Philadelphia Museum of Art-Mini Trip

Old Apr 11th, 2017, 10:25 AM
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Philadelphia Museum of Art-Mini Trip

A local artists guild took a bus trip to see "American Water Color in the Age of Homer and Sargent."

If you are interested in the medium, you will enjoy this survey of water colors. If you say "Winslow Homer" I always think of seascapes. You will find more of his works on the land. With Sargent, his portraits are more famous. But, he also produced hundreds of water colors on his family trips. Fewer of those (darn it) were shown but one room had some side-by-side works by the two artists.

You've heard of throwing salt on the wound? Throwing salt on your watercolor yields cool results. That was one of mini-demonstration films that showed various watercolor techniques.

If you google the exhibit title above, and open 'images' under the 'search' line, you will see some of the other works.

It took about 3 hours to get there from my Annapolis Md. area. The bus used rte. 95 all the way. The museum is undergoing a face lift. The scaffolding surrounding the front of the building, and the stands that were being erected in the facing park, made getting to the West entrance confusing. A workman actually got on the bus and directed our good-natured driver.

New to me were annexes to the museum--next time.

You have through May 14, 2017 to visit this exhibit.

(As you might expect, there are several gift shops, a large café, a small one, and too few ladies room stalls. I bought lens cloth wipes with a photo of Homer's horrible looking palette box!)


http://www.philamuseum.org/
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Old Apr 11th, 2017, 10:30 AM
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I love your reviews and recommendations, TDudette.

In your estimation is it a worthwhile trip while the museum is under construction? I am a major fan of Sargent and will travel to see his work.
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Old Apr 11th, 2017, 10:46 AM
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Tdudette, I like to read about your travels. You're always so observant.

There are so many reasons to go to Philadelphia. We used to be able to go as a day trip, but sad to say that's beyond our stamina now. But there are so many good restaurants, museums, buildings from the colonial period on up, Reading Terminal Market, Bartram's Garden, and so many events.
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Old Apr 11th, 2017, 10:49 AM
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You've given me great exhibit advice in the past, obxgirl so I'll return the favor and encourage you to see this one.

(I had a nice surprise encounter at the exhibit when I ran into PhillyFan in the coat check line.)

If you have time, go to the PA Academy of Fine Arts where I found my new favorite painting which is now my profile pic.
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Old Apr 11th, 2017, 10:55 AM
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obxgirl: Thanks for your kind words. The construction was separate from the galleries themselves. Better check but my guess is the rehab is to modernize facilities? Also, there aren't a huge number of Sargent's--more Homer and other artists. As a huge Sargent fan, I was a little sad but in the minority.

And thanks, Coquelicot. DH and I used to go often also--stamina became a big issue later on.

Just remembering there was a city bus, a free bus to the annex, and a Philly HOHO one.
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Old Apr 11th, 2017, 11:01 AM
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Much appreciated, Birdie! It's been a couple of years since I've been to Philly, so it sounds like a road trip is in order before the end of May.

Who is the artist in your profile?
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Old Apr 11th, 2017, 11:11 AM
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Just remembering there was a city bus, a free bus to the annex, and a Philly HOHO one.

Good info, thanks for this and your other comments, TDude.

Do either of you have any sense of the possibilities of the Museum of Art and the PA Academy of Fine Arts as a day trip (or an overnight) from DC on Amtrak?
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Old Apr 11th, 2017, 12:38 PM
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Hi TDudette - so glad you had a good trip. I am a big fan of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

I want to see this exhibit, which ends on May 14. I was scheduled to see this with 2 friends on April 26. Well, it turns out - that is the day before the 3-day NFL Draft event starts in our city and it is HUGE. They are expecting more people for the draft than came for the Pope!

The draft is totally taking over the art museum steps and road closures started THIS WEEK and get progressively worse until the draft. Already the art museum steps are closed to build the stage for the draft. It is going to be almost impossible to access the city from the Art Museum after April 25 so we are trying to come up with an alternative date.

The roads won't be totally re-open until May 7!

Birdie and TDudette - I'm glad you didn't have to deal with those hassles while you were here.
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Old Apr 11th, 2017, 12:39 PM
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The museum building is undergoing a renovation--

>>Plans to renovate the building are now in full swing, with the help of world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Inspired by the integrity of our historic building, Gehry’s plan opens up the Museum’s interior with more public spaces, more room for art, and easier navigation.

http://www.philamuseum.org/ourfuture

The lower level (West entrance) spaces are being reconfigured. The enormous Chagall wall hanging has been removed and will go to Japan for special exhibition.

http://www.philly.com/philly/enterta...t-is-gone.html

Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art just concluded its exhibit World War I and American Art. I hope this link will still work to show you an amazing, and different, work by Sargeant.

https://www.pafa.org/exhibitions/wor...d-american-art
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Old Apr 12th, 2017, 07:16 AM
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I can't remember the artist's name, obxgirl, but I do know it was a woman. I'll just have to go back to find out.
I also like this one by Homer displayed at PAFA:

https://www.pafa.org/collection/fox-hunt-1

I think you could do both in a day but you might have to be selective. The PMA is huge. You would take Amtrak into 30th St Station and either Uber to PMA or do a free transfer to the local line and get off at Suburban Station and then walk. The PMA is at the end of the Parkway but it's still walkable of you don't mind distances. Of course, it's always fun to do an overnight in Philly. Have you been to the Barnes yet?

DD is moving to Philly next month so I'm looking forward to more visits to the city.
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Old Apr 13th, 2017, 06:45 AM
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Hi PhillyFan, As mentioned above, they were building the platform for the NFL event on the same side as the scaffolding on the museum.

We were able to enter on the other side of the museum though. Is that going to change? Will the museum actually close?

Hope you love visiting Philly, Birdie!
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Old Apr 13th, 2017, 06:58 AM
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This is fantastic info, Birdie, thank you!

Sounds like an overnight is in order to do justice to both the PMA and the PMFA.

I haven't been to the Barnes in quite some time and clearly need to get there this year. Looking at their schedule, a traveling Berthe Morisot show is on the calendar for late fall. I became an absolute fangirl of her paintings last summer. Friend to Manet and Renoir, she was frequently a model for their works. Merci beaucoup!
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Old Apr 13th, 2017, 06:59 AM
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PS -- and congrats to your daughter!
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Old Apr 13th, 2017, 07:53 AM
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I always love visiting Philly, TDudette. Thank you for the great trip report.

Thanks, obxgirl. I'll put that exhibit on the calendar.
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Old Apr 13th, 2017, 08:45 AM
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Thanks, Birdie.

Yes, good info for the Fall, obxgirl.
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Old Apr 13th, 2017, 11:59 AM
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<We were able to enter on the other side of the museum though. Is that going to change? Will the museum actually close?

No, they are remaining open, although it might take hours to actually get there with all the surrounding road closures. The back (west entrance) will be open. They have a parking garage, but I wonder if that will quickly fill up with people attending the draft.

My friend did not realize 1) how huge this event is in Philadelphia and 2) how huge the NFL Draft is PERIOD. To those like my son, it's a highly anticipated event, even though it is unbearably boring to me. (It takes 5-10 minutes to make one pick!)

obxgirl - let us know when you plan to come to Philadelphia! A few of us were just talking about a smaller GTG we had in Philadelphia in the Fall a few years ago - we had a nice lunch at Parc and walked around the art museum area.
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Old Apr 13th, 2017, 12:53 PM
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Do you suppose the HOHO and municipal busses will re-route?
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Old Apr 13th, 2017, 03:04 PM
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You will find the revised municipal (SEPTA) bus routes here--
http://www.septa.org/events/nfl-draft.html#4-10
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Old Apr 14th, 2017, 06:17 AM
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Thanks, k_marie.
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Old Apr 18th, 2017, 05:32 AM
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Tdudette,

Sounds like a great exhibit at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of my favorite North American museums. Sadly, I don't think I'll be able to pay a visit before May 17th. However, I may go again when next in town just for the pleasure of ogling their permanent collection (I'm sure I missed lots last time)! Great trip idea and report!

Best wishes, Daniel
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