one day I went to New York

So, not only did I get to go to a workshop with Denyse Schmidt, I got to go to Manhattan to look at museums!

After wandering to find a parking spot at the train station for like 20 minutes, I finally figured out where to park, bought my ticket and boarded the train. People in big crowds like that are interesting– keeping to themselves for the most part, almost pretending they are alone. But, one “bless you” when someone sneezes, or a chuckle at a jabbering toddler can really break the ice and then there’s a warmth and friednliness– realization of “Oh yeah, we’re all people here huh?”

I braved a block in Harlem where I was OBVIOUSLY out of place, made it to the subway station, got off at Lexington and 51st, walked a few blocks to 53rd, and went into the Museum of Modern Art. I had a very expensive sandwich and water, then walked around for 4 or 5 hours.

feetatMoMA.JPG

Here are my feet while I rested on a bench and looked at the sculpture garden. Boy did I get tired– my bag was too heavey…

HIGHLIGHTS:
I just loved seeing REAL paintings and not just pictures in a books.

I never had really got it that Jasper John’s paintings were encaustic (melted wax) over newspaper collage. They were such a cool texture and really neat to see in real life.

I fell in love with Mondrian. His paintings always seemed so flat and too mechanical, but in real life they were paint on canvas. There were subtleties that were just beautiful and they had a calming affect. Never got that from a book.

The architecture and design room was fun. They had the first Apple SE and a new Imac, a Necchi sewing machine, cool pottery, a Vespa motor scooter.

I’ve never been big on Impressionism, but Monet’s Water Lilies was so big (like 50 feet long) and so beautifully textured it was overwhelming.

I’ve always loved Abstract Expressionism. I still love Mark Rothko’s color field paintings, but was VERY disappointed that there was only one Helen Frankenthaler.

helenfrankenthaler.JPG

This is Jacob’s Ladder. She did her paintings on unprimed canvas with really thin oil paint calling her technique “soak stain painting.” The colors and layers and soft edges are the perfect feminine anthithesis to Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings.

BUMMERS:
The Print and Illustrated Books gallery was closed for the installation of an exhibit of etchings. (I was a Printmaker in college, so this made me want to cry.) I could see some on the far wall that looked like they were on hand dyed paper… oh the delicate lines and texture of prints. Sad, sad, sad, I didn’t get to see any.

There weren’t enough women artists!

By the time I was done at the MoMA my body hurt ALL OVER. I was SOOO tired, but went next door to the American Folk Art Museum anyway. I was really excited about the comparison of art as defined by the art world (at the MoMA) with the self taught, annonymous everyday things people create to make their lives beautiful. I think I was just too tired to enjoy it, because I was a little disappointed in the Folk Art Museum. I was hoping for it to be more domestic and feminine, I guess– with more textiles and quilts. The special “Obsessive Drawing” exhibit was pretty cool.

Anyway, I somehow moved my aching, tired, body back to the subway, back on the train, got something to eat, got back to my hotel, and fell asleep at about 7:30. I was beat!

Before I went I was expecting that I would have this feeling of longing, of missing out and really wanting to be part of this “art world,” but suprisingly I felt just the opposite. I have made some deliberate decisions and have chosen that this time in my life, right now, I need to be a wife and mother. I need to serve at church. I left feeling so peaceful and satisfied that I am doing the perfect thing for me. Even if I won’t ever have a painting hanging in the MoMA. That made the trip worth it. I think every mom needs a weekend ALL to herself once in a while. I think I’ll suggest once a year…

2 thoughts on “one day I went to New York

  1. I love you so… and that wonderful husband of yours!! :-) I’m so glad you got to do this. There just isn’t anyting like experiencing “ART” in person.

Comments are closed.