Appreciate the Arts

When Ryan and I went to Paris a couple years back, I remember being proud to announce that we 'did the Louvre' in about an hour. We grabbed a map, hit the highlights and were on our way. When you're running on a time limit, you do what you can!

Looking back though, I feel like it was such a shame for us to not spend a little more time taking in the art and finding pieces that interested us instead of just crossing things off of a list. The Louvre after all is one of the most famous art museums! Who are we to down grade it's importance???

So, when making my 101 list I decided I wanted to actually walk through a museum and appreciate the art. When asked if I wanted to go to the Philadelphia Art Museum, I thought it was the perfect chance! Well, one thing led to another, the morning was rough after Jude hardly slept and when my company bowed out, I figured I too would take advantage of the rainy day and sit at home. But at that point, we were dressed, lunch was packed, and we were ready to walk out the door. So, I for in the car not sure where I was headed. Would we detour at the mall for story time? Meet Ryan for lunch? Try out the Children's Museum? Go to Philly alone? Once on 95 we were decided on the Children's Museum. However, getting off the exit to the riverfront, I passed 'The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts'. Then I saw the big 'free!' sign and decided to stop.

Aparently DCCA is ALWAYS free and has regularly changing exhibits! They also have program for young kids in a children's classroom! All of which was very interesting to me!

Jude and I browsed the 5 or so rooms of different collections. I pointed out colors, laughed at the asking price of some of the pieces and was puzzle by what some consider to be art. Some of the stuff was really neat though. One exhibit had a tape playing, where someone had take a photo of JFK and somehow moved his eyes and lips so it looked like he was talking... And had him giving a speech. That was jude's favorite. He also liked this plush wall of polyfilled colorful fabric.

I'm pretty certain my favorites were some oil paintings that had some geometric/optical illusion stuff going on and a series of digital prints. I'm sure I love to visit a museum of just photography after that one room. It's amazing what one can do with the camera.

All in all we were there about an hour before Jude decided it was time to go. I think it is something I'll keep in the back of my mind as a place to visit on other rainy days.