10 59% 24% 3mph W bar30.28 steady windchill6 Winter
Waxing Crescent of the Winter Moon
Doing research for an article on touring and poetry, I wandered through the galleries this morning seeking out objects with poetry written on them, objects inspired by particular pieces of poetry and objects with poets. The list is long and varied, much longer than you would think at first blush. This suggests an intimate connection between literature and art in our collection. The linkage goes deeper when we move beyond poetry and look at objects with, say, a biblical theme or a sutra or a story from any of the rich mythological traditions. This area turns my crank.
The galleries have a wonderful emptiness on Mondays though there is activity. In the Ukiyo-e gallery the scissor platform supported a cleaner taking care of a case. In the Minnesota artists gallery crews from the registry officer had Ta-Coumba Aiken’s work down and had begun to prep the galleries for a new exhibit. The medieval gallery had lights and cameras as the staff photographer shot a madonna and child. Most interesting, and a first time for me, was the sight of radiation hazard cones in the third floor gallery that connects the wings of the old McKim-White building with the newer building.
What were they up to? We have a statue on a pedestal someone thinks may have an incorrect orientation. This guy usually sits next to the elevator on the third floor, though after a long search I could find no description or name for him. Does he really look toward the sky, rather than the northern wall? Inquiring minds want to know so x-rays are the order.
With these exceptions, the galleries are empty and provide a kind of sanctuary filled with wonderful objects. Sometimes I like to just browse, wait for an object to catch my eye or tickle some inner fancy, then spend time with it.
After this, over to Common Roots for a gathering of a group interested in literature and the arts. Sounds good to me, though the meeting reminded me of the many I sat through with community and church groups when I used to participate in such groups for pay. It was fun nonetheless.
