Professor Hippenstiel
Art 1301 Section 5017
October 19, 2011
The Menil Experience As I’m walking on the side walk looking at this calm and peaceful neighborhood I’m falling in love with all the beautiful trees and the serenity of the environment. As I come closer to the Menil I notice how tall it is for a one story building. It’s a simple building but the treasures inside awaits my curious eyes and soul of the arts. I notice the brass inlays and the unique designs upon the green lawn, I so wished there was water to fill it to get another prospective on the art but I continue on my way in.
The next piece of art I notice was just to the left of me as I came 25 feet to the door. It looked as though it was a large stone created and hung by cables, it moved ever so slightly with the breeze, and hung over the sponsors of the Menil. I looked around for information on this piece but didn’t see any. I started my journey walking to the right then into the very first room to the right. As I continued my on my way I came across Pablo Picasso’s Head of Woman 1943 and Woman in a Red Armchair 1929. As a child in elementary I remembered learning about him and being so curious in his work, how different he was compared to the norm. As I stood in front of each other these paintings I questioned what is art? I too could create something so similar however it would be only be after being inspired by his work. To whom does he give credit to for being so imaginative and willingness to be different and out of the ordinary? This is how he became PICSSO! The first painting I came across that I instantly feel in love with was Yves Tanguy’s Neither Legends nor Figures 1930 oil on canvas. The teal blues and parts of grey drew me in, the unique shapes and floating objects made me wonder what she was trying to capture but overall it was the blues of the sky that had me intrigued. My next heart racing experience was the Witnesses to a Surrealist Vision, the first