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.