

A couple of recent trips, one to NY, and one to DC, gave me an opportunity to visit some art. At the Met in NY (word of advice: don't visit NYC on St. Patricks Day, unless you wish to be caught up in the overenthusiasm of the green).
I made my way through the parade crowd to see
Pierre Bonnard, late interiors. The color use use is amazing, his selection of where to lay it on, and where to leave some canvas peeking through. As you look, the composition comes together, the colors come in waves, and what appears off balance is really so settled. One object on top of another, whether it is plates on a table, or the lovely bottles along the bottom of the self portraits of melancholic Bonnard.


Several weeks later I was able to visit Washington, and see the
Hirshhorn for the first time. I have to say it is a strange, monochromatic place. I would love to see some natural light on those deKooning ladies. The Calder mobiles need more space.
I was able to visit the
National Museum of the American Indian, its wonderful architecture. Inside I found an exhibit of a contemporary Native American artist,
Fritz Scholder. ("Indian, Not Indian") Images and use of color, the exhibit did not discuss his influences in the context of other artists before him, I see some Matisse there, as well as the American imagery.