At the angle of New York Ave. and H St. NW in Washington DC stands a 1908 landmark that was built as a Masonic Temple. In that capacity, women were not permitted to enter the building. Today, that same building is all about women — although men are more than welcome! Refurbished in accordance with the […]
Category: Museums
Discovering the Menil Collection
With a wink to Gene Autry and Tex Ritter who lauded the Lone Star state with the song, Deep in the Heart of Texas, I’m singing the praises of the Menil Collection, deep in the heart of Houston. In an idyllic tree-shaded art neighborhood covering 30 urban acres, the Menil campus includes five museum buildings, […]
Curiouser and Curiouser – The “Wundercammer” is a “Thing” in Houston
Not unlike Grandma’s curio cabinet, a 16th- and 17th-century ‘cabinet of curiosity” was filled with a collector’s treasures. Although a small collection might have been laid out in a drawer, or arrayed on shelves, the term cabinet originally was defined as a room rather than a piece of furniture (think water closet and the Italian equivalent, gabinetto). It […]
A Day and A Half in Tampa
Tampa’s downtown riverfront has bloomed in the past decade or so, with the splendid Riverwalk connecting museums, parks, restaurants and other attractions. Slip on your walking shoes and head out for a day of history, art, terrific food options and people-watching. Rivers were essential to the commercial viability and growth of cities, and from the […]
What to Expect As Art Museums Re-Open …
As the world slowly, tentatively, begins to emerge from lockdown, people are wondering what the new social order will look like. Most of us accept that things will be different for some time to come. The question is, “How different?” […]
The Art History of Cars
A collection of 20th-century cars traces ways automotive design — like all good design — reflects changing cultural needs and aspirations.
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