Two Saturdays, Two Museums

Over the past two weekends Frank and I visited two of our favorite local museums to view their current exhibits. Both exhibits were highly interesting and we would recommend them if you are in the area.

The Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg has a lovely collection of Art Glass on display. The exhibit, "Global + Local Studio and Contemporary Glass on Florida’s West Coast" is on display through October 14, 2012. It includes works by Dale Chihuly, William Morris, and Chuck Boux among many others. Most of us recognize the work of Dale Chihuly especially since St.  Petersburg is home of the Dale Chihuly Collection, a permanent collection on Beach Drive. I am truly amazed at the lovely works produced by these artists and the magic they can work with molten glass. 


The next exhibit was "A Hundred Years - A Hundred Chairs. Masterworks from the Vitra Design Museum" at the Tampa museum of Art which runs through September 16, 2012. While this topic may not seem exciting enough to get you out of your chair to visit, it really is a worthwhile exhibit which covers 100 years of contemporary chair design utilizing an array of materials from wood, leather, plastics, fabrics, and cardboard (yes, really). Designers include Frank Gehry, Mies Van der Rohe (of Barcelona Chair fame), Philippe Starck and others. The chairs in most cases will be recognizable and continue to be staple of contemporary design. Another exhibit well worth the time to visit. But with 100 chairs in the exhibit, there isn't one place to sit to enjoy the works. 




Barcelona Chair designed by Mies Van der Rohe (from the Internet)