Best MAM
Donald Judd installation on the right is a memory at the Milwaukee Art Museum since I was in grade school. Acrylic and Steel Sculpture.
It’s been since the pandemic since I had been a member at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Mom and I always shared a family membership each year for almost a decade until 2019. The art museum has been a place for escape for me cause the galleries are so diverse from classical to modern. Ever since Santiago Calatrava designed the Soliel and the new exterior of the museum over 20 years ago, it’s become quite a landmark on Milwaukees lake front and downtown skyline.
When I was in college, sometime in the early 90’s, I remember taking a trip to the Milwaukee Art Museum during Spring Break. I was sitting someplace in the Harry Lynde Bradley collection listening to a docent talking to a class of 3rd graders about Milton Avery. He was an American Modern painter that created very simple forms of life whether it be people or landscapes. He used blocks of color and texture to purvey the details of his subjects. It’s almost avante garde and allows the viewer a lot of creative perspective to define what they are seeing. The docent was asking the 3rd graders what they saw in Milton Avery’s Red Rock Falls painting. There were many responses, but one that stood out was a boy that said it looked like a guitar. Someone else said it looked like a women’s head. I was so curious of how these younlings interpreted this simple paining of a falls and through their perspective, it became more detailed than any other picture in the museum. I was just floored!!! I now realize why I have this exact picture as poster form in my living room at home. I couldn’t ever forget that experience and that’s when I changed my feelings about art and how to interpret it. Introspection is why I love art so much. It’s less about it’s physical form and more about how it makes us feel. Those kids changed my life and maybe someday when I retire, I can be a docent at the Milwaukee Art Museum and have that impact of a group of 3rd graders on how they perceive Modern Artists like Milton Avery.
Many people ask me what attracts me to contemporary artists and I think it’s because you have to think more about the subject material than a classical piece. I did study Spanish painters back in highschool and got to go to Spain to see most of their work at the El Prado Art Museum. That was incredible!!! Above are some various collections that live at the MAM and are some of my faves. Especially Thibaud, Münter & Chagall. I also enjoy the Georgie O’Keefe collection too.
The MAM also has many sculptures through out the museum. Just takes me back to another time since this museum has been apart of my life for the past 4 decades.
The Bradley Galleries are some of my most favorite spaces at the MAM. Now that I’m a member again, I like hanging out in these galleries and pretend like it’s my very own living room.
This past February I decided to re-visit the MAM after a long period away. The price of the museum went from $21 to $27 since 2021. Membership is $75. Plus I would get free parking the day I joined which would save me $12 more. I’ll be back more the twice, so I re-joined the MAM. It truly is the best MAM. Best art museum in Wisconsin. Being a member means I can visit anytime and just hang out in the galleries to re-visit my past memories and to create new ones. The current exhibit by Robert Longo is closing by the end of February, so I’m glad I made a visit. It was quite intriguing and dark. Touched on many things that are going on currently politically and socially in our country right now.
One of the spaces at the Robert Longo exhibit at the MAM. This just pulled me in. The iconic photos take me to an elemental level of understanding. Almost too much. But that’s how life goes sometimes.
When was the last time you were at the MAM and what was your favorite memory? If you are not from Milwaukee, what is your favorite art space and why? Please leave comments below. I would love to hear from you. Outside of the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis is my other favorite art space.
Thanks so much for joining me on this revisitation of my favorite art space. One of my favorite places to take a selfie is in front of this Ellsworth Kelly piece in the Bradley Galleries. My yellow t-shirt made up for the yellow block in the middle of this art piece. That was not intentional.
Be well my friends and we will see you on the next one!
Big Hugs,
Scott - The Quilting Camper