May You Find Art in Memphis

Being that Belgium is the honored country this year by the Memphis in May Festival, their fabulous Surrealists are on exhibit at The Brooks Art Museum.

I enjoyed visiting Gallery 56 yesterday as well and noticed that Frames 1910  has the new Memphis in May poster. 

At breakfast with the Artists Link members, Martha Stephens passed out cards about a group exhibit called Healing Through Art opening Friday, May 13th from 5 to 7 pm which is honoring cancer survivor artists at the Wings Gallery 100 N. Humphreys Blvd in Memphis.  And  member Jane told us about her family's home and ten acres in Bartlett being for sale. 

At the Dixon

(Memphis) The Dixon is now exhibiting the works of Clare Leighton. Born in England in 1898, she created over 800 prints, and illustrated more than 65 books during her 50 year career. In addition, paintings by American Impressionist Helen M. Turner: The Woman's Point of View runs until September 19, 2010. The Dixon Gallery and Gardens are located at 4339 Park Avenue Memphis, Tennessee 38117 and may be reached at (901) 761-5250 The beautiful Gardens and Galleries are closed Mondays, and open Tuesday - Friday: 10 am - 4 pm, Saturday: 10 am - 5 pm and Sunday: 1 - 5 pm

Art Museums in Washington DC

A blitz of the Smithsonian Art Museums on the mall in Washington DC revealed the numerous treasures of both the East and West wings of the National Gallery of Art. The underground tunnel between the two bookstore gift shops and cafes of the museums is still in use but at this time of year the cascading waterfall was not running. New lighting surrounded the moving sidewalk in the East wing. A highlight was seeing the only Leonardo da Vinci oil painting in America, Ginevra de' Benci, c. 1474-1478, which happened to be painted on both sides of the panel and displayed in such a way that one may see both sides. The Freer Museum of Asian Art also exhibited many fine examples of Whistler's portraits. The outdoor Sculpture Garden of the round Hirshhorn Museum was quite pleasant to stroll through after viewing the Josef Albers exhibition within which runs until April 11, 2010. Visiting the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery involved walking a few blocks North of the Mall to F and 8th St. NW. There one could see three floors of portraits, old and new, and take in a sense of American history as well, with the many depictions of U.S. Presidents and other historical figures of accomplishment. Of special note for Memphians, "One Life: Echoes of Elvis" is up through August 29, 2010 on the First Floor.
This museum is open until 7:00 pm. Other favorite art museums such as The Corcoran on 17th Street NW near to the White House, could not be toured, as it was closed on Monday and Tuesday, though the scaffolding of its impending renovations looks exciting.

Museum Exhibits in Memphis

Lucky me. I got to see the new exhibits at The Brooks Art Museum and The Dixon this past week in Memphis. It's Italy at The Brooks and France at the Dixon. This is a photo I took some time ago of the carriage rides in Overton Park near The Brooks.