Month: August 2015 (Page 1 of 4)

I love museums and I love art. By no means am I an expert in art or even a novice. I just love seeing people use the gifts that they have been given. The way the brushstrokes move across the canvas or a piece of bronze is sculpted into something beautiful amazes me. I have had the opportunity to visit several museums throughout the world and the one I get to talk about today is one of my favorites.

During our trip to Kansas City, Rachel was raving about the Nelson-Atkins Museum. She knew I would enjoy it, and she was right. I tried not to have to high of expectations but after looking at their website and seeing what pieces they offered, I was excited.

Located three blocks northeast of the Country Club Plaza shopping district is the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The museum is home to more than 35,000 works of art from all over the world. Unlike many specialized museums, the Nelson-Atkins is a general art museum that essentially provides the visitor with the opportunity to see various styles of artwork, including photography, sculptures, modern and contemporary, and European art to name a few. In addition, it is always helpful to check their website for the traveling special collections that they have on display.

Some of my particular favorite paintings are Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness from my favorite artist (and obviously David’s), Caravaggio. Some of the amazing European works of art that are offered include works from Titian, Rembrandt, Poussin, Monet, Pissarro, Caillebotte, Manet, Goya, and Degas.

As for modern art, the major artists include Rothko, Pollock, Warhol, Rauschenberg, among other notable artists. The museum features a special sculpture collection by Isamu Noguchi which is a pleasant surprise since most Noguchi sculptures are in New York and Japan.

But, one of the most amazing things about the museum are all the sculptures. The Nelson-Atkins features some of the most amazing sculptures I have seen. The Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park is an a great place to see art, but also a nice spot for a picnic. The sculpture park offers an interactive guide and an audio guide online in case you would like to learn more about these great pieces (which is highly suggested). Some of the more famous or recognizable pieces are the four shuttlecocks by Coosje van Bruggen, the “two planes” by George Rickey, Standing Figures (30 total) by Magdalena Abakanowicz, Rush Hour by George Segal, The Large Bather by Auguste Renoir, and last but not least The Thinker by Auguste Rodin.

Visit:  The museum is free to visit and is open from 10:00AM to 5:00PM on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. The museum is open until 9:00PM on Thursday and Friday, and closed Monday and Tuesday. While the museum is free (which is amazing), parking does cost $8 although it is free for members. A typical trip to the museum could go from 1.5 to 2 hours. Obviously, it could take longer depending on the crowds and how fast you go through a museum, but this is one you don’t want to rush through. If you have the opportunity and time to jump on a tour, please do as those are very educational and fun. When you are in the area, be sure to save time to check out the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art as well. Photography is allowed which is nice.

We made the most of our time in the area by checking out the Nelson-Atkins, the Kemper, and the surrounding neighborhood since there is so much to do in the area. No trip to Kansas City is complete without a visit to this wonderful museum. It is a wonderful family friendly activity, but also offers a nice date night experience since it is open later on Fridays. If you go during the night or dusk, check out the Sun and 34 moons exhibit outside as it is really beautiful. If you do get hungry, there is a café inside that has a nice selection of food and desserts.