I’ve been to a lot of museums in my time, in locations from England to France to Spain, from Texas to New York to Washington (State and D.C.), and many more. And I can say that the Indianapolis Museum of Art is now one of my favorites—for five reasons:
1. The soaring foyer windows, that are really like inspiring walls, make the foyer seem like a room of its own. I could have been convinced to perhaps take up a yoga position there and stay for the whole afternoon.
2. The grounds are treated as art, and my Team and Authors had a delightful group Artist Date that included both a marvelous picnic put together by Charity Singleton Craig and the unplanned whimsy of three of our girls (two dark-haired teens and one redheaded 10-year-old) swinging together from a giant (GIANT!) tree sculpture.
3. Some of the art is touchable, both in and out of the museum. It is not to be underestimated how important this is to me as the parent of a child who has chosen to major in philosophy at an art college, partly because she has a dream to become famous making a museum of interactive art (thanks to the guards at two museums that shall remain unnamed, where she was actually yelled at as a child—not cautioned, mind you: yelled at—when reaching out to touch what was surely meant by the artists to be interactive art. In fact, Andy Goldsworthy counts on the wearing-away process of nature, as part of the evolving status of his creations).
4. The curators demonstrate a breadth of interests through the art they choose, though the museum is not as large as some of the more “popular” museums in the world. One of these interests is clearly humor—something we obviously value here at Tweetspeak.
5. I have to love a museum where the guards actually let me rest a while in front of Gauguin. I thought, at first, I might spend my entire time in front of that one blue painting, perhaps as a kind of experiment in focused museum-going. But after resting, I recovered energy to go on to many delightful finds, including Dream Cars, thousands of tiny people who held up my feet from under their glass residence, a fanciful dragon circling a white vase (just waiting for someone to tell a story about him, no doubt), scrolls of metallic paper fashioned into balls that sparkled like gems, eye-opening (and sometimes handy) fashion, colorful bowls and teapots, and something akin to Tutankhamun’s burial garb…that was actually an enormous wall tapestry made from bottle accoutrements.
Of course, there were far more than 10 art pieces to love at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. But these are my Top 10 Picks from the collection gathered by the few of us who actually took pictures. Really, I think Julia Cameron would have been proud—the way we mostly spent our day reveling in the space and the art, including my choice to close my eyes for a bit, while Gauguin watched over me.
Top 10 Art Picks (and Pics!) from the Indianapolis Museum of Art
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Signs photo by PunkToad, Creative Commons, via Flickr.
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Donna Z Falcone says
If I’m ever in Indianapolis, this is somewhere I must visit, if only to know the feeling of thousands of tiny hands holding me up. So much power in that thought – how amazing and clever.
Of course, I adore the signs, but there seems to be a ravenous ticks indicator missing. 🙂 Why should bears, mosquitos, raccoons, and moles get all the press?
That museum guard who yelled? Seriously, I hope another line of work has been found!
🙂 Thanks for the tour! I want to go there.
L. L. Barkat says
It’s a great museum.
I’m not sure if the hands art is temporary or permanent. Maybe one of our Indy contingents would know (or be able to check). Ann? Charity?
Interesting about that piece: my girls interpreted it quite differently. They thought the people were trapped and trying to get out!
Ha, on the ticks. I heard that they’re not a big thing there. Maybe that explains the lack of signage?
Donna Z Falcone says
LOL. Maybe, but even here in PA, where they are quite comfy by the square inch it seems, there are no signs – but we’re working on that!
Oh that’s interesting – I never even thought of that perspective – the people trying to get out. Oh no! Poor little folk! I saw them as all of those who are with us on the journey, or who have gone before us, holding us up.
L. L. Barkat says
I can’t remember precisely what I thought of the art. My mind kept going back and forth between positive and negative interpretations. But, in the end, I think that’s one of the wonderful things about art…
it doesn’t let us get stuck going in only one direction (Sandra!!! See? 😉 )
Donna Z Falcone says
I love it when that happens… that switching and shifting.
Sandra Heska King says
This was so fun. I don’t feel like I saw enough because I talked so much–but I did have awesome guide who shared some awesome stories–and asked a lot of hard questions. (Thanks, Ann.) I can’t wait to go back and take Dennis with me. It’s also inspired me to get myself to visit some local museums and re-visit some others.
And I still think all those arrows were mocking directionally-challenged me.
L. L. Barkat says
Hee. Maybe the arrows were really saying it’s okay to not know where in the world to go, because it’s grist for laughter? 🙂
And I’m really glad it’s encouraged you for more museum-going. I think it would be fun to keep a museums journal, noting the unique qualities of each place and what it inspired (or even failed to inspire).
Now I want the insider stories!
Sandra Heska King says
Oh… I like your take on that. 😉
Maureen says
Yes and yes to El Anatsui. Fun post. I also like the photo of the hands piece.
The museum has Lichtenstein sculptures, too. (He’s a favorite of mine, because of his humor and the way he plays with scale and how one sees, or not.) And a Nick Cave sound suit.
L. L. Barkat says
Say more about…
El Anatsui
your favorite Lichtenstein sculptures at IMA
the Nick Cave sound suit
Perhaps due to my nap—um, my rest—I missed a good deal of the museum (but I am still quite happy with how I chose to spend my time; it felt metaphoric).
Maureen says
The first time I saw an El Anatsui hanging (as in one of the photos above) was at a museum here. From a distance it glittered, as if gold and silver were sunbathing. Up close, it showed what it’s made of: found objects and refuse of all kinds. Just marvelous.
My favorite Lichtenstein is not at IMA but at our NGA Sculpture Garden downtown. It’s the house, ‘House 1’, from 1996. It changes perspective as the viewer does. It’s delightful. I have enjoyed his work since seeing it for the first time in the ’70s.
Well, Nick Cave, who’s also a musician/songwriter and more, is in a class by himself. He’s to be experienced. His inventive sound suits are on the same scale as the body and I’d use the word “fantastic” to describe them.
http://www.jackshainman.com/artists/nick-cave/
Donna Z Falcone says
Sound suit? 🙂
Laura Brown says
I must conspire with Seth Haines and Richard Maxson to lure you to Crystal Bridges in northwest Arkansas.
L. L. Barkat says
Ha 🙂
You’ll have to work on luring Ann & Charity first. Not that I wouldn’t come to Arkansas for Crystal Bridges.
Megan Willome says
What a great thing to include in your meetup!
I’ve realized–through Tweetspeak–how little I know and appreciate art. But after doing a story on a local art gallery, we’ve been going to more art events, which are held monthly in our town. It’s been good for my soul.
L. L. Barkat says
Really, it was due to the amazing whirlwind planning of Charity. And it feels like a new model for Team meetings. Soul first, leading to business conversations that are richer, deeper, fuller.
L. L. Barkat says
And I should add that I’m really pleased you’re making the foray into art. It expands our ways of seeing, thinking.
SimplyDarlene says
those littles are pushing the lid off its hinges
grunting, shoving, reaching for the sky
and if you look close you’ll find one
upside down, kicking the glass
with bare feet as she stands
on her hands
(i’ve only been to two museums, both local history varieties. my imagination runs wild in the past. in our one-light town, i often see an old blue bike parked alongside the highway where someone has put down the kickstand and leaned it against a stone wall – on one side is a physical therapy office and on the other is a bar. in the middle a sign says “art gallery.” because of the old blue bike, i’ll stop someday. soon.)
Donna Z Falcone says
Darlene… I love that! Do you suppose there really IS someone pushing up with their feet in there? I went looking because of your clever words… but my eyeballs got to spinning! LOL! Hmmmm…. wonder.
Let us know about the Old Blue Bike Art Gallery. 😉
Donna Z Falcone says
Hey you all…. Do you think Art can change one’s process for writing? Not only seeing art, but creating it? Maybe especially creating it?
Donna Z Falcone says
Wait. Hold the phone. Just one little minute. I have just spotted this article in the TSP archives from 2013 posted on the page: Write like a painter… by Charity. 🙂 And so off I go to read it. https://www.tweetspeakpoetry.com/2013/12/11/become-better-writer-write-like-painter/
Maureen says
There’s only one answer to your question, Donna: YES!