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Europe has long held the title as the artistic centre of the world. Amazing museums, galleries, artists and a long artistic tradition spanning centuries have all played a part in keeping the status quo. In recent years America has nudged Europe for a chance at the crown with a huge array of galleries and artists shaking up the art world. The Guggenheim and MOMA are always crowd favorites but there are more interesting and exciting options available for the artistic adventurer. A personal travel manager can explain how to see the best American art galleries with ease.
National Gallery of Art
What better setting for the National Gallery of Art than the National Mall in downtown Washington, D.C? The gallery was established privately in 1937 for the people of America with much of its collection achieved by public donation. Not only are the classical and modern galleries world class but the grounds also include an enormous and impeccable 6.1-acre sculpture garden. Travellers who are trying to figure out how to see both the European and American art scenes should make a stop into the National Gallery of Art. Masterpieces from both Europe and America are all on display, including some of the world’s most significant works of art. with many collections housed in galleries which evoke the natural origins of the artwork. Highlights for the art connoisseur include self-portraits by Rembrandt and Van Gogh, sculptures from Degas, and works from the most quintessential of American artists, Jackson Pollock. With free admission and screenings of classic films it is a gallery that should be high on the agenda for art lovers.
Museum of Art at the Rhode Island school of Design (RISD Museum)
You can’t pass up the opportunity to visit this inspiring and educational post Civil War industrial arts museum founded in historic East Providence. The RISD Museum was created in 1877 after a small amount of funding was granted from the Rhode Island School of Design to take the state of Rhode Island from an industrial hub to a design mecca. Today, the museum has made leaps and bounds with 5 buildings that hold an incredibly diverse collection of ancient, Asian and contemporary artworks. With an amazing array of historical textiles from traditional Maori cloaks to some of the most renowned fashion designers of the 20th Century including Alexander McQueen, the Museum is a must for fashion addicts. The school itself thrives in creativity with past alumni including Seth MacFarlane, who created the animated series Family Guy.
Shelburne Museum
Located on a massive 45-acre estate in Vermont, Shelburne Museum of Art and Americana demonstrates rural America as a work of art. Electra Havemeyer started off the collection in 1947 with artifacts from the 17th– 20th century ranging from paintings, toys and folk art and the largest collection of quilts in the country. Also on display are twenty-five historic structures which were relocated to the grounds from around the country including barns, a lighthouse, a jail, a covered bridge, houses and a 220-foot steamboat. With thirteen galleries, open air concerts on the green and daily early trade demonstrations it really is an interactive experience. After an art filled day you can venture to the town of Shelburne and continue your cultural experience by listening to some of the top fiddle players in the country.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
If you’re looking for a romantic, European inspired museum it can be found right in Boston’s backyard. The 15th century inspired Venetian architecture encases American art patron and philanthropist Isabella Stewart Gardner’s intimate lifetime collection. Born in 1840, Gardner was a great patron of many leading artists and authors of the time, often hosting dinner parties and concerts which scandalized the restrained, Victorian-era society in Boston. A love of travel saw her interest in foreign cultures and their artistic treasures grow along with her collection, amassing over 2,500 objects from across the globe. Her museum opened its doors in 1903, with a performance from the Boston Symphony Orchestra in a building custom designed to house her artworks, which includes a beautiful interior garden courtyard. A tip from our personal travel managers – be sure to wear your Boston Red Sox cap for discounted entry to the Museum. Isabella was a massive fan! And if your name happens to be Isabella, you could receive free entry – for life!
Find out more about America’s galleries and museums with your local, personal travel manager. Visit http://www.travelmanagers.com.au/ptm-search/
TravelManagers respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands where we work and gather, and those we visit.
