Under two hours from my home and involving NO Boston-like traffic sits the
Worcester Art Museum. It was a lovely bright frigid day to spend in a warm car and browsing this wonderful museum with my husband.
I love pleasant surprises and there were many;
The architecture dates from 1898...except for the 12th-century French chapter house which was the first medieval building ever
transported from Europe to America. It is the second largest art museum in New England and was the first to purchase French Impressionist paintings. Parts of the movie
American Hustle were filmed there last year.
Alice Neel, one of my favorite artists, portrayed people in their true colors. She did not glorify or pretty them up. She loved the human condition and expressed it in all it's misery, comedy and character. In
Julie and Aristotle (1967) she has painted the plight of many dog owners; the dog has made a mistake and regrettably the girl has stepped in it.
This 2003 mixed media painting by Jenny Scobel is titled
March. The artist leaves it up to the viewer to interpret. I have no idea what it is about, but I love it...still trying to figure out why...captivating and strangely familiar graphic elements. Beautiful "drawing" of a powerful woman in a strange world. I eventually walked away from her reluctantly. There was a mirror-like pull when standing in front of this work. It is a highly original work. What do you think?
