More on Baltimore and Delaware (note - some photos of artwork may not be suitable for children)

Picasso

In the museum in Baltimore, I thought it was really neat that we had the opportunity to see Picasso, Matisse, Van Gogh and Monet.  The museum had a collection from the Cone sisters of Baltimore.  They actually knew both Picasso and Matisse and bought a lot of their pieces.  Both artists catered to the sisters - Matisse sent them drafts of his work so they would be interested and invested in the final product and hopefully buy it, and Picasso painted their portraits to get back in their good graces when they didn't like some of his works.

Blue Nude by Matisse

My personal favorite painting of the day was Matisse's Blue Nude.  In 1933, students at the Art Institute of Chicago burned reproductions of it in protest of its "gratuitous ugliness".  It was influenced by African styles and is itself a protest against the idolized nudes that were popular in paintings at that time.  I have a soft spot for art and literature that is met with censorship and outrage.  So you go Matisse!



Amanda and her cousin Amy

 There were two photos that I really liked in the photograph exibit.  One was of a nine-year-old girl smoking.  The photographer noted that her mother had absolutely no control over her - the daughter was the boss.  The two cousins are the juxtiposition of experience and innocence.

Black Supper

The other photo was of little plastic figurines that had been spray painted black and then submerged in soda water.  The resulting image is of the Last Supper.  It is called Black Supper and explores the artist's unresolved feelings about his strict Catholic upbringing. 

Also in the museum were mosiacs from the 3rd century that were discovered in 1932 in Antioch, Turkey.  It was amazing to me to stand right next to something 1600 years old. 

Finally, there were the chairs.  I caught sight of a club chair turned museum piece and it was all downhill from there for me.  It was designed for a New York mansion, and was actually a colaborative effort. 

Gothic Revival Bench - art.







Chair made out of pencils.  Art.
And very cool!!



Pretty bench....but not art.



So anyway, that was the museum.  Later we went to Delaware and hung out with Cassie at her bar.  We sat up until about 11, and were just finishing our drinks and about to call it a night, when the guy next to me turns to his friend and says, "I really want to go to Spain!"  Clearly this is a sign that I should talk to him, so I say, "We're going to Spain!"  He bought us a drink, and we talked about travel, work, couch surfing, and other random topics.  And we ended up closing down the bar.  So much for our early night!