Day At the Museum

I enjoyed a few hours at the Cleveland Museum of Art this week, while Middle Child and her classmate worked on a college assignment there.  I haven't visited in years, even though its a 'world class' museum. Unfortunately, it's hard to get to, with lots of the usual orange barrels, detours, and always the parking problems.  When we arrived, a half hour after opening, there were maybe 10 parking spots left in the multi-level parking garage.  Aggravating.

It was a relief to enter the atrium and experience the peace and quiet.  Most of the museum seemed new to me, since it had undergone a major facelift and grand reopening last year.  Gorgeous! (Please note that none of these photos are mine. There are way too many rules about flash photography and some areas where you can't take photos at all. I'm paranoid enough with the guards following me around room to room. I saw two people get yelled at for standing too close to an exhibit! Harsh!)

Atrium in the center of the museum with two small gardens.  Breathtaking!

My first stop every visit........Monet's Water Lilies.  Always draws a crowd!

Another must see for me are the Ancient Eqyptian exhibits.  I've loved the mummy/coffin/sarcophagus displays since I was a grade schooler.

This blew me away! 

Paint Box of Vizier Amenemop …

1427-1401 BC
How has this not disintegrated?

Don't these look like gothic stained glass windows?  Well, they're not . . .

They are completely made up of butterflies!  In a way, I think it's really cool, but I also think it's a little disturbing, because it's a bunch of dead butterflies.

Speaking of disturbing, how do you like this?  The exhibit said it had human hair on the leg. I really examined the leg, and I have to tell you, it did not look realistic up close.  White wax!  I was not impressed.



According to the exhibit, this artist used a 'found stroller' for his barrage of silver penises.  They looked circumcised, for the most part.  I was just glad my daughter did not use this 'art' as part of her assignment for 'art for preschoolers.'

Here is my favorite piece of the day.  I searched out some Dale Chihuly, because I love his glass.  Then I found this nearby.  It was called Embrace by Christopher Ries.  It's made of optic glass.  No matter where you stood, you could see something different in the glass.  And not your reflection! I truly had no idea what I was actually seeing when I looked into the glass.  I kept looking behind me, to the ceiling, etc.  It was fascinating!