All the time in the world

Magnet #1276 - Monet's Etretat, Cliff of d`Aval

This Monet painting, part of a million different Monet sets I have, reminds me of that scene in Goonies, where Sean Astin holds up that medallion and manages to extrapolate where the treasure's buried?

I re-watched Goonies on my own recently, since we didn't get around to it at our 80s movie day a couple of weeks ago. Such a fantastic movie. I really hope they never remake that one. Or do some lame sequel for it.

And, speaking of sequels - totally went to go see Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World. I won't lie - it was actually better than 3. And maybe even 2. But definitely not better than the original.

I should have definitely watched it in 3D - and still might go back to see it. You could just tell all the gags that should have been watched in 3D, rather than FlatD. They also give you this card to go along with Aroma-Scope. Which is totally gimmicky, but I totally bought into it...until the fart smell, anyway.

It was definitely cheesy and the new kids weren't as good as Juni and Carmen, but oddly, given that original Juni and Carmen themselves were about as awkward in their roles, it was pretty fitting. I was moderately entertained by Ricky Gervais as the dog, and Jessica Alba and Joel McHale as the parents of the new kids. Though it's scary that Jessica's started playing a mom (even a step-mom) so young.

I loved Jeremy Piven as Danger D'Amo - though, at times, I couldn't tell if he was having fun in the role, or if was in pain...from whatever.

What I loved best about the movie, though, is the life lesson - savor and enjoy the time you have because you won't get it back. No kidding.

Yep. Deep thoughts. From the Spy Kids franchise.

Timely, methinks, given my funtimejoy mentality of late.

The infinite lily pond

Magnet #1109 - Water Lilies, again

Another of my Met Museum Monet Magnet Set. I must say this out loud - after much thought, I really don't think I like Monet's Water Lilies after all.

Sure, they're all gorgeous, but honestly, I can't imagine sitting there in Giverny painting water lily after water lily after water lily in varying shapes and sizes and colors and times of day and season after season and different patterns in the water, over and over again. And yet, they remain his most popular and most recognizable works.

I did magnetblog a few months ago about my online search for the definitive answer for how many water lily pieces he painted, but couldn't find it. All I know is that there are too many to go around. Even in my own collection, I must have half a dozen, and that's just on a single 2' x 4' metallic magnetboard!

There's so many down here that it makes you wonder if that Monet's up there somewhere in a little corner of heaven painting nothing but water lilies.

And maybe the odd haystack or two just for a change.

Women and children first

Magnet #1077 - Camille Monet and a child

Another Monet from my collection. I know, it's neverending, those Monets.

This piece is called Camille Monet and a Child in the Artist's Garden in Argenteuil from 1875, and part of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts collection.

Oddly, it never really specifies who the kid in the painting is - I've always assumed it was Monet's.

I just picked it for today, because yesterday at this time, I was merrily typing up a magnetpost talking about going to see the Addams Family and writing about the Adams library.

Today I find myself in North Carolina, with a bit of our world a little askew. Best laid plans, I suppose. But one that puts a lot of things in perspective.

I kinda like this image anyway, of the little one sitting patiently at Camille's feet. It takes me back to a time where I sat - ok fine, I'll face it, I've never really sat patiently anywhere.

Still, it's a peaceful image takes us back to simpler times, where all the world is right, where you had nothing to worry about except the toys right in front of you.

A water lily by any other name...

Magnet #1019 - Monet's Nymphéas (Water Lilies)

I just went on a wild goose chase to see if there was a definitive answer to just how many different water lily paintings Monet painted during his lifetime - and came up empty.

It feels like every major museum anywhere has a water lilies by Monet. This one, I don't even remember actually seeing, because we were actually at the Carnegie Museum of Art for a wedding reception, and while I remember going through parts of the museum, I distinctly remember hurrying (in silly shoes) to the gift shop to grab a magnet before it closed for the evening. But this piece, Nymphéas (Water Lilies), is one of the jewels of the Carnegie collection, I'm sure.

The information says circa 1915-1926, that it's one of six ginormous panels that he was working on up til his death in 1926. But, the detail on it is still pretty rather sharp - so it's even harder to believe that he was working on these with such detail, even though he'd already started losing his eyesight to cataracts.

Gosh, what a tragic tale of the painter who lost his ability to see. You can see the contrast on this page, about midway down, comparing his Japanese bridges from 1897 to 1923.

Anyway, I picked this magnet for today, because I meant to report back after my astounding visit to the Sotheby's preview exhibition, just before their Impressionist auction last month.

Remember how I was stunned that I was standing in front of a $20 million painting? And that it was yet another of Monet's water lilies (Le Bassin aux Nymphéas), and how it was clearly unfinished?

Yeah. That painting? Sold for not $20, but $24.7 million. Sheesh.

Quick. Someone get me a brush.

From Impressionism with love

Magnet #905 - Monet's Jerusalem Artichoke Flowers

Remember how I love discovering Monets that I've never seen before? With every museum I visit they're getting increasingly hard to come by.

But my visit to the National Gallery in DC a couple of weeks ago yielded a couple of them. Not surprising, given that they have about 2 dozen Monets in their collection.

This one, is a rare still life from Monet, called Jerusalem Artichoke Flowers, done in 1880. It's gorgeous up close, with the tiny details and beautiful yellow color palette. The other one I discovered was Banks of the Seine, Vetheuil. That one quickly jumped to my top three, just because it's superpretty with a green, yellow and blue palette. There was something hopeful about the piece, versus my number one fave Rocks at Pourville, Low Tide.

Right now at the National Gallery, there's an ongoing exhibition of the Chester Dale collection, called From Impressionism to Modernism, and it's just fantastic to explore. The Dales were a wealthy couple in the first half of the 20th century who basically created a large collection of art - he paid for them and his wife Maud picked them out. So, when the National Gallery started up, they turned to the Dales for help. In the end, the Dales bequeathed about 300 paintings to the National Gallery.

When you're wandering through the exhibit, you just think, jeepers, these people owned all these pieces - how much wall space did they have? One thing cracked me up was that both Chester and Maud had their portraits painted by famous artists - much like the wealthy folks and royalty did in Europe. There are two portraits of Chester - one done by Diego Rivera and one by Salvador Dali, and then Maud's two portraits was done by George Bellows and Fernand Léger. I dunno why it made me laugh, probably cuz mentally, I was trying to figure out how Monet or Hopper would paint me.

Jeez, these peeps had soooo much disposable income to patronize the arts, it's crazy! I suppose if I had that much disposable income, I'd buy a painting or two. Of course, I'm fairly sure if I collected real art, I wouldn't be worried about value or context within my collection, I'd totally just end up buying the pretty ones I liked.

And probably the ones in a blue color palette. Heh.

YIPA* and the Frick

Magnet #842 - Windmill in Amsterdam, Monet

Ya'll know I loves me some Monet. Yes, he's the most cliche Impressionist painters to like, but what can I say.

There's nothing that makes me happier than when I discover a Monet I've never seen before - it's awesome. I kinda feel that way whenever I discover a museum I've never been to before as well. And today, I did both!

I picked this magnet up as part of a collection from the Houston's Museum of Fine Arts - a quick visit, where I didn't really see the museum, as much as I ended up on the phone for work. Still, I got to walk around for a quick bit, and peeking around the corner, much to my surprise, was this Monet - The Windmill on the Onbekende Canal, Amsterdam.

So pretty. I loved it. And I've never seen it before. Mind you, I don't even think I knew he'd ever painted in Amsterdam. But so he did.

I picked it for today, because I made another discovery. It's taken me 15 years, but I finally found time to visit the Frick Collection, thanks to a late-morning @NewYorkology Tweet about Sunday's museum discounts. (Dude, I wish you'd Tweet things to do much earlier on in the day, on the weekends!)

I've always meant to visit the Frick, but I want to say someone told me years ago - you know who you are - that it was boring. In fact, it couldn't be more the opposite. It's a small collection, but man, it's so diverse.

For those who don't know, Henry Clay Frick who was born on a Pennsylvania farm and became a coke baron, joined in with Andrew Carnegie, and became a titan of industry, and then relocated here shortly after PA Homestead Strike. I know, right? Hadn't a clue, either.

Anyway, he was an avid art collector - he bought his first Rembrandt for $38,000 by the time he was 31. Can you imagine? La-la-la, I think I'll buy a Rembrandt. Or a Monet. Or a Goya. Or a Titian. Or Turner. Or two!

The Frick houses another Monet that I haven't seen before, Vétheuil in Winter, one that he painted in the dead of winter, shortly after his wife Camille passed away. This image rendering from the collection doesn't even begin to do the actual painting justice - in real life, it's simply gorgeous, and a more than a little desolate.

I love Frick's penchant for reuniting paintings that had been separated over the years, and finding fantastic ways to display them. And, he had a knack for pairing them as well. He has a couple (!) of Holbeins - one of Sir Thomas More and of Thomas Cromwell and they flank an El Greco above the fireplace. On the opposite wall, are two Titians who flank a Bellini, with the coolest painting of St. Francis of Assisi - ever. Dudes. That's just one room. One. Room.

And, speaking of, as I wandered around, I realized why I liked the museum so much. In addition to a sometimes wry and overwrought audioguide, the Frick is such an intimate museum. You really feel as if you're walking through someone's house. It's because you are. Though the Fricks lived here together for only five years, and then his wife another dozen or so, they definitely kept the house intact, as much as they could. It gives it such a different feel than the standard gallery.

What a great several hours I spent at the Frick today. The collection was just fantastic. If you get a chance, definitely check it out.

*YIPA = "Yes, I'm Procrastinating Again." I know it was supposed to be THINK ABOUT YOUR FUTURE Weekend, but for whatever reason, I ended up whiling it away in two of our great NYC museums. It's either just me procrastinating as usual, or maybe it's a sign.

Monsieur Monet

Magnet #788 - Monet's View of Bordighera

Random quickpick for today, this magnet of Bordighera, a city on the Italian Riviera, just over the border from France. Monet spent some time here, along with his pal Renoir, who also painted views from there as well.

This magnet was part of a bigger set of magnets that I bought from the Brooklyn Museum of Art several years ago. Though, I noticed this weekend that I am quickly outgrowing my Monet magnetboard. Mind you, that was after I bought two more to add to the collection.

Anyway, here's something weird that I've been thinking - it's always hard for me to remember that Monet was French. And doubly hard to remember, given that in my head, he's Richard Armitage!

Take cover!

Magnet #751 - Woman with a Parasol, facing right

There goes Monet again, painting a million studies of one subject in a million different lights. This one is a pretty famous subject, it's Monet's wife Camille, whom he's painted several times as the woman with a parasol, in the late 1800s.

I picked this one, because today was a rainy day, and the last rainy day I had was the Sunday of the Transitions Championship, where we were inundated with hours and hours of rain, lightning and thunderstorms.

As my friend posted on my Facebook status, they do not play with lightning down in Florida. No freakin' kidding.

They had horns! Blowing! They cleared off the course in seven minutes flat!

We had to shoo people into pavilions!

Seriously. And, there I was, standing outside our tent, yelling at the passing crowds, "If you are seeking shelter, please! Come! Inside! But remember! Do NOT touch any of the metal parts of the tent!"

The crowds giggled as they passed me, and then I found a slew of frat boys in front of the tent...leaning up against the metal braces.

Mind you, who knows if those boys were any better off than the guys walking with their own little golf parasols ignoring the inclement weather warnings altogether.

Silly boys.

Capeside, seaside

Magnet #676 - Monet's Regatta at Sainte-Adresse

This is part of the Monet magnet set I picked up from the Met - it's an inset of this painting from the Met's site.

Monet spent a lot of time at Sainte-Adresse on the coast of France, where his Parisian parents moved. He painted Regatta at Sainte-Adresse (at the Met) supposedly as a companion piece to the Beach at Sainte-Adresse (at the Art Institute of Chicago), both in 1867.

There's some speculation that he painted it to show the class differences - the posh bathers versus the local fishermen.

I just like it because regattas always remind me of when stupid Dawson Leery entered Capeside's Annual Spring Regatta to win the heart of Joey Potter, even though everyone knows that the Joey belonged with Pacey J Witter.

What? I have a million Monet magnets...plus, my sister totally got me the complete series boxset of Dawson's Creek.

Now, if only I had time to do a proper marathon!

Light's nature

Magnet #668 - Monet's Four Poplars

This magnet is one of my many, many, many Monet paintings - this one being an inset of the painting The Four Trees/Four Poplars. About a mile from Monet's house in Giverny is the tree-lined Epte River, where Monet used to sit in a boat in the water to paint these poplars.

Part of Monet's visual vocabulary (if I'm using that term in the right context here, who knows) was light - and how light changed throughout the day and the year. Which is how Monet ending up painting series after series of the same subjects - haystacks, Venice, London, Rouen, water lilies, these poplars - so that he could capture the many shades of light.

I picked this magnet today, because yesterday, I saw two movies that couldn't be more different - the tv movie Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage and the blockbuster Avatar.

Christmas Cottage with Supernatural's Jared Padalecki oddly paired with screen greats Marcia Gay Harden and Peter O'Toole was an unabashedly tearjerky biopic about one particularly formative Christmas that "Painter of Light" Thomas Kinkade spent with his family and friends. I won't lie, the only reason I tuned in because it was cuteboy J-Pad in a dramatic role I've never seen him in. (I think we can agree that you really can't count Gilmore Girls or Supernatural as dramatic fodder.)

But, the movie tried too hard to gain an emotional response from me, and I found myself spending much of the time waiting for Peter or Marcia to show up on screen. But it was the final scenes where Peter O'Toole's character was going on and on about his last painting, and how you muuuuust paaaaaint the liiiiight pretty much reminded me of Monet.

It's the nature theme of these poplars reminds me of James Cameron's Avatar (in 3D at AMC Empire 25's FauxMAX theatre), which I was also pretty meh about.

Oh, don't get me wrong, Sam Worthington was hot, knobby-knees and all. And, in the end, the Smurf people weren't as annoying as I was thinking they would be. And, the movie itself was gorgeous - and if you stop for a second to actually watch all the background plates and the CG work and SFX and the fact that it was a completely made-up world, you'd just be amazed at the sheer magnitude of the effort. There were a few callbacks to Titanic for me - some triumphant King of the World moments, a couple "I'll never let go" moments, oh, and a giant catastrophic event or two as well.

But overall, I kept getting pulled out of the movie by the Cameron soapbox - how society (America) has a way of killing off indigenous peoples and how humankind can't stop itself from destroying Mother Planet. In fact, it felt very much like his directors cut of The Abyss (which of course I loved), where the aliens just wanted us to save ourselves from ourselves.

In the end, I'll admit that as much as I was wary of his "we're all connected" theme, I guess I can't disagree with his soapbox...

...or the $73 million he made during opening weekend.

eta:
I try and put capture my own thoughts on movies/tv shows before I read any reviews or talk to anyone else about their opinions. Having just talked to the guy who peer pressured me into thinking there was no way I could *not* see Avatar opening weekend...

I really cannot believe that I missed that the overall story was just basically the story of Pocahontas. Huh. Right down to the Colors of the Wind and the talking trees!

Tear down that wall!

Magnet #573 - Isaakievsky Sobor (St. Isaac's Cathedral), St. Petersburg, Russia

Like I said, yay for theme week!

Today's city is Saint Petersburg, Russia. This is one of those places that I've always wanted to visit - especially during the great Monet search. I was convinced the Hermitage must have had it, a leftover spoils of whichever wars.

I've always been interested in going to Russia, but never made it over. Is it odd that some of it stems from being part of the cold war generation? It sounds a little xenophobic, I know, but you have to remember, I was an impressionable eight/nine years old when people were literally shouting their rhetoric on television.

In fact, I distinctly remember in second grade our Weekly Readers had a picture of Soviets in Afghanistan. Looking back, I really wonder if that's a false memory, because man, if that was what they were showing second graders back then, what *must* they be showing them now. But, I do remember stories of the $50 Levis, and how cold Russia was (or maybe I just thought that cuz it was called the Cold War?), and how supplies were scarce and people were scared over there. Helloooo, propaganda!

I would totally go now, but will probably have to wait a few more years before getting up the scratch to visit. The funny part, is that I do remember it being a huge deal when one of my classmates going to visit. He's not the one that brought back this magnet. This one comes from another friend who went to visit in the last few years.

Here's what I love about magnets. Wherever you go around the world - whatever of the magnetblog links (over to the right) that you click on - magnets are generally made out of the same materials. Resin, rubber, plastic, metal, etc. And mostly with the same designs. I love that these kinds of magnets exist a world away.

This magnet, from what I can gather is of the Isaakevsky Sobor (St. Isaac's Cathedral). I read somewhere that at the time it was built, it was the largest church in Russia, and even now, it's something like 3rd largest domed church in the world. It's pretty massive - the base alone took five years to build! And from the pictures, it's gorgeous inside as well.

I love that Nicholas I supposed rejected proposals to build actual ports for his people, saying they needed it for this Cathedral. Of course, now it's a state museum, which they deemed ok, because now it serves not only their religious souls, but their social ones, as well. Though, check out the link on the side that says, "History of Creation." Hee. Nah, they just mean creation of the church. Heh.

Anyway, pretty cool, huh. It's kinda awesome how mankind shares a common thread, needing to build massive places of worship for whatever god they're worshipping. But, I guess that's another magnet altogether.

Modern isn't boring

Magnet #527 - Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, 1884

Yay, I finally got to visit the Art Institute of Chicago!!

I loved every minute of it - even when we got lost and had to pass the same little elephant statue in the Asian art gallery four times. There was entirely too much to see in one day, let alone half a day. Though, detours and funny layouts made for a heck of a lot of walking around!

After reading so much about Renzo Piano's new Modern Wing, I was happy for the chance to check it out myself - yes, there's a separate magnet for that.

Dudes - most of what we saw today, I haven't seen in person - from Hockey's Collectors and Ruscha's City to Motley's Nightlife to architectural drawings by Louis H. Sullivan and Louis I. Kahn and Mies van der Rohe, and remants of reliefs and doors and windows saved or scavenged from various buildings around town. Good gravy, I could spend days there.

The AIC had a few Monet magnets that I've blogged on - the Artist's house at Argenteuil, and of course, different versions of his haystacks, and his Japanese footbridge at Giverny. But, they also had an extraordinary number of his paintings that I've never seen - ever. Which is just fantastic, if you've scoured the eastern hemisphere for all the magnets Monets you can possibly see.

The AIC collection also includes the final Sunday on La Grande Jatte that was submitted for the 1886 Impressionists Exhibition. I actually bought this magnet in NYC, because I've been visiting the piece at the Met for years. Of course, now I have to go read the back of the magnet, or pop on by the Met to verify, but, from what I can tell, the Met has one of the 50 studies he did for that final piece. Who knew?

Honestly, while I'm glad to have seen it here in town, I'm slightly annoyed that what we have at the Met is a study. (But then again, I also have issues with all the various Monet haystacks and lillies running around this giant Earth.)

Anyway, I've uploaded the unedited, somewhat haphazard (for now) FB album for the AIC and the supercool Millennium Park, sans any real captions yet.

Enjoy. Then, get your bums to the AIC and have a looksee for yourself. You won't be sorry.

Argenteuil in Chicago

Magnet #506 - Monet's The Artist's House at Argenteuil, 1873

Someone sent this in the mail to me, as a magnetic card!

The house in this painting is one that Monet rented in Argenteuil - that's Camille in the doorway, and his kid Jean, with the little hoop. And, there in the front, are giant blue and white planters that they bought in Holland. Supposedly, this is where Monet discovered his green thumb.

I haven't yet seen this painting, but soon, maybe. It's in the Art Institute of Chicago's collection.

I'm anxious to go visit the AIC, because of their new Modern Wing. It's a Renzo Piano building, and it's had some mixed reviews, though mostly positive. For $283 million, it's probably going to be one of the last of the great art museum additions for a while.

But, it does look supercool, no?

Salon du Joie

Magnet #261 - Monet's (one of many) Haystacks

Keeping up the Impressionists weekend theme.

I mentioned yesterday that I was finishing up the BBC's The Impressionists miniseries, and, funny-haired Richard Armitage or not, it totally made me want to see these works of art in person. It's amazing to go from room to room seeing painting after painting, and I know I'm incredibly lucky to be able to drop everything and run into the Met on a whim.

So, just like the boys had their own Salons to exhibit in, I give you a few of the results of my visit. (plus a couple out of school, but I like them anyway).

On Picasa
As a supercute France-related Photobucket slideshow

And a list of the paintings I included - you can find most of them on the Met's Works of Art Database.

Renoir: Tilla Durieux
Renoir: By the Seashore
Monet: Footbridge over Water Lillies
Cezanne Mont-Sainte-Victoire
Cezanne: Dish of Apples
Cezanne: Still Life with Apples and Pot of Primose
Cezanne: Seated Peasant
Monet: Houses of Parliament on a Foggy Morning
Monet: The Seine at Vétheuil
Cezanne: The Card Players
Cezanne: Madame Cezanne in Red Dress
Monet: The Manneporte (Étretat)
Cezanne: Bathers
Monet: Garden at Sainte-Adresse
Monet: Morning on the Seine at Giverny
Van Gogh: Olive Orchard
Manet: Boaters
Monet: Haystacks
Constable: Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop's Grounds
Degas: Dance Class
Monet: La Grenouillère
Cezanne: Mont-Sainte-Victoire and the Viaduct along the Arc River Valley
Manet: Monet Family in the Garden
Turner: Venice
Matisse: Nasturtiums with Painting "Dance"

Shades of Monet

Magnet #260 - Monet's Japanese Footbridge...again

Yes, yes, I know. But, I have so many Monet magnets, I need to start sprinkling more often. I've been lax about my Kings and Queens of England series, as well.

Anyway, picked Monet's Japanese Footbridge, because I'm watching the last half of The Impressionists, the BBC movie about Monet and all his pals. It's so interesting to watch, the interplay between the artists, the background on famous works of art (which you guys know I love to see), and to see the lives that these men led.

The one thing that I learned about this enclave, was the explanation on why they often had the same, or similar subjects in the same locations. It never dawned on me that it was because they were traveling together, stopping to paint various scenes around the countryside.

Yeah, I know, that was probably Impressionists 101. I guess if I'm so interested in art, I should just take some sort of Art History survey course. Hmmm, maybe. For now, it's fun to learn via movies and docus, and books, and visiting the actual works of art...with the little audio guides. Always the audio guides.

But getting back to The Impressionists, it's also fun to see Richard Armitage playing Monet, but with really funny hair. Nah, I'm just sayin' that to poke my sister. Heh. But no. Richard really does have really funny hair in it.

eta:
Eeeep. And now there's a funny goatee! Hee.

Hmmm, I think a leisurely walk over to the Met might be the order of the day today.

Monet and Go Seek

Magnets #187a-l - Mini Monets

We all know by now that I'm a Monet fan. So much so, that Monet has his own little magnetboard exhibit at home. Here's my own little Monet mosaic, I suppose.

Many years ago, on a roadtrip out to Newport, RI, a friend and I did the Cliff Walk, and she took this picture of me. Ever since, it's been my most favoritest picture of me - ever. It's basically me, against the world.

Anyway, if you look at the second magnet in from the left on the bottom row, you'll see my most favoritest Monet - ever. It's Rocks at Pourville, Low Tide, 1882.

The two images look a little alike - the hazy little person at the center, and the waves crashing against the cliffy rocks. And I love the bluesy-purply color palette, not often found in Monet's work.

And so began my quest to see the painting in person. I had first seen this as part of an Impressionists screensaver, back when people were still downloading fun screensavers. (Remember Flying Toast?) I tried researching everywhere, contacting curators about it, and every so often, doing a generic Google search.

On a couple of leads, I had almost booked tickets to Birmingham, AL, and Maine to visit their art museums. Then, I became obsessed with what if it was in the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. But to no avail.

After a while, my search lessened, and I happened to mention my silly Quest for the Monet Grail on a message board...and within minutes, a friend of mine was like, "Ummm, I just saw that painting a couple of months ago at the Rochester Museum of Art."

This whole time, the painting's been in my backyard!

And, so, off I went.

Et Voila!

Give the man some knowledge...

Magnet #137 - Japanese Footbridge

I mentioned yesterday that if you'll look at the pretty-pretty picture of Monet's water garden, you'll see the Japanese footbridge waaaaay in the back.

And here it is!

What? I can't help it, I loves me some Monet. I was thinking of making this week Monet week, but, as I was visiting my art gallery (on my fridge door, remember), I sort of realized that I could have a Monet month. So, consider yourselves spared.

Which is what my dad was hoping for during our time in Paris, a bit of a reprieve from the daily grind of Musee du this, Musee d'that. And everywhere we went, there was more Monet. After our Giverny trip, he was all studied up on Monet, having been on the tour and everything. And, he learned, that Monet had a degenerative eye disease, just as Goldengait mentioned yesterday.

So, there my parents and I were sitting (my dad has a homing beacon for benches of all sorts) in the middle of the Musee Marmottan, surrounded by walls and walls of Monet. And we're surrounded by quiet conversation of the other visitors.

And all of a sudden, through the quiet, you hear my dad: "You know, he's not very good. He only painted this way because he was blind."

Sigh.

Impressions of Monet

Magnet #136 - Giverny, France

If the picture in the magnet to the left looks familiar, it very well should.

It's Monet's water garden, which Monet had custom-designed, after he purchased the land across the railway from his home in Giverny, France. If you look superclose, you can see the Japanese bridge far in the background, and in the foreground, you can see the clouds reflected in the water, among the water lilies that he was so fond of painting.

My parents and I did a side trip to Giverny...my father was glad for a day not spent in yet another museum, and my mother was entranced by the gorgeous gardens. Our train trip started from Gare Saint-Lazare in Paris - the subject of another Monet painting, and it ended in the sweet, sleepy little village of Giverny. Then on to Monet's house for the tour (of course) of the house and the gardens.

I have to say, there was something truly special about being in the very place of several of Monet's masterpieces. It was like seeing all of his impressions come to life as we walked where he walked, sat where he sat, and took pictures of what he painted.

We enjoyed ourselves so much, that we almost missed our train ride back to Paris that evening. Seriously. We hurriedly walked all the way back to the station, and I was so worried that we'd end up having to stay out in Giverny, without anything but the clothes on our backs, and speaking un peu Francais.

I was busily bargaining with every higher being I could think of, while my parents were totally cool about it, just being merry, la-di-dah travelers, having put all of their faith into me just getting the job done and us back to Paris.

Oh, it turned out just fine, but man, it's hard work being in travelcharge!

eta:
Having hit the Publish Post button and seeing this magnet in my blog layout, I have one thing to say: Oh, how pretty! Blue and green!

Hee. It's just so lovely that I had to say it. Forgive me, it's my favorite color combination in the entire world.

Sticky fingers

Magnet #26 - Monet, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Monet and I are likethis.

So, when I saw this magnet one Saturday afternoon during a break at a Cary Grant marathon at the Met, I knew it had to be mine.

I mean. Look at it! It's like the trifecta of win!

1. It's Monet.
2. It's blue.
3. The piece de resistance - there's a Monet quote at the bottom that you can slightly see: "Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment."

Come on, people - the thing had my name on it! Oh! And, it was on 50% OFF! Hel-lo!

But it was the only Monet on display. There were tons of Gauguins and (I think) Degas, but only one Monet. OMG! What to do!

And so the quest began. Start the clock - I had 25 minutes before the next movie started, and I knew I'd have to fight the old ladies of the upper east side for good seats to see Cary.

I asked the young sales clerk to look in the back. He looked. Nada. "But maybe you can try in the main store downstairs."

So I walk quickly from one end of the Met to the other end, ignoring the masterpieces and brushing past their wandering admirers. I stop at not one, but two other kiosks and a smaller store on the way. I inquire at the smaller store. "No. Check the main store?"

I get to the main store, where I proceed to stalk the entire magnet section (I know! They have a magnet section!). Again with the Gauguins and the Degas? What up with that, why were there like 30 each of those, and none of my Monet? Grrrr. So I ask. They look. "No. But maybe one of the other stores/kiosks?"

I walk across the hall to another small store - even though it was Egyptian-themed, still I asked. "Uh. No. Did you try the main store?"

So I run back across from that end of the Met, back to my young sales clerk. And I proceed to wheedle him into letting me buy it - and say that I'll even buy a red Gauguin, just to make him feel better.

He looks surreptitiously around for his manager, and success! He takes down the Monet, pulls out a small bag. I hand him a 5-spot, and he proceeds to not take it and drops the Monet into the bag, and shoves the tiny bag into my hand. You could almost see him thinking, please, God, just leave already, lady!

Little guy at the Met - thanks so much!

Although, I have to say, I didn't have a receipt, and I was SO afraid I was gonna get nicked for shoplifting! I was already playing out NYPD interrogation scenes in my head. But, whatever guilt I felt was certainly assuaged by the piles of Met crap I ended up buying at the end of the day.

Oh. And, in case you were wondering, yes. I made it to the movie, and no little old ladies were hurt in the process.