museum | Apothecary Shed

Roseslottet, Oslo

April 23, 2024

gem art, nature, trees, who knows antifa, art, democracy, museum, Norway, oslo, painting, rose castle, roseslottet, travel, world war ii 1 Comment

The “Rose Castle” art installation is a temporary exhibit at the top of the ridge overlooking Oslo. It’s dedicated to democracy and anti-fascism as understood through remembering the Norwegian freedom fighters of WWII.

The installation itself is both deeply moving, profound, and kitchy all at the same time. It’s clear that the artists are from a different time where the pace is slower, the thinking is deeper and the design language doesn’t cater to instagram.

There has been some debate about whether to make the monument permanent. the latest scuttlebutt us that it will be removed in 2025.

I’m really glad I went, for a number of reasons, but I also think moving the installation to a more permanent home not in nature would be best.

A Quick Tate

November 6, 2023

gem art, museum, travel art, art museum, london, museum, Tate modern 1 Comment

Heading to the Tate Modern after landing in London has become quite the tradition. This was a quick hit through the regular collection.

A view from the terrace at the top: London caged.

Yayoi was unavailable (advance tickets required) so see this entry instead.

The Kreeger: Washington DC Jewel

March 9, 2023

gem art, photography art, art museum, chagall, kandinsky, kreeger, mondrian, monet, museum, romey, sculpture, washington, washington dc Leave a comment

On a windy but very clear crisp Spring day, we visited the Kreeger—a small but excellent collection in an interesting architectural space. Chagall, Monet, Picasso, Kandinsky (though the wrong periods), and some very interesting Mondrian are among the finds. What a stunning place to have lived. Must be nice to be an insurance plutocrat!

Ghost Romey in the jungle.

Romey’s favorite, this Picasso woman.

The architecture is 1960’s modern, but still very tasteful and beautiful.

The light on Piet.

Outside was chilly but likewise very well structured.

A series of “wrong” Kandinsky. Late and early, but no just right. Where is Goldilocks when you need her?

This gallery has the feeling of a japanese dojo.

The wind was perfect.

Still.

Motion.

The Kreeger efinitely well worth a visit.

Picasso and Ramen in Barcelona

July 28, 2022

gem art, photography art, art museum, barcelona, fine art, gem, into the unkown, museum, picasso, ramen, romey Leave a comment

The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is an institution and is worth a quick visit. But if you have been looking at Picasso for years, you won’t find much in the way of major works. In any case, Barcelona is proud of what it has come to think of as its home town boy. Lots of early work.

Lots. Like an entire wall’s worth.

Set in four connected villas, the museum has amassed a very deep (but not very wide) collection.

This blue.

Avant guard in Paris with the Russian ballet. Picasso was blending fine art, music, and dance in 1909. (And here we thought we were onto something with Into the Unknown.)

After so much Picasso, Ramen is the answer.

All’s Well at the Whitney Biennial

April 17, 2022

gem art, photography art museum, bill and lisa, gem, museum, NY, nyc, romey, whitney, Whitney Biennial, Whitney museum 1 Comment

What do you do when you’re in NYC with friends just for fun? Well, for one thing you go to the Whitney Biennial (which you get to by walking down the High Line…but that’s another story). The Whitney has become my favorite museum in the city. The Biennial was interesting, but not really much more interesting than the usual stuff on display at the Whitney. Of course, the usual stuff is usually great.

The top floor of the Biennial is downright anxiety inducing.