A Rare Treat
Flora, by John Waterhouse
I know the University isn’t strictly in the Rose Park Neighborhood, but one of the great things about our neighborhood is its proximity to just about everything, right? Three minutes by car, ten or fifteen walking, and you can be at the PARTV building (I frequently show my age by calling it the ‘new’ PARTV). On Sixth St. E, across from the fieldhouse. Even if you’re not that into art, treat yourself and make the trip. An anonymous collector has loaned a private collection of art to the University. It is on display at the Meloy Gallery until March 12…hours are Mon, Tue, Wed, Sat 12-3 and Thur, Fri 12-6. I saw a story in the paper and thought, oh, I should go…and that’s as far as I got with that. Lucky for me, a friend wanted to go so we did. So I’ve been to see this exhibition four times now, and will most certainly go again. As my daughter says, OMG.
Some of the artists we’ve all heard of…Renoir, Gauguin. Some, like John Waterhouse, were so popular in their time that we’ve probably seen reproductions of their work without actually knowing who they were. All are stars to people who know their art history. These are original works…and even if you have seen major masterpieces in person, the experience of seeing them in an intimate setting like the Meloy is like nothing you can imagine. To be inches away, with all the time you could ask for…no ropes, no glass, usually very few other people. You may use a magnifying glass if you wish…they have one for you.
After about my second or third visit, I became curious about some of the paintings, so like a good geek, I googled them. The entire collection was acquired at various auctions from 2008 through 2010. The identity of the owner is so secret I hear that only one, possibly two people at the U know who it is. The mystery adds to the whole experience, I think.
March 14th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
Nice blog! I loved that painting…in fact it was my favorite one! So lovely and peaceful & at the same time inquisitive. We barely made it to see the exhibit as we went on Saturday afternoon!