I: Impressionism & Imagination, plus Iodine

I: Impressionism. Any time there's an exhibit at the stellar Kimbell Art Museum in Ft.Worth, I am there. Renoir (above), Monet (below), Manet's ballerinas, Cezanne's apples. The colors are vibrant, the moods dreamy, landscapes lush. I took a painting class in college. The professor had us set eggs on a white sheet of paper outdoors, then paint what we saw and look for the colors. Sure enough, pinks and tinges of purple erupted from the all white scenario

Imagination: You can't depend on your judgement when your imagination is out of focus - Mark Twain.

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world - Albert Einstein.

Think Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games, JK Rowling's Harry Potter series - to me these are very imaginative and talented writers. Or Stephen King from yesterday's horror post.

Walt Disney, Pixar studios - dreams really do come true. It's magic.

Iodine - I almost hate to have a deadly dose on such a cloud of good feeling. But iodine's bluish black powder is soluble in alcohol and slightly soluble in water. It acts directly on cells by precipitating proteins and depressing the central nervous system. Reaction time is immediate with death in one hour.

Caravaggio Fills the Kimbell

Caravaggio and His Followers in Rome is an electrifying exhibit presented only in Fort Worth at the Kimbell Art Museum and in Ottawa Canada. The Musician (pictured) is one example of the talent displayed. Rich colors and details abound, and Caravaggio (1571-1610) captured life as he saw it. Famous for The Cardsharps, his eye for the seamier side was new to the art world.

There are ten Caravaggios as well as forty or more great masters of Baroque Art included. The exhibit allows you to compare and contrast similar topics and treatments of subjects, especially those of saints. I liked Caravaggio's Saint John in the Wilderness versus others' versions.

As always, a visit to the Kimbell is a treat. Two large Christmas trees add to the festivities, and their lunch buffet offers a delicious respite.

Indulge the eyes and travel to 16th century Rome, a la Ft.Worth, for some culture. Ciao.

Salvator Rosa at the Kimbell

My Valentine's treat on Sunday was a visit to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. Ray was willing to stroll through this exhibit and discover the talent of this 17th century artist. Rosa was dark and brooding and explored the subjects of witchcraft, bandits, and behind it all was Italian scenery. Evocative and satirical, Salvator Rosa was an artist to be reckoned with and the Kimbell exhbit, as always, offers a wide range of his works.

His portraits are haunting and his landscapes are gorgeous. Craggy ravines and superb lighting enhance his work. Thirty six paintings cover a wide range of spirit from very, very dark to intense. I enjoyed this exhibit and also strolled through the Kimbell's regular collection - always a treat to see pieces from their vast warehouse. The Fort Worth Cultural District is a gem - Go explore it!

Visit Your Own Backyard

Nothing like having an out of town visitor to get the creative juices flowing. Where shall we go? What shall we eat? What's next? And let's eat! Anytime a good friend comes to town, we hit the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth. Gorgeous building, stellar art collection, and through March 21st a special event - Private Collections of Texas. Van Gogh, a Rembrandt, Gainsborough, Cezanne - you name the artist and it's represented on the walls of the Kimbell along with comments from the Texas collector and sometimes a photo of where their art is placed. One humorous comment, "You know a large picture covers cracks in the wall." Yeah, Waterlilies by Monet is the way to go in decorating.

After wandering the galleries, go eat at Lucille's on Camp Bowie Boulevard.

On a rainy Saturday, the Old Red Museum, in downtown Dallas proved interesting. The courthouse is now renovated and houses an excellent museum of Dallas and North Texas history. Films, displays, and plenty of interactive screens keep you moving and involved. I was amazed by how many newspapers and gazettes were in circulation back in the day.

Cool to see the Pegasus sign, a former beacon of the Dallas night sky. It's now on display in the Old Red Museum. Plenty of stories to learn as you explore your own backyard. In turn, it prompts stories to create or embellish.

Dallas good eats - S&D Oyster on McKinney.