you can
barely make out the face beneath the wrapping.
Time to explore more of the galleries...!
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