Saturday, June 16, 2012

Motor Trip Highlights & The National Museum Of Art by Artist, NORA KASTEN


(iPhone photo)   Renoir at The National Museum of Art, Washington, DC  on  June 9, 2012

     "Today is Saturday, June 16, and my second day to be back home.  Both days I was privileged to take my walk on the Naples beach at the edge of the water and as good as the trip was  . . . .  it is even better to be back home.

       It's been over 20 years since I visited The National Museum of Art in DC and the Philadelphia
Museum of Art, along with several other museums in the Eastern states.  At the time I had been painting for only 5 or 6 years and I was in complete awe of most of the paintings.  My husband, Karl, 
would often ask me on those days what it was that I liked about such and such a painting and I couldn't 
always tell him.  After several days of museum touring, one evening Karl summed up his opinion by saying "I believe if the artist's name was Monet, Degas, Manet, Renoir or any other famous artist's name, the quality of the work was not considered.  Good, bad or mediocre . .  it was In".  I couldn't hear that then but after last week's museum visits, I believe he was right.

      It really doesn't matter what I feel or believe about the art of the past but today I am changed and I was quite disappointed with far too much of the artwork exhibited.  Contemporary artists today such as
Richard Schmid, Dan Gerhartz, David Leffel, CW Mundy and so many others are producing fabulous and excellent works of art that are a joy to view and behold.  My eyes much prefer their works.
The paintings of artists, Barbara Flowers and Joyce Norwood, are also a delight to behold."


2 comments:

Susan Roux said...

Wow you were a woman on the move! Nice to finally see a photo of Earl. It's sounds like a nice visit with his family. I bet they all thought you were darling...

Maybe someday the museums will own and display some of the great contemporary art. Their probably waiting for a donation. The cost of these pieces are high at present. You could also add Nora Kasten to your list of wonderful artists that I'd like to see in museums!

Any thoughts of painting these days???

Carol Blackburn said...

Well, welcome home Nora. Glad you and Earl had a good time in your travels. He looks like a nice man and I hope things are going great for you. Looking forward to your next painting with all of this wonderful inspiration you have around you. Hugs, Carol