Our long planned summer holiday became a retreat from the turmoil of hatred and anger flooding the news. In five days we traveled to six art galleries in Western Massachusetts. We deliberately drove the back roads, immersing ourselves in rolling hills, farmsteads, streams and wildflowers. We noted “Thickly Populated” signs announcing upcoming small towns.
Our first stop was the Mass MOCA located in rehabbed 19th century factory buildings. Football field-sized Building 5 houses Nick Cave’s Until installation. 16,000 spinners hang from ceiling to floor. Walking through them was magical. Sol Lewitt’s colorful graphic walls made us smile. Most fun, was the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Art. Squealing children were right at home in this cheerful place. We laughed in delight to see The Very Hungry Caterpillar original art work. We walked in quiet contemplation through the Museum of Russian Icons. Beautiful paintings from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. In hushed amazement we realized, none of this exquisite art is signed – the anonymity of artists intent on reverence rather than aggrandizement of self. Our last day, we wandered the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, enjoying the juxtaposition of natural beauty and the possibilities of humankind’s creative genius.
waters glisten, shine
fish flicker at the surface
nature’s palette divine
It’s Haibun Monday at dVerse, the virtual pub for poets. Toni asks us to write about a summer vacation, either recent or past. Haibun: 2 or 3 tight paragraphs that cannot be fiction, followed by a haiku that must have a nature theme. Pub opens at 3 PM Boston time.
We visited Western Mass. last week. Origins of the artwork pictured above are all mentioned in the haibun except for the last photo which is the sculpture Humming by Jaume Plensa. Locations: Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art is in North Adams; Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is in Amherst; Museum of Russian Icons is in Clinton; deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park is in Lincoln. We also visited the Clark Art Institute and Williams College Museum of Art in Williamstown — both were exceptional as well.
lillian the home poet 
What a wonderful way of getting out of touch with the news… art has a wonderful way of seeing more in the reality I think. Love the thought of unsigned art
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Thank you, Bjorn. It was a wonderful respite 🙂
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What a fine trip you had! I especially love the photo of the sculpture – Humming. LOL, I ignore the news so my husband says I am on a permanent vacation. I don’t mind. I always love hearing your stories of your travels.
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It truly was a special trip. Just goes to show you don’t have to wander far from home to have new experiences! 🙂
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What a great getaway, Lillian! An escape through the art and nature of Massachusetts. And such a variety of art – Erica Carle and his caterpillar looks fun and those stunning Russian icons!
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It was truly relaxing and fun. From Picasso to Eric Carle and lots in between. Glorious to immerse ourselves in art and block out the news. 🙂
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🙂
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What a treat to see all these different art forms and I love the idea that icons are unsigned out of reverence and devotion. Your haiku is beautiful, especially ‘nature’s palette divine’ :o) xxx
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Thank you! So glad you enjoyed. It was a wonderful experience to do an “art” vacation! 🙂
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:o) xxx
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I remember taking drives in Door County, Wisconsin, and stopping at the various art galleries or shops along the way. The back roads were best.
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I so agree! 🙂
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What a wonderful way to forget all the horrible news, and just immerse oneself in the beautiful work of artists and tour the backroads of towns~ Love the museums and photos Lillian ~
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I’m ready to return again! It was delightful. 🙂
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My favorite book, and one of the first I learned to read in braille, was “Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” by Eric Carle. Though I couldn’t see the pictures, that was a book I could actually share wih my classmates. It had a big impact on me. Thanks for sharing your vacation!
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We saw the original artwork for Brown Bear. And, in a movie about Eric Carle that we saw there, we learned that the author of the Brown Bear text could not read until he was in his 20s and learned to read with this type of rhyming. If is a wonderful museum to visit, no matter what age you are! 🙂
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‘enjoying the juxtaposition of natural beauty and the possibilities of humankind’s creative genius.’
Sounds so removed from the daily turmoil. A vacation I would love! Thanks for the lovely photos that accompanied it.
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A was a wonderful 5 day road trip! 🙂 Totally relaxing and inspiring at the same time.
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Wow, what a great time, and you got some great pics too. That’s a wonderful way to escape the modern turmoil of our land. That’s got to be the Great Escape!
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It was indeed. It’s funny — there are often many wonderful places to visit that are quite close by. 🙂 A few weeks ago we took the T (subway) out to Quincy and visited the national parks’ run John Adams and John Quincy Adams estates…..very very informative and quite interesting to see! We’d lived her 20 years and never been.
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Sounds like a blast
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My kind of vacation! I showed my 9 year old son the “spinner” exhibit. He LOVED it. I love driving through the small towns – the cafes, little shops. As much as I like the quickness of the highways, I remember childhood vacations and I’m not so sure we are better off…
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I so agree. It is wonderful to drive through small towns and the more rural countryside. 🙂 Glad your son enjoyed the video. It was truly an amazing art installation. Last day at Mass MOCA is Labor Day. My understanding is that it will go to Australia next!
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Your photos are divine; especially liked the video. A wonderful rocking of the prompt & recipe for rejuvenation. We used to rent a cottage at the ocean, with no TV or phone, take long walks on the beach, nap in a hammock, & read a good book–but noe we take along our iPad, iPhone, and stay connected to chaos; sad smile.
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Thanks, Glenn. My dad used to LOVE his car — it was his mansion so to speak — not that it was a brand new or glamorous car at all. He always bought used or demo model Buicks. But his delight was to take a Sunday drive with me and my mom. He would drive for miles…just meandering back roads — Illinois into Wisconsin. He’d always find a place to stop for a cup of coffee and a piece of pie 🙂
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Thank you for taking us along on your escape, even if only for a moment! Love your stories.
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Glad you enjoyed! I suspect that you and TJ would be able to write some good stories what with your RV travels! 🙂
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Unfortunately we have not been able to do any traveling this summer due to TJ’s illnesses. I still hope to spin our wheels to the east this fall but TJ is still not well. ❤
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Lillian, your comment on my blog got bounced off. I am glad you enjoyed my vacation woe story.
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That’s wierd…wonder why it was bounced? I did enjoy your story! 🙂
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Brava.. 🥀🥀🥀
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Thank you!
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That sounds like a wonderful five days.
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