A couple exhibits

Happy Halloween!

After all the hubbub is over, here are a couple of fall art exhibits worth visiting:

1) Pompeii and the Roman Villa, National Gallery of Art, through March 22, 2009

Here are two background stories in the Washington Post, worth reading: Day of Wrath and coincidentally on the same day, Villas Come Alive 2,000 Years After Vesuvius (in the Travel Section). I have always liked the frescoes at Stabiae. I am bewildered how they survived the destruction at Pompeii. The recreation of the Villa San Marco is just incredible. Makes me want to go visit NOW. Well, that’s a fantasy but it’s on my list. Italy is one of my favorite countries so I’m always looking for an excuse to get back there.

2) Georgia O’Keefe and Ansel Adams: Natural Affinities, Smithsonian American Art Museum, through January 4, 2009. I thought this was a very cool premise for an exhibit. I had never thought to really compare these two artists before but these pictures make the argument. I really like their work:

The comparison of these two artists reminds me of the exhibit I saw in 2006 in Holland comparing Caravaggio and Rembrandt’s work — very different styles but similar subjects.

There is also a play associated with this exhibit, called A Brush with Georgia O’Keefe. It actually looks pretty darn interesting but I bet it’s sold out. Natalie Mosco, the actress playing Georgia O’Keefe looks incredibly similar to the artist.

Just to add some humor to uplift a wacky week, here are 7 Things Never to Say in an Art Gallery. Now, I would actually never say this for the artwork above, but after this week, ya just gotta laugh:

1. “How long do I have to look at this thing before the secret message emerges?”
2. “Interesting, interesting. It’s a skosh Pollocky, with a Jasper Johnsy aftertaste.”
3. “How much for just the frame?”
4. “My nephew does similar work. He’s two.”
5. “Does that mean I can pay in conceptual dollars?”
6. “I shot Andy Warhol. No, seriously.”
7. “Do you have this in a medium?”