Two (?) Artists, Two Revolutionaries

     In February, we had the pleasure of attending two exhibits focusing on two very different, but similar artists:  the 21st century anonymous street artist(s) Banksy and the late 19th/early 20th century French sculptor Rodin.  They work/worked in different media, and one's identity is unknown, but both were famous enough to be known by one name and forged their own, new path in art that diverged from the orthodox and mainstream.

    Last fall, I got word of a weekend long pop-up Banksy exhibit in the Tampa Bay area. In keeping with the air of mystery surrounding the artist, the location was to be revealed later. Also in keeping with the artist's persona, there was no official connection with Banksy whatsoever, not even a guarantee that the works featured were Banksy works. After all, the anonymous, suspected-to-be-British street and performance artist rarely signs or takes credit for his works, and they are often ephemeral, not meant to last. I bought tickets anyway. Several weeks later, I received an email stating that the dates would be rescheduled; there was some vague blame placed on Florida's hurricanes Ian and Nicole. Admittedly, I started to wonder if it all was a scam --- and wouldn't that be perfect for a Banksy exhibit? However, I eventually received the time and place in another email.

    The exhibit was a pleasant surprise. Obviously, ephemeral street art can't necessarily be moved around for exhibits, so many of the works were projected or shown in video displays. Nevertheless, there were 3-4 large-ish galleries filled with works that really made one think. Overall, it was an excellent show.

    The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg ( https://mfastpete.org/ ) has hosted an exhibit called Rodia and the Age of Impressionism since November and through March 26.  The featured works normally reside at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, but that facility is being renovated, so the works got to travel. I'm a huge fan of Rodin's work; he's my favorite sculptor - well maybe tied with Michelangelo. The Imressionism, not so much. I can take it or leave it, preferably leave it, and, honestly, the exhibit doesn't really do much to explain the connection. Same time period, so what? But that's not what I went to see. I've been to the Rodin Museums in Paris and Philadelphia, and I've seen a few other Rodin exhibits. This one did not disappoint. Like Banks, Rodin was a revolutionary of sorts. While other French sculptors of his time were creating smooth, idealized beauties in bronze, his pieces are rougher, rugged, perhaps even leaning away from the beautiful, but every piece tells a story.

Polk Art Museum, Lakeland Florida

     We made our first visit to the Polk Museum of Art, part of Florida Southern College in Lakeland Florida, on a recent Saturday and were quite happy to find a very interesting small museum. (https://polkmuseumofart.org/ )  There are plans for expansion to be completed in the spring of 2024 which will triple the museum's exhibition space.

    We were drawn to the Polk for its current exhibition of Rodin sculptures, through October 30, 2022. Auguste Rodin is generally considered the first modern sculptor, with his career stretching from the late 1800s into the early 1900s. He was extremely prolific, and his works are known around the world, among the most famous sculptures in the world like The Thinker, The Burgers of Calais, and The Kiss. He's one of my favorite artists, and I've been privileged to visit the Rodin House Museum in Paris and a great Rodin Museum in Philadelphia.  This collection was outstanding, including several smaller scale sculptures and 5 of the 6 individual Burgers of Calais. (Of course, these are relatively recent castings of Rodin's work. He usually concentrated his work on the clay originals, from which the metal castings are made.)

    One of the permanent exhibits at the Polk Museum of Art is a collection of Indigenous masks and other art work from various countries in Africa and from Papua New Guinea. They were quite interesting and beautiful.

    It was a great visit, and we look forward to future exhibits and the museum's expansion in the future.

If "Virginia is for Lovers," Philadelphia is Definitely for History Nerds, part 3

     Besides history, visitors to Philadelphia will find themselves surrounded by art and great food, two things that I'm really interested in.

    Philadelphia is a city of murals, often called the "Mural Capital of the World." They're everywhere, literally thousands of them. 

    A must-see is the Philadelphia Museum of Art (https://philamuseum.org/ ), with the exterior made famous, of course, in the famous training scenes from "Rocky", and, sure enough, it is not that unusual to see a visitor or two trying to make the run, or at least posing by the statue. Inside, visitors will find an amazing collection of art. There's a huge American art gallery, featuring local artist Thomas Eakins and many other works that American history buffs will recognize. There are also large collections of Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, Asian art, and medieval arms and armor. Spend hours or days, your choice.

    Next on your list should be the Barnes Foundation, maybe the most exciting and unexpected art museums I've visited. (https://www.barnesfoundation.org/ ). I'd never heard of the Barnes before our visit, but I was so glad to find it. The museum started with the collection of Albert C. Barnes, who made his fortune by co-developing a treatment for gonorrhea in the early twentieth century. In 1922, he founded the Barnes. The museums collections are mostly Impressionists, Post-Impressionists, and Modernists, but the collection also includes ancient African, Asian, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Native American pieces. The most interesting thing about the museum to me was that the art was arranged and exhibited in a way that resembles how Barnes himself displayed the works in his home. The museum is divided into many rooms, and, in each room, the art covers the walls and the displays, and they are not segregated by age, style, or region. You might find African, Greek, and Impressionist works grouped together. Sometimes, it seems there is no rhyme or reason, but, in some arrangements, the viewer can see how the works relate to each other - at least in their mind.  The Barnes was our favorite "discovery' of the trip.

    Almost next door to the Barnes is the Rodin Museum, a branch of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and one of the largest collections of Rodin sculptures in the world. Auguste Rodin is considered the father of modern sculpture and is my favorite sculptor. I've been lucky enough to visit the Rodin Museum in Paris, and the Philadelphia version is just as awesome. (https://www.rodinmuseum.org/ )