My refuge during rainy days… museums.
It has been raining here on the east coast and will continue to rain until the weekend. Normally during rainy days like these, I usually go to Museums. There are several around the area that would astound you with varied collections from different artists around the globe. But East Coast cities and West Coast cities are not the only places where you can find great artwork collections. You can travel as far as Orange, Texas to find the Stark Museum of Art. One of the most impressive museums in the country, they boast of their wide range collection that includes Western Art, American Indian Art, Rare Books and Manuscripts to name a few.
The Stark Museum of Art is an establishment located in the City of Orange, Texas. Located on the Texas Gulf Coast, this two-story facility contains an extensive collection of artwork, with a great focus on American Western art and artifacts. The Stark Museum was founded by the Nelda C. and H. J. Lutcher Stark Foundation.
The museum grounds cover an entire city block, and the building itself houses almost 15,000 square feet of exhibition space. [1] This museum has an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures, which features, but is not limited to, the contributions of artists such as the following:
* John Young-Hunter (1874-1955)
* H. S. “Andy” Anderson (Wood Carving Sculptor)
* Paul Kane (September 3, 1810 - February 20, 1871)
* Albert Bierstadt (1830-1902)
* Thomas Moran (February 12, 1837 - August 25, 1926)
* Louis Prang (1824-1909)
* William Herbert Dunton
* Buck McCain
* Alexandre Hogue (1898-1994)
* Walter Ufer (1876-1936)
* Frederic Remington (October 4, 1861 - December 26, 1909)
* Charles M. Russell (1864 - 1926)
* James Earle Fraser (November 4, 1876 - October 11, 1953)
* William Robinson Leigh (1866-1955)
* John James Audubon (1785-1851)
This facility has a collection of life-like porcelain models of birds crafted by artists such as English designer Dorothy Doughty and American artist Edward Marshall Boehm. Also notable, this museum also houses the only complete set of bowls known as The United States in Crystal, which was made by Steuben Glass Works. Each bowl in this remarkable set is engraved with a scene to represent each one of the 50 states’ history. They also have a huge collection of Native American Craftwork, Navajo rugs and blankets, and Pueblo pottery. Featured artwork by Maria Martinez reveals the skills of Native American Artist. Even if you are not an art person I think you will find that these are interesting.
