I try not to saturate this blog with too much of the same artist. After all, there are so many talented artists in the past and present, why would I repeat any? But there are some that are just so dang relevant. So many artists that create work that relates to almost any life experience. Maybe more than any other artist (even more than my beloved da Vinci!) I am tempted to write about Van Gogh week after bloggy week. And sometimes I do. Mostly I exercise the kind of self-restraint usually reserved for not eating a fourth ice cream sandwich.

But last week, the girls and I met some friends in Detroit to go to the interactive Van Gogh exhibit, and I have to tell you about it! We heard about this exhibit in the dark days of 2020, and planned to travel to Indianapolis for it. Then in the much brighter days of Spring 2021, Detroit announced it would host the exhibit as well. Win! We bought tickets immediately for the evening of August 9. Later, I would learn we would have two conflicts with our ticket time and a 5am flight the next day, but it was worth it.

We showed up early and were delighted when they let us right in, without mentioning our ticket time. It turns out Monday evenings are a good time for this particular event. There were maybe ten other people there. No other kids except mine and Carla’s (a total of six- three boys, three girls because we are all about balance) were there. I’m certain everybody thought our kids were charming and loved their commentary. I think my youngest daughter’s dance moves were especially appreciated. Cringe.

I did not make it thirty seconds into the first room before choking up. Quotes from the famous author (mainly to his brother, Theo) illuminated the room. This was the first one that made me cry:

The second (and last!) room is a thirty-five minute Van Gogh art extravaganza, in which viewers are immersed in 360 degrees the painters artwork. The paintings are brought to life via their grandeur, the occasional blurb read aloud en Francais, and music. Here are a few pictures that naturally, don’t do it any justice.

I loved the exhibit too, because it was an opportunity to experience something well-known (Carla pointed out that in college Sunflowers was so common, people had prints of it in their dorm rooms) in an unusual way. “Beyond Van Gogh” took what we’ve seen a thousand times to the next level. They took what was familiar and maybe “old” to some of us and reframed it to be new all over again. If you have the chance, definitely go to this exhibit! Or, as every person who crosses the threshold of this exhibit says, “Gogh see it!”

This little blog is coming up on its third birthday in a couple weeks! Over the last three years I’ve discovered some incredible artists and artwork. What an absolute delight. Here are a few things I’ve learned since beginning this blog three short years ago.

1. It’s okay to like art and not the artist, or vice versa. Diego Rivera, for instance. I couldn’t disagree with his politics more, but you know what? He was a decent artist. I don’t need to have replicas of his stuff over my mantel, but I can appreciate that the guy could put up a killer mural. We are really going to limit the beauty in our lives if we only take in art made by top-notch people. Take Caravaggio, for another instance. He was not a fun hang. His art? Life-changing.

2. The other day my kids ate a can of Spaghettios. I used to love Spaghettios when I was little! Now? Not so much. Art is like a can of Spaghettios. It’s okay to let your taste evolve. For instance, I used to strongly dislike surrealism. But artists like Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali, and Heimir Bjorgulfsson have become some of my favorite artists! I used to think Ivan Albright was too dark and twisty for my Pollyanna sensibilities, but it turns out I can get down with some death and decay. So don’t write that trippy abstract art off quite yet. Or be so quick to think still-lifes are boring-schmoring. Unless we’re talking video art. That stuff is crap. (Haha.) (But seriously, I haven’t changed my mind on that yet.)

3. It’s true- The Louvre has some decent art. Same for Chicago, Detroit, the Met… all the biggies. But I don’t need to tell you there is incredible art all over the place! Some of the best art I’ve ever seen has been in small cities or in alleyways, under bridges, or on my fridge (thanks, kids!) Gone are the days of “stuffy” art (which, btw, I also love). Art doesn’t have to be swanky or intimidating, or housed in colossal museums with marble pillars. Art can be a cool figure in downtown Northfield, Minnesota, or in a sculpture park you happen upon in Lincoln, Nebraska. For a long time I wrote these pieces off as “lesser thans” because I was holding out for the National Galleries of the world. Sad!

Have you reconsidered the way you look at or appreciate art? I can’t wait to discover more in the next three years!

Last week my daughter (who loves hugs about as much as a porcupine) got a game called Awkward Hugs. It is super funny. Two people are locked into a hug together (literally- players wear belts with connecting locks.) and can’t be unlocked until they answer three Yes/No questions the same. For every differing answer there is a consequence, like “Give your hug partner a nose kiss.” I was falling off the kitchen bar stool laughing at my daughters. Here they are:

I used to think I loved awkward things. My philosophy was that awkward equals hilarity. Then I tried watching The Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise and it was TOO awkward for my eyeballs. My sweet spot for awkwardness lies somewhere between Matt Lauer’s interview with Tom Cruise (too awkward!) and super weird engagement pictures (I can’t get enough!) While artists can be super cool and edgy with their hot talent and their tendency to get so wrapped up in a project they forget to eat (who does that?!) they are not exempt from creating some truly awkward artwork. Here are five paintings that I think are just too awkward:

The most awkward thing about The Ugly Duchess by Quentin Matsys isn’t dressing a man in the year 1513 in a corset and headdress, (although that was not exactly en vogue back then) but in the way the model is holding his fingers. Is he trying to throw out a gang sign? Is he doing math in his head? Is he showing off his double jointedness? Playing an invisible fiddle? I don’t know, but it’s too awkward for me to consider for very long.

This is so awkward, it actually pains me to post it. Never say I’m not committed to my art. This is Gabrielle d’Estrees and One of Her Sisters. Apparently the symbolism here is that Gabrielle is announcing to the world that her sister is pregnant. Maybe blurting her sister’s big news is even more awkward than the fashion in which she is making the announcement.

While we are in this very bizarre, nipply headspace, let’s just put Frida Kahlo’s painting out there. She had some odd self-portraits, but dare I say, this one takes the cake? I’m less weirded out by Frida, than I am by her nurse. She reeeeaaaallly looks like she wants to wean baby/adult Frida.

Look, I want to like Andrea Mategna, I do. He was a very skilled artist. But Mategna, why are you portraying my Lord and Savior as a little drunk baby?! Jesus’ face here is painfully awkward. Almost as bad as watching the fantasy suite episode of The Bachelor. Do better, Mategna. Do better.

Finally, an oldie but a goodie: American Gothic. Here are two people I would love to see play Awkward Hugs. I have such a soft spot for these two. I feel like she just finished saying, “Wait, what camera am I looking at?” and he was all, “What do I do with my hands? Give me that pitchfork!” They are just awkward enough to be totally enduring.

May your week be awkward in ways you can laugh about later and not irrevocably weird like the time your mom promised the “Dorothy Hamill” was in style.

I got it in my head, I was going to learn to make fruit bouquets. Like the time I got it in my head I was going to perfect charcuterie boards, or the time I was going to make every recipe in the Pioneer Woman’s cookbook, or find the world’s most legendary cinnamon bun recipe. A lot of my bright ideas revolve around food. There’s nothing that can be done about it. I have food on my mind most of the time.

I enlisted my sister, Jamie, and daughter, Charlotte to join my endeavor. It was super fun! I laughed a lot, though with those two, we could be taste-testing raw meat and I’d have a blast. They’re very fun people. Here are our finished products:

It’s not fair, but yes, of the two of us, Jamie did get the good looks AND the brains. She wisely started with a small bouquet. I was still stabbing grapes, balling melons, and cursing my kabob sticks when she was putting the finishing touches on hers. Anyway. You know it got me thinking about food art. And my all-time favorite food artist: Giuseppe Arcimboldo. You can read about him in this previous post or this previous post.

Tons of artists are using food as inspiration, or even as a medium these days. Take Carl Warner, for instance. Warner is a British artist, famous for his landscapes of food. Think “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.” At first glance, it’s hard to recognize the picture is food- it really does look like a lovely little village or farm community. Next thing you know, your stomach is growling because you realize you’re looking at mountains of bread or a wagon full of berries.

If these don’t make you hungry, let me also mention Warner has done ads for DiGiornio, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Nestle, and Honey Nut Cheerios. Some of my favorites! And if you STILL aren’t hungry, let me direct you to Warner’s delectable website right here.

I don’t know about you, but after all that food, I need something to wash it down. Amelia Harnas uses red wine to stain portraits into fabric. Brilliant. My wine stains always turn out as stains in the shape of embarrassment. If you visit her website, you can see what kind of wine she used for each piece. I would like to see her launch her own line of wines: a Sauvignon Blanc Canvas. A Moscarto, A Full Pourtrait. Just a few thoughts.

If you prefer less alcohol in your art, you may be interested in Andrew Gorkovenko– a Russian designer, brand developer, and tea artist. (I know! I’m also waiting for him to make some vodka art!) He uses tea leaves to make landscapes advertising where the tea is from. Smart, right?

Happy Fourth of July weekend, friends! Bon Apetit!

Happy end of the school year! I keep hearing the Elle Woods in my head squeak, “We did it!”

We conquered the weirdest school year ever! Way to go, guys! Now it’s time for parents everywhere to say those magical words: “I’m not cooking tonight. We have an Open House.” Graduates are trying to plan their futures in these super bizarre times- some are headed to college, some are taking a gap year, maybe going to a trade school, and some will skip all of these things and move to their parents’ basement to live out their fantasy of playing “Animal Crossing: New Horizon” for the rest of their glory days. Whatever summer or life plans you have, maybe you will find yourself in a college town and good news- colleges have great art.

If you follow me on IG, you may remember a couple months ago, I posted a few pictures from a walk around Michigan State’s campus. Here are a few of my favorites:

I’ve also had the pleasure of perusing art at Notre Dame, Oakland University, and Brown University, to name a few. There is no denying it: college campuses have fantastic art! Here are a few pictures from said universities:

Notre Dame: I wrote in this post about the extremely perfect layout of the school, including the ice arena, a Starbucks, and a sculpture walk/art museum/Touchdown Jesus all within a short walking distance of each other- a glorious little triangle of my favorite things. We’re planning to go back to that same tournament next hockey season, and I’m busting into that art museum, come hell or high water (a saying they take very seriously there.) In the meantime, here is The Word of Life (aka: Touchdown Jesus) ND’s most famous piece of art.

At another hockey tournament near Detroit, I was delighted to find Oakland University has a little art gallery! I took six hockey players with me to “check” it out (hockey humor!) I think the museum staff was really happy to see us roll in. All the kids gamely told me their favorite pieces of art there. The blue chain (it represents falling tears) was a crowd-pleaser, so were the paintings by Dick Goody. And of course, there were some giggles over part of Susan Evans’ installation, Artist’s Panties (not pictured). Underwear: never not funny.

Charlotte and I visited Rhode Island a couple years ago in the dead of winter (I’d rethink that move next time). Luckily, the art was big enough and bold enough on Brown‘s campus, it didn’t get lost in the snow. Hands down, our favorite piece was Urs Fischer’s aptly named Lamp/Bear. It is one of three 20-ton bears Fischer made, but the only blue one. The mural below is technically not on campus, but pretty darn close and you know I can’t resist a sweet mural. This was one of three in a row, each cooler than the next!

If you are graduating, congratulations! Way to matriculate! If you’re just attending Open Houses this year, let me give you permission: go back for seconds.