The Art of the Americas Wing

We were privileged to attend the Member Preview Days yesterday for the Art of the Americas Wing of Boston's Museum of Fine Arts. The display of the art, and so much of it I've never seen, was wonderful.  The breadth of the exhibit with the lovely silver and mind-boggling furniture to the paintings is superb. 


I so love the portrait of Samuel Adams, Brewer and Patriot.  His eyes gleam with fervor and who knows whether its brewmeister fervor or patriotic fervor (surely that) or both!  The Copleys, the Sargents, the Revere silver, the Bierstadt's--I loved them all. 


I also loved the beef short ribs with mushrooms and noodles in the new cafe.  Zowie was it ever good and just the right sized portion.   The onion strings were also very fine.  The ceiling looked like the Cirque du Soleil was coming for a performance and the waiter said that acrobats were expected for the big event last night, for all those rich Bostonians who gave so generously for this wonderful addition to the MFA. 


The parking garage (which is inadequate in size) was a horror show with everyone trying to figure out the self-pay meters, and a big line for the elevators and the self-pay, and the line stretched outside in the cold and eeek,  I would not want to be standing there for long minutes in January. 
Everything else satisfactory.  A couples membership pays for itself in 3 visits, sooner if you take guests.  It's a great museum, and we are lucky to have it and the Isabella Stewart Gardner, the Peabody Essex, the Contemporary Art and the Harvard Museums as well as gems like Worcester and the one in Andover. 


There were many school buses parked in the new bus lot, and I hope the kids were having a good time looking at the art as well as being out of school. As a kid who grew up in a tiny town in an area with little culture or privilege, I always appreciated a chance for any kind of culture.  Saul Caston and the Denver Symphony came to our grade school once a year, and as a (so-so) piano student, I always enjoyed it immensely.  


So hie thee to the MFA, but you might want to wait a few weeks until some of the hoo-ha has died down. 


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Again, Like Lemmings to the Sea

We did it again! Went to the Assyrian Show at the MFA today. The museum was a mob scene, with the coat check line snaking thru the downstairs and people at the Assyrian show four deep in front of the art pieces. Long, long line for the cafe. Pricey restaurant bustling at 2:00 p.m. Garden Cafe a mob scene of kids and strollers reminiscent of the Science Museum.

What is going on? Last year when we were out and about during this week it wasn't anywhere near so crazy.

Has to be the economy, but one wonders. We are members and get tickets to the special shows for free, but to get into the Assyrian show is $25.00 a pop for non-member adults. Of course it's way cheaper than The Grinch or The Nutcracker. We spent $70.00 for lunch for four with two drinks and 2 desserts. Parking was $12.00 with the member's discount, so the day came it an under $100 for out little quartet.

Or are people just staying out of the stores? Did they stay home instead of going skiing or to Florida or the Caribbean? All possibilities.

We didn't hit the Children's Museum or the Gardner Museum, but I have a hunch the crowds and the bustle would have been the same at those locales.

Is everyone on a staycation? It's nice to see people out and about, enjoying science and culture and history. At least they aren't hunkering down and not leaving the house. But something is going on, and I don't have clue one. Ideas, anyone?

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El Greco to Velazquez

Into town via the MBTA yesterday to see the MFA's exhibit of Art During the Reign of Philip III. Hot summer day in the city. The first painting was El Greco's View of Toledo, and what a stunning painting it was, and so impressionistic--almost abstract. El Greco and Velazquez dominated the show, although there were a number of painters from their period. The portraits were stunning, the religious art made me feel like I'd been to church and the landscapes were various. Some of the most provacative portraits were the little tykes, practically infants, gussied up in the big collars and gold threaded suits, looking so regal and serious. One wonders how they sat still and didn't look like pouting thunderclouds. The still lifes of fruit, veggies, desserts and game in the last room were magical. Made us hungry, and we went downstairs to the cafe where they had a Spanish (mostly) menu.

If you are in the Boston area before July 27th, this is an old masters show worth seeing. The history, how Philipp II (puritanical and straight laced) and Philip II( more of a Renaissance guy) was instructive, and one could see the difference in the painting. Great portraits of Theresa of Avila and Loyola. There is a reason they are called old masters.

http://www.mfa.org/

In the sunny, light-filled cafe, we ate serrano ham with aged goat cheese, asparagus, grilled eggplant and sun dried tomato relish served with country bread. And Sangria. Yum. Delicious, and the potato tortilla and the gazpacho looked good too.

Tonight we are having some special baby back ribs with a rub and an apricot-ancho chile glaze. Lots of seasonings involved. I am doing Penzeys spices and the Apriocot King proud. Corn on the cob and store-bought cole slaw because it is 95 degrees out today and who wants to cook anymore than necessary?

I will start the new book (no title) tonight or tomorrow. It is really talking to me. Who'd a thunk it?

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