microbie

I've learned not to try to see every exhibition in a giant museum in one day, so I confined myself (for the most part) to the American art collection at the Art Institute. Flash photography was prohibited, so most of my photos turned out blurred. I took many more photos than what I posted here; I tried to limit myself to works that echo favorite themes in my LJ. Someday I might just post some of the other photos when I have nothing else to show or tell. I wandered through the 20th-century European art galleries on my way out and enjoyed my time with the Surrealists.

	Iron gate designed by Adler & Sullivan Adler & Sullivan employed Frank Lloyd Wright when he first moved to the Chicago area. He'd signed a five-year contract but left the firm without completing the full term.
	Desk designed by Frank Lloyd Wright This would be perfect for my house. [Art Institute Web info here]
	Dorian Gray painting by Ivan Albright From the Art Institute's Web site: Ivan Albright painted this lurid portrait for the Oscar-winning movie adaptation of Oscar Wilde's 1891 novel The Picture of Dorian Gray. Although the movie was shot in black and white, Lewin filmed the painted portrait in color to emphasize Gray's shocking transformation. The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of my favorite novels; I've enjoyed imagining the portrait in my mind as I read. I need to track down the film.
	Vase in the shape of pitcher plant From the placard at the exhibit: Design attributed to Karl Muller (1820-1887), United Porcelain Works (1863-c. 1922), vase, 1879, Greenpoint (Brooklyn), New York, porcelain, gift of Denis Gallion and Daniel Morris. The pitcher plant, commonly found in North American swamps, was a favorite motif of the United Porcelain Works; greenhouse-grown examples reportedly served as models for vases such as this.
	John Singer Sargent gets melancholy Tomato_grrrl and BornIn1975 had told me that I would see a lot of sad clowns at Artomatic, and I was looking forward to reveling in such an atrocity. Alas, there was only one sad clown painting at Artomatic, so I was happy to find this one. Sargent is an unlikely culprit for a sad clown painting; usually his works radiate the same hazy exuberance you see in pictures by Renoir and Monet. I think (placard hard to read in photo) the title of this painting is Rehearsal of the Paideloup Orchestra at the Cirque d'Hiver.
	Frederick Remington sculpture I should have photographed the placard for this sculpture, because now I can't remember its title. Just a great, amazing, dynamic work. It almost makes me capable of forgiving Remington for his hatred of tribal Americans.