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Visiting Minneapolis Institute of Arts

HometoCottage.com Minneapolis Institute of Arts

Have you been to your local art museum lately?

I think it’s always worth the trip! (the title picture here I took standing in the Frank Lloyd Wright room of the MIA, looking at the Minneapolis skyline through a gorgeous arts and crafts metal screen)

It had been a few years since I’d been to the art museum that is closest to us, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, in Minneapolis, MN, but, the other day, being close to my birthday, my sweet husband, knowing how much I love to go there offered to spend the afternoon there with me, so off we went!

They are having a special exhibit ‘The Habsburgs’ through May 10, 2015. We did pay the $20 fee to see that, (otherwise to just visit the art institute there is no charge, but they do encourage you to buy a membership or donate a bit, is not required though). We weren’t allowed to photograph in the special ‘Habsburgs’ exhibit, but I can tell you, it was really amazing. This is the first time this famous Austrian collection has ever been to America. There were gorgeous horse drawn chariots and sleighs with the likes that fairy tales are made from. And it was just as interesting to read about the history of the Habsburg family. Some generations of rulers and family members were not so nice, while others were heroes in their bravery to rescue Jews and Christians. Very interesting, I highly recommend it.

But there are other exhibits that are at the Art Institute all the time, and I never tire of seeing them. Here are a few things I saw, that I was allowed to photograph:

HometoCottage.com Vincent Van Gogh

My all time favorite style of painting is impressionism, and I’m mesmorized with Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings as well as his life story. To me, unlike some paintings that seem to painted by artists that are trying to please others, Van Gogh’s paintings have a raw emotional expression revealed in them. The thick paint and chosen colors speak volumes to him truly expressing his true self, troubled self at times, and all through the paint, brush and canvas.

 

HometoCottage.com Maxfield Parrish

This very large Maxfield Parrish painting with it’s beautiful colors always conjures up almost magical dreams.

 

HometoCottage.com Serevin Roesen

‘Abundant Fruit’ is a lovely mid 19th Century painting. Doesn’t its lavish display of fruits contrast sharply with the simple lifestyle of ‘Landscape with Cattle and Sheep’ painted in the same year.

HometoCottage.com Constant Troyon

And there are of course local artworks…

HometoCottage.com Robert Koehler

Such as this beautiful gray toned painting by Robert Koehler depicting a rainy evening in Minneapolis in the early 1900’s.

 

HometoCottage.com Grant Wood

Or this painting by Grant Wood depicting a small town in Iowa. Grant Wood is the artist that painted the well known 1930’s painting  ‘American Gothic’… you know the stoic farmer sporting round glasses with a pitch fork in hand standing next to his aproned wife with a stressed far away look in her bright blue eyes, standing in front of their gothic style farmhouse…

Of course, there are all sorts of artworks you can find exhibited at the Art Institute besides paintings…

HometoCottage.com Jewish stained glass window

 

This stained glass window from a Jewish synagogue was stunning, and even though this picture doesn’t do it justice, I really wanted to share it with you.

But there are much simpler pieces of art to behold as well…

HometoCottage.com Rooster 1

There is a whole wall full of a great collection of American rooster weathervanes!

HometoCottage.com simple copper rooster

Including this single layer copper silhouette rooster.

HometoCottage.com gold rooster

As well as this golden colored one.

I’ve got to wrap up this post, but I wanted to share one more painting with you…

To me, it’s the ugliest painting of a woman I’ve even seen, and yet somehow every time I go to MIA I’m drawn to stare at it.

Supposedly the artist back in the mid 1700’s was very sought after and well known… I’m not sure I would have been too happy with his work if he would have painted me with this look, but apparently the family that commissioned him was pleased with the outcome!

What do you think?

HometoCottage.com portrait of Sarah Allen nee sargent

The description states that the artist purposely painted her with a ‘masculine’ look showing her strength, yet daintily pulling up her gloves.

Can’t see it well enough?

Here’s a close up of her face: (I feel like I need to put quotes around the word ‘her’ 🙂 )

HometoCottage.com Sarah Allen nee Sargent

She even has a 5 o’clock shadow! I don’t know… is it just me? or are we maybe missing something here?

Well, now I just can’t leave you with what I describe as a ‘hideous woman painting’, after all the gorgeous things I’ve seen there, so here’s one more:

HometoCottage.com Renoir

Here we go, the exact opposite of that painting is this Renoir painting… it embodies the beautiful soft effect he’s so well know for.

Hope you can get to your local art museum and be inspired by great artworks as well! I am working on another post about my visit there, I want you to see the fabulously inspiring Norwegian painted cupboard I saw there.

 

Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by.

 

I am thrilled to use BlueHost for my self-hosted blog, their customer service is awesome!

 

 

If you’re close to Minneapolis, here is the information for the Minneapolis Institute of Arts:

Minneapolis Institute of Arts

2400 3rd Ave S

Minneapolis, MN 55404

612-870-3000

 

Want to read a little more?

Click here it see more of my travels and trips to other places and neighborhoods.

Click here to see more stained glass I’ve written about.

 

Inspired to get some fresh artwork up on your walls?

Here’s a list of shopping links for you:

Art on Ebay

Art at World Market to fit every style

or Make your Own Art with Supplies at Dick Blick

120x90 Save up to 50% All Dining Furniture



Blick Art Materials


300x250 Save up to 50% All Dining Furniture

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Welcome to Simple Decorating Tips! I’m Liz, the author, and I’m so glad you’re here!

My goal is to encourage you with DIY tips, techniques and tutorials so you feel empowered to join in the fun! Along with this DIY blog, I have a DIY shop, Frame and Frills!
Frame and Frills is in Wisconsin. I stock amazing DIY products! Fusion Mineral Paints, ReDesign Transfers, Decoupage, Waxes, loads of DIY Goodies, re-done Furniture and more! Even if you're not close to where the shop is in Wisconsin, good news... I ship nationwide, (USA) daily! Check out the link here and let's get your DIY on!
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Welcome to Simple Decorating Tips! I'm Liz, the author, and I'm so glad you're here! My goal is to encourage you with DIY tips, techniques and tutorials so you feel empowered to join in the fun! Along with this DIY blog, I have a DIY shop, Frame and Frills!
Frame and Frills is in Wisconsin. I stock amazing DIY products! Fusion Mineral Paints, ReDesign Transfers, Decoupage, Waxes, loads of DIY Goodies, re-done Furniture and more! Even if you're not close to where the shop is in Wisconsin, good news... I ship nationwide, (USA) daily! Check out the link here and let's get your DIY on!


Disclosure Policy: According to FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that some of the content of this blog may be a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

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Sharing is great! Please feel free to share this blog with your friends, as well as on Facebook and Pinterest and Flipboard and Houzz and YouTube the more the merrier! I appreciate you stopping by. But please remember that all photos, images, text and content are owned by SimpleDecoratingTips.com. So anything you share, please be sure it always links back to my original post it came from. Please do not remove watermarks, crop or edit anything without written permission from me first.

Disclosure Policy: According to the FTC guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials and shopping links. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post. Thanks for reading along, Liz

Disclosure Policy According to Federal Trade Commission guidelines, I want you to be aware that this blog is a source of income and may occasionally incorporate endorsements or testimonials. It is important to me to disclose this to you. The content of this blog is a source of income and therefore may be used to promote products, services, or other businesses. I will only choose to promote products/services/businesses that I feel will be beneficial to my readers. Products provided to me by my advertising partners for my review are given to me free of charge with no cost to myself. This does not ensure a positive review of the product in any way. My truthful opinion will be what I state, no matter if I'm getting paid or not. Accuracy and truth are the priority for me on this blog's information, no matter if it's about a product or anything else. Not every product or service or store etc. may be mentioned in each and every post as an affiliate. While I hope to generate a small profit for my time and effort to create this blog, I hold myself to the highest standard of integrity. I appreciate my readers, and always make it my goal to deliver quality, honest material on this blog through each post.

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