Friday, June 07, 2019

The Brooks Art Museum


Wednesday is Free Day at the Memphis Brooks Art Museum, so day before yesterday I spent the morning there. I've been going to this museum since my mother took me when I was a child, and it just never gets old. My favorite pieces are still on display:

Marisol's The Family (1969):


and Light of the Incarnation (1888):


I walked through all the galleries, feeling like I was visiting with old friends. There was an unusual temporary exhibit. This "sound-based kinetic sculpture by the late artist and musician Terry Adkins (American, 1953 - 2014) ... creates a syncopated interplay between artworks in our collection":


It makes an intriguing addition to the gallery.

The museum is set in a large park, and it was a beautiful day to enjoy sitting outside on a bench after my time in the galleries.





20 comments:

  1. Nice museum. I wish WAM had a larger greenspace to enjoy the outside. I suppose we're lucky to have a courtyard and a few trees and shrubs around the building. Enjoy your day!

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    1. This park is a treasure, though our city zoo continues to encroach on the public spaces, fencing in Old Forest acreage and now paving green space to be used for their private parking. If they have their way there won't be much green space left once they're done. "It's only grass" :(

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  2. Absolutely wonderful. I wish more of our museums had one free day a week, too. How fortuitous for all who live and visit Memphis.

    I love the Renditions entry by Adkins. It spoke to me because I played percussion throughout Jr. High and High School. Thanks for sharing this with us and the other lovely pieces and grounds there, too.

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    1. They also do programs for families (meaning people with young children) on Wednesday mornings, and they're open longer hours on Wednesdays. They are quite civic-minded :)

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  3. This looks like a lovely place to visit, both inside and outside. I like the architecture of the building itself, too.

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    1. The original building is stunning. I could lose that modern addition and not miss it ;) but I fear what may happen to the building after the museum moves downtown in a couple of years.

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  4. Wow, what a magical place to visit! I love that seeing all the amazing art is like voting old friends and the Light of the Incarnation painting is so beautiful 😁. The gardens look wonderful too, such a lovely way to spend your day! Thanks for sharing and wishing you a happy Friday and weekend! Jo x
    p.s. thanks for your lovely comments on my blog, you are so kind! Hugs, Jo x

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    1. You are most welcome. Your blog is a joy :)

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  5. What a lovely day-so glad you enjoyed the museum and those grounds are just gorgeous Happy Friday

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    1. It's a beautiful place with a history going back to the early 1900s. It's such a good thing when people have an eye towards the future.

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  6. This looks like a great place to visit, the museum and the park. I am sorry I missed it. I visited my daughter twice while she lived in Memphis, but never made it to this museum. I did go to the zoo, the main library (have great book buys there too) and the Pink Palace. I still need to write posts on them. I wish Memphis was on the way to Atlanta as I really like this city, but for now I have to keep driving south from Nashville.

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    1. This museum is in the same park as the zoo. As the zoo continues to encroach on the public park space and fence in Old Forest acreage and pave the Greensward for their own private parking lot it becomes a less accessible place for non zoo-goers, but it's still a lovely park.

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  7. What a fantastic museum, I can see why you like going there. And free museum days are too good to miss. The park around it is wonderful, too. Valerie

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    1. It is nice to have free days :) Even on free days it's not too crowded, which makes it an enjoyable experience.

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  8. This museum looks amazing. Isn't it nice to go back to a place that is both still stimulating and brings back great memories? happy weekend. Hugs-Erika

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    1. I'm grateful to Mother for taking us there so often. I feel a closeness to the works I remember from back then and to works like the Marisol that I remember being commissioned. And the new additions make me feel like the museum is continuing to grow and develop.

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  9. How great is that, that there is something inside & out for exploring. Art is always something that stirs memories & opinions.

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    1. They do have a variety of art there, different types of art from a wide range of time periods. And the sculptural pieces outside add a lot :)

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  10. It looks like a wonderful art gallery, in a beautiful setting!

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    1. It really is :) I hope they can find an appropriate re-use of the building once the museum moves downtown.

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