Friday, July 6, 2018

Friday Smiles 279: WAM (Wichita Art Museum)


If you saw my monthly calendar, you noticed I planned to visit the Wichita Art Museum on the 30th of June.    I also promised I would show photos on Annie's Friday Smiles.

As promised, Sally and I went to WAM.   

We stopped to take photos of the Chihuly hanging glass sculpture before heading to the restaurant, where we ate.   I'll show that experience in a T Tuesday post soon.

Another Chihuly beauty is the Chihuly Bridge, which you can walk on (once you remove your shoes).

The pieces hang between the first (or as my dear friend Sami would say, the ground) floor and the second floor.

I have no idea why this area wouldn't focus, but this was the best of all the ones I got of this area.

I'll let you peruse these and enjoy their beauty.






Quite a sight to behold if you've never seen his glass flowers before.  Pretty impressive if you have!

As we walked into the next area, which mostly displays loaned pieces, I immediately told Sally I was sure it was a Phil Epp.  Those who were here for the Coutts Museum visit will remember him and those who are LONG time visitors will remember I took you to another town to see his incredible tiled sculpture.

Sure enough, it was a Phil Epp.

But the only thing Sally came to see was the collection that was on loan to the museum.  She had read about it in the newspaper and wanted to see it.

We received this handout.  I was surprised that we would be allowed to take photos in this gallery.

This was the signature piece by Surgent that was used in the handout.  We'll see the original soon.  What surprised me was I never saw the cameo portraiture glass, only that which was made by Surgent.

It began with a grouping of five small works

then turned into Surgent's larger pieces.  Please peruse at your own pace.



You can tell this one fascinated me.




Science and art collide to make gorgeous glass.




This and the next two images below are the ones shown in the brochure.









And as quickly as the day began, it was over.  With full tummies and lots of photos and memories of this beautiful glass, we left the museum, in hope of seeing it again before the exhibit closes in September.  And of course, I hope these gorgeous art works put a smile on your face, as they did mine.

Thanks for joining me today and thanks for your continued visits and support.  Now let's visit Annie's Friday Smiles, where it never hurts to begin the weekend with a big smile, just like Annie's. Feel free to join in with a post of your own, too.

25 thoughtful remarks:

Valerie-Jael said...

Looks like a great day out. I like the colourful glass the best.Thanks for sharing. Enjoy your day, Valerie

Helen said...

I am a big fan of Chihuly and the bridge is just fabulous.

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

So glad I managed to see this post before heading out Elizabeth, really enjoyed looking at my own pace. What amazing art within glass, even with my shoes off I would be too scared to walk over it.
Those etched pieces have so much movement within them, what an amazing artist.
Thank you so much for sharing your time at the museum with us.
Off to do my daily care duties now keeping my fingers crossed this will post as my laptop screen is flashing disco lights again.
Creative wishes Tracey xx

Annie said...

What an amazing exhibition. I have to say the coloured glass flowers really won my heart....just stunning. Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
Hugs,
Annie x

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Oh my, I would love to visit this place and the glass sculpture is just amazing but scary. Back later for a better look. Happy Friday, Angela xXx

kaybee said...

Fabulous glass pieces, I love Chihuly too! I also love that Phil Epp artwork.

RO said...

You always do such fun things Elizabeth, and I love, love, love that glass sculpture. It's so colorful and fun. I wonder how long it took to do something like that? Hugs and Happy Friday! RO

Mia said...

I am glad you had such a great day, Elizabeth. Thank you for sharing these beautiful photos from the museum. Hugs, my friend.

Lisca said...

What an amazing day out at the glass museum. I love those colourful pieces! The walkway is amazing!
Phil Epp is great too. I must have seen your previous post on him but it escapes my memory. I like this painting very much.
Have a good weekend,
Lisca

My name is Erika. said...

That art glass is amazing. Lots of it makes me feel cool on this new hot day. :) I love seeing the end of winter-mainly because it isn't the end of winter. And I really like the Phil Epp too. That is an amazing painting. And a glass bridge to walk on-that is a cool piece of Chihuly art for sure. I have never seen anything like that-or those glass tiles either. Happy weekend. Hugs-Erika

froebelsternchen said...

I simply LOVE the exhibits your share from WAM!
Gorgeous! I would enjoy a visit there - fantastic!

Hugs, Susi

CJ Kennedy said...

The glass art is beautiful. The glass bridge amazing. Reminds me of the Rainbow Bridge that is the entrance to Asgard according to the Marvel Universe

Nancy said...

Oh, if there is one thing I love, love, love, it's Chihuly glass! Lovely. And the exhibit is very interesting. Nice day out for you both.

Jeanie said...

Wow. I love everything you shared here. Every single photo. The photography is so striking and the Chihuly -- gorgeous and beautifully magical between the floors. I love the Phil Epp too. What a great day, great time!

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

What a great museum. I loved the glass sculptures, but the photography was wonderful, too. (My husband would have enjoyed that especially: He's a "serious amateur — his words — and works in black and white.

da tabbies o trout towne said...

thanx for the share Elizabeth; what awesome pieces by everyone !! ☺☺♥♥

Meggymay said...

The glass exhibition looks awesome. I would have loved to see the glass walkway with the flowers for real, your photos looked great.
I'll keep the secret from Bleubeard that you liked the dog in my post.

Yvonne xx

Divers and Sundry said...

There was a Chihuly exhibition here years ago, and I still remember the pieces I saw. Stunning! I love the tile works, too. I've not seen anything quite like that.

I love my virtual visits to your sites. Thanks for taking me along :)

Rita said...

I especially love the glass sculpture and bridge. :)

kathyinozarks said...

I loved everything in the museum but I really loved all the glass sculptures-amazing

Let's Art Journal said...

Wow, what a stunning exhibition! I love the colourful glass sculpture, it must have been amazing to see up close 😁. The Phil Epp canvas is wonderful, thanks for highlighting his work - I love it! The Cameo Glass must have been mesmerising,I can see why time flew by when you visited this museum as I've spent quite a lot of time looking at each piece ...lol 😉. I hope you had a lovely week and enjoy your weekend! J 😊 x

pearshapedcrafting said...

Can't wait to get home and see these on the big screen! Chrisx

Jackie PN said...

Wow some impressive tiled glass by April! I do love the self portrait she did!

And Chihuly, what can I say??? I We were fortunate to visit the exhibit in Seattle with my son a few years back. Amazing! Absolutely amazing!
What is this you say? A glass bridge you were able to walk on? Oh my goodness- I would love to see that!
thanks so much for the share Elizabeth! I thoroughly enjoyed your post
Jackie xo

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

What a wonderful exhibit. I smiles over your line about the 1st floor vs.the ground floor. Here in Mexico, the "first" floor is the "main" floor and the next story up is the first floor and so on. Very confusing at first.

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow! Worth the second visit here E! Thank you for taking too many photos - this really does look like an amazing trip! Oh! and in the UK the floor that is at pavement level is the ground floor and then up to the next level is the first floor! Some stores/museums have basements and stately homes have cellars on anything below pavement level! Hugs, Chrisx