Blanton Museum of Art
The Blanton Museum of Art is at the Austin campus of the University of Texas. It’s pretty impressive for an art museum, and even more so for a university art museum.
It’s in a prime location, at the end of the mall in front of the state capitol. There’s a distinctive art installation out front - it looks like a forest of giant metal mushrooms (technically, they are called “petals”). In fact, from the museum plaza, you can see the capitol dome through the petals. They provide shade and funnel rainwater into an underground chamber.
At the other end of the museum plaza is a mysterious white building - it’s called Austin and is the final work of abstract/minimalist artist Ellsworth Kelly. Inside, it felt like being in an ultra-modern, ultra-minimal church, with barrel ceilings and colorful glass “windows.” Although the artist intended it to be non-religious, we could see how it might feel spiritual. Is it a masterpiece? You decide.
We especially liked a special exhibit of woodblock prints from Japan’s Edo period (1603-1868), a peaceful and prosperous time when city life was all about having a good time - it was a pop culture known as ukiyo (floating world). Think, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, with samurais, geishas, and kabuki actors. My favorite prints were by Japanese masters Hokusai (famous for the “Great Wave off Kanagawa”) and Hiroshige.
Another special exhibit showcased the work of Anni Albers, who happened to be married to another Bauhaus artist, Josef Albers. The permanent collection included vibrant modern and contemporary works by Latin American and Black American artists. Finally, there was a special presentation of Ernie Barnes’ masterpiece The Sugar Shack, made famous by the television show Good Times. Wonderful painting.
Admission to the Blanton Museum is free to members of NARM institutions.
