Tag Archives: modern art

Piece O’ NYC: Romancing the Weekend

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There are a lot of weekdays when Jeff and I get home really late from work and school. We often feel like we don’t have enough time to connect and it can feel like we’re more married to our work than to each other — even when we do have time during the week, it’s used to run errands, clean the house, or do all the other little things that build up at the house (a major reason we started up Blue Apron was to save time and headache). I guess this is what you go through during this stage of life, but boy is it distressing sometimes. Honestly, the weekend should have three days and not just two…
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We should probably put down our phones during brunch, huh?

But in efforts to keep the romance alive, Jeff and I try to do fun and special things together. We have a great city to take advantage of, so it should be easy right? Sometimes it is, and sometimes we really just want to chill and veg out on the couch with our cats. Lately we’ve been going for long walks and runs in Central Park. A few times, we’ve tried a new brunch spot we’ve never been to and consumed copious amounts of fun brunch cocktails. Last weekend, we went to the only Cat Cafe in NYC, Meow Parlour — leave it to me to find something to do with cats during “us” time ;p. The upside was that Meow Parlour also has a patisserie down the street that sells cat shaped macarons…and they were yummy!
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This is Carlton, our own cat. He always needs a little weekend romance too.

Another day we went to the Whitney Museum. Jeff loves modern and abstract art and, though I’m not a huge fan of modern art, I loved the new museum. It’s in a great location and is down the street from ‘bruffins‘, so I was content to visit with a pit stop along the way. If you visit the Whitney, get lunch at Bubby’s afterwards and go for a stroll on the High Line. Bubby’s had an amazing corn salsa that we tried and we will definitely be replicating this weekend.

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Nice views at the Whitney Museum, no?

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Since we know that as soon as the academic year commences, and our stress levels elevate, Jeff and I are on a serious mission to try as many new brunch spots and new things together! Gotta keep the romance alive! Do you and your partner do anything special to connect or reconnect? We’re all ears!

The Modern…

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I visited the Trinity Valley Quilt Guild and the Denton Quilt Guild this week. Such nice people! I taught and lectured and didn't have time to snap a photo of any of it. You know, I ought to give my camera to someone in the room and ask them to be the photographer! If I end up visiting your guild and you want to volunteer, just ask!

LucienFreudAfter the lecture on Friday, I had time to visit The Modern Art Musem in Ft. Worth. I had been wanting to see the exhibit of portraits by Lucien Freud and it was worth seeing. He spent his life painting people and he did it well. That said, I'm not sure he was a happy man.

Many, if not most, of the figures in this exhibit were painted with downcast eyes. It made me realize how much I like a portrait that looks me in the eye.

I had time to eat lunch in the cafe. Great food, lovely setting.

I visited some of the works from the permanent collection. I don't know why but I have always loved this painting (Elegy to the Spanish Republic, 1960, by Robert Motherwell)…

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I have no idea how it relates to the Spanish Republic and I don't care. I like it. And I like this:

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I didn't make note of the artist's name but the placement of this piece is perfect. It is in a passageway, opposite a huge window and outside of that is the very large reflecting pool. Nice. It made me spend some moments thinking about reflections, and reflecting.

I like modern art in general but I don't love it all. (Refer back to the post on what is or isn't art). For instance, the works in this room…

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Really, if you saw any of these in a yard sale, would you take them home? 

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I sort of like the box/cube but I know I wouldn't pay for it what the museum paid for it. And the words in boxes on the wall… I wonder if the artist was grinning all the way to the bank after installing that one.

I feel completely certain that there is deeply thought out idea and lengthy artist's statement to go with each of these works. I didn't stop to read them this time. Even when text helps to place a piece in context, I like the work to stand on its own without explanation. I suppose I'm a philistine (one uninformed in a special area of knowledge). I can live with that.

One more thing about The Modern – the building and grounds are lovely. Worth visiting. And if you go, touch the walls. The feel of the concrete is amazing – smooth, velvety. Lovely to look at.