When you’re an artist, it’s important to keep adding inspiration to the memory banks. Artists since the beginning of time have looked to other artists to inspire them, and this girl is no exception to the rule. I am lucky enough to be dating another artist – and he goes to galleries and museums all the time, so he already drinks deep from the fount of inspiration – and he and I have a lot of deeply influential, art-related dates. It’s incredibly lovely and energizing and amazing.
So when Christopher told me that we might check out the first Modern Art museum in America, The Phillips, I was excited – and then he told me that they have a whole ROOM dedicated to Mark Rothko, I knew that I had to go!
Art of all sort influences me, but modern art captures my imagination and fires it into new directions like no other. Rothko is a huge influence on my color sense and his works push me to look deeper into tonalities, to explore the depth that a few seemingly simple color blocks can truly reveal. The batt pictured above was created from the influence of Rothko – deep reds and black, more tonal and full of depth than photos can capture. Just like how the actual art that inspired it is – impossible to truly grasp until it is seen in person, to experience all the layers and tones and progression throughout the work.
Christopher and I are constantly remarking to each other that most of the art we go to see is so often poorly represented by photographs. Many of the works at the Phillips are firmly in that category. There’s a fantastic, magical collection of Paul Klee‘s work, a de Kooning that made me want to cry because it was so complex and lovely, and a Van Gogh that I’ve seen in photos a million times but knocked me breathless when I saw the true colors and texture in the work in front of me. But those Rothkos…
Ochre and Red on Red… this was my favorite. The photos absolutely do not capture the pulsing depth of shades, the variance in the ochre space and how the reds differ and play against each other. I could not stop falling into this one.
My other favorite was Orange and Red on Red.
You might see a relationship here. 😉
I noted to Christopher that in the Rothko room, two walls were warm tones, two were cool. I was drawn to the warm walls, but each held beauty.
Before I wrap this up, I want to make sure to mention the Laib Wax Room.
You smell it before you see it – the sweet permeating odor of honey creeps around the corners of the room, drawing you in before you even get to the entrance. Only two people are allowed in; a single light bulb provides light and warmth, releasing the heavenly scent and allowing the visitors to take in the rippling textures and variance in wax colors. It is a unique experience, and one that I was glad to have time to really take in, especially with Christopher.
Look, I say this often, but I want to reiterate it now: GO TO MUSEUMS. GO TO GALLERIES. GO SEE ART. It is something you NEED to experience in person, and it will truly help you change your views on the world, if you allow it to.
What a perfect day.
37 Comments
xiane_3ravens
May 13, 2016 at 10:05 pmWhen you’re an artist, it’s important to keep adding inspiration to the memory banks. Artists since the beginning… https://t.co/rcMC8nyxeO
Christiane Knight
May 13, 2016 at 10:18 pmChristopher 🙂
Stephanie Brown
May 13, 2016 at 10:20 pmI’ve always loved Rothko, without having the least idea why.
Christiane Knight
May 13, 2016 at 10:22 pmYou would LOVE this museum, Stephanie.
I think artists who work strongly with color feel the Rothko pull more easily, maybe. The depth and tones are SO impressive!
Halaylah
May 13, 2016 at 10:22 pmBehind The Scenes: Big Blocks of Beautiful Color https://t.co/yOkZ9RPDUB
Nicole Diane Babcock
May 13, 2016 at 10:26 pmI NEED to see the Laib Wax Room.
Christiane Knight
May 13, 2016 at 10:27 pmomg. You DO. It was… really, words fail. It’s so simple and yet so overwhelming, such an experience!
Nicole Diane Babcock
May 13, 2016 at 10:30 pmIt seems astoundingly beautiful and transcendent. Thats going on my long lists of places I need to visit. I agree that artists need to be around art to keep their creativity flowing. There is a part of my sanity that is restored by looking at art and being around art. I want to breathe in the air and hold it in, its a feeling that i cant explain. I went to Jerome,AZ when I was visiting my family and the art there. So so much amazing local art. Its a really cool town, you would like it I think.
Christiane Knight
May 13, 2016 at 10:33 pmI think it’s essential to sort of “recharge the artistic database” by experiencing the art of others. I come away from these dates just buzzing with creative energy, and often have huge breakthroughs a few days later.
DC is FULL of amazing art, I am so lucky to be just a short ride away. But I definitely want to get to other places to experience their collections, as well!
Nicole Diane Babcock
May 13, 2016 at 10:35 pmThis was is the yard of one of the art galleries there. I loved it
Christiane Knight
May 13, 2016 at 10:36 pmWell, that’s a little oasis of loveliness, right there!
Nicole Diane Babcock
May 13, 2016 at 10:37 pmRight?! I want a yard like that some day.
Adrienne Munn
May 13, 2016 at 10:35 pmSan Francisco MOMA has recently reopened. Been a long time since I went. Need to go again.
Christiane Knight
May 13, 2016 at 10:36 pmYes! When you do, I definitely want to hear what you loved most there!
Adrienne Munn
May 13, 2016 at 10:55 pmWish it was an easier trip!
Nicole Diane Babcock
May 13, 2016 at 10:35 pmNicole Diane Babcock liked this on Facebook.
Brandon Thomas
May 13, 2016 at 10:35 pmBrandon Thomas liked this on Facebook.
Debbie Mininger Farthing
May 13, 2016 at 11:31 pmDebbie Mininger Farthing liked this on Facebook.
Carrie Meyd
May 14, 2016 at 5:43 amThat wax room sounds neat.
Christiane Knight
May 14, 2016 at 10:22 amI think you would really like it. It’s a unique sensation, being in a small chamber covered in wax! The textures and smell are really captivating.
Candy Hargett
May 14, 2016 at 10:13 amLOVE the Rothko room and the wax room. I could have stayed in the rothko room all day. I cried when I first went in.
Christiane Knight
May 14, 2016 at 10:21 amCandy, this doesn’t surprise me at ALL. I got all choked up, overwhelmed by the beauty of those pulsing colors. I actually thought of you when I was there, because the Van Gogh reminded me of your daily art posts. <3
Candy Hargett
May 14, 2016 at 10:24 amI’m a big Rothko fan… Don’t post him as much but look at his work almost daily. Klee too.
Christiane Knight
May 14, 2016 at 10:24 amYou have good taste, that’s why 🙂
Candy Hargett
May 14, 2016 at 10:25 amGlad you went to wax room.. Out of body experience.
Christiane Knight
May 14, 2016 at 10:26 amI had NO idea it existed! In fact, I knew nothing about the collection there, so it was such a joyful visit. Christopher knows how to pick the places that really speak to my soul, I swear.
Candy Hargett
May 14, 2016 at 10:27 amIf we lived closer to DC would be a regular visitor to Rothko room
Christiane Knight
May 14, 2016 at 10:30 amI think we’re going back next week, too. I want to try and take some photos, because the cards/prints they had for purchase didn’t capture the colors in a way that made me happy, and I would really like to have some reference shots for future work. Also… more time with Rothko? Oh yes.
Candy Hargett
May 14, 2016 at 10:43 amIf you capture good photos would you mind sharing? Mine were not great and the postcards weren’t even close.
Christiane Knight
May 14, 2016 at 10:46 amIf I can manage it, I definitely will share! The postcards were a terrible disappointment, they flattened out the colors so much, and the Klee ones lost all those beautiful gradients and details in the pieces I loved the most.
Candy Hargett
May 14, 2016 at 10:47 amMakes you realize the importance of seeing in person.
Christiane Knight
May 14, 2016 at 10:48 amThat’s something Christopher and I remark on over and over when we’re visiting these works – you cannot grasp them fully via photos. There is no way to properly capture the full essence.
Candy Hargett
May 14, 2016 at 10:44 amCandy Hargett liked this on Facebook.
Kristin Moran
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Carrie Meyd
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