I have spent a lot of time at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) recently, but been very lax about posting the photos. So today I'm sharing some photos from two different events. The first was a Connoisseurship Evening. I believe I chatted a bit about it on the most recent podcast. The event involved two curatorial tours and a sit down dinner. Very cool.
When the invitation went out for the evening, there were some extremely vague descriptions of the tours you could choose from. When RSVP-ing you had to rank your tour choices. When arriving at the museum, you were given an envelope with your tours and table number (for dinner).
The first tour I attended was billed as "Tiny Treasures." We were led into the offices of the MFA (a cool experience to be off the beaten museum goer path) and into a large conference room. We all sat around the table and then the most magical thing happened! After a brief slide show, we were handed the tiny treasures to touch and explore!! WHAT?!
It was a seriously amazing and mind blowing experience to touch all of these museum objects. They were mostly snuff boxes. Someone in the room asked the value of the pieces we were handling and the curator told us each one likely $2ok – $100k. Somebody else asked why he was letting us touch this stuff. He said that it was gold so it wouldn't tarnish from our hands.
Of course, that experience made the next one seem kind of, well, disappointing.
This little tour was all about jewelry. And once again, we were taken into a non-public museum space. (I love peeking behind the scenes.) However, we were not allowed to touch anything. In fact, the curator used gloves when she touched and moved things. It was much more of what I expected from a museum experience.
Definitely a few pieces there that I would be happy to wear!
She asked us some questions that I think are good ones to think about: What does it mean to be a connoisseur? How does one become a connoisseur?
I think of a connoisseur as someone with a great deal of deep knowledge and expertise about a particular subject or area. She challenged us to think about becoming connoisseurs in the areas that interest us. What do you already collect? What are you already interested in? Start reading and learning and gaining knowledge, even if you know nothing right now.
After all that deep thought, we attended a lovely dinner in the Koch Gallery.
Not going to lie, eating among the paintings is pretty flippin' cool! Each table had a curator seated at it. We were lucky enough to sit with Darcy Kuronen, the curator for the MFA's musical instruments. I've never been particularly interested in the MFA's musical instruments collection, but after dinner with Darcy, I'm totally intrigued. Simple proof that passion is contagious!
Speaking of passion, the other MFA event I wanted to share, was a tour of a portion of the MFA's vast Impressionism collection. Katie Hanson was our curator/guide for the evening and she loves these paintings. Her passion and depth of knowledge brought so much to our viewing of the artwork.
I love visiting museums. I try to get out to a museum a couple times a month. It's good to be exposed to art that isn't necessarily your jam. Sometimes my internet perusing is too well curated. I only see the things I want to see and not necessarily some of the stuff that I ought to see. That's also the reason to go on tours. Lots of museums offer free headsets, free tours with docents, and other great options for learning more and going deeper.
And before I go, how about a photo of me interacting with a piece of art?
I love it when the sign says, "feel free to touch."
Thanks for stopping by!
Thanks for sharing, Julie! One thing I noticed at the MFA last time I went was how CLOSE they let you get to the art. I took photos of paintings from an inch or two away from the canvas and no one objected. It really was wonderful to be able to approach the artworks so inimately. And it is a terrific collection. Love your connoisseurship experience – sounds fascinating and fun!
Thanks for sharing, Julie! One thing I noticed at the MFA last time I went was how CLOSE they let you get to the art. I took photos of paintings from an inch or two away from the canvas and no one objected. It really was wonderful to be able to approach the artworks so inimately. And it is a terrific collection. Love your connoisseurship experience – sounds fascinating and fun!
Thanks for sharing, Julie! One thing I noticed at the MFA last time I went was how CLOSE they let you get to the art. I took photos of paintings from an inch or two away from the canvas and no one objected. It really was wonderful to be able to approach the artworks so inimately. And it is a terrific collection. Love your connoisseurship experience – sounds fascinating and fun!
Thanks for sharing, Julie! One thing I noticed at the MFA last time I went was how CLOSE they let you get to the art. I took photos of paintings from an inch or two away from the canvas and no one objected. It really was wonderful to be able to approach the artworks so inimately. And it is a terrific collection. Love your connoisseurship experience – sounds fascinating and fun!
Thanks for sharing, Julie! One thing I noticed at the MFA last time I went was how CLOSE they let you get to the art. I took photos of paintings from an inch or two away from the canvas and no one objected. It really was wonderful to be able to approach the artworks so inimately. And it is a terrific collection. Love your connoisseurship experience – sounds fascinating and fun!
Thanks for sharing, Julie! One thing I noticed at the MFA last time I went was how CLOSE they let you get to the art. I took photos of paintings from an inch or two away from the canvas and no one objected. It really was wonderful to be able to approach the artworks so inimately. And it is a terrific collection. Love your connoisseurship experience – sounds fascinating and fun!
Amazing, Amazing, Amazing…….such a gift to be able to travel in and out of museums as often as you do…….You have inspired me to seek out and do the same !!
Julie, reading your blog always evokes a wonderful experience—thank you !!
Joan
Amazing, Amazing, Amazing…….such a gift to be able to travel in and out of museums as often as you do…….You have inspired me to seek out and do the same !!
Julie, reading your blog always evokes a wonderful experience—thank you !!
Joan
Amazing, Amazing, Amazing…….such a gift to be able to travel in and out of museums as often as you do…….You have inspired me to seek out and do the same !!
Julie, reading your blog always evokes a wonderful experience—thank you !!
Joan
Amazing, Amazing, Amazing…….such a gift to be able to travel in and out of museums as often as you do…….You have inspired me to seek out and do the same !!
Julie, reading your blog always evokes a wonderful experience—thank you !!
Joan
Amazing, Amazing, Amazing…….such a gift to be able to travel in and out of museums as often as you do…….You have inspired me to seek out and do the same !!
Julie, reading your blog always evokes a wonderful experience—thank you !!
Joan
Amazing, Amazing, Amazing…….such a gift to be able to travel in and out of museums as often as you do…….You have inspired me to seek out and do the same !!
Julie, reading your blog always evokes a wonderful experience—thank you !!
Joan
I so agree with what Joan said!! AMAZING! Thank you for sharing especially to those of us who live very remote from art museums. Thank you Julie for sharing your wonderfully rich and stimulating experiences with your audience!! Love it.
I so agree with what Joan said!! AMAZING! Thank you for sharing especially to those of us who live very remote from art museums. Thank you Julie for sharing your wonderfully rich and stimulating experiences with your audience!! Love it.
I so agree with what Joan said!! AMAZING! Thank you for sharing especially to those of us who live very remote from art museums. Thank you Julie for sharing your wonderfully rich and stimulating experiences with your audience!! Love it.
I so agree with what Joan said!! AMAZING! Thank you for sharing especially to those of us who live very remote from art museums. Thank you Julie for sharing your wonderfully rich and stimulating experiences with your audience!! Love it.
I so agree with what Joan said!! AMAZING! Thank you for sharing especially to those of us who live very remote from art museums. Thank you Julie for sharing your wonderfully rich and stimulating experiences with your audience!! Love it.
I so agree with what Joan said!! AMAZING! Thank you for sharing especially to those of us who live very remote from art museums. Thank you Julie for sharing your wonderfully rich and stimulating experiences with your audience!! Love it.
Hello Julie,
What a tremendous experience. I especially like the snuff boxes and the jewelry. Not to mention the paintings. I bet it was an evening of history and going back in time. I did listen to the pod cast of this and you sounded so enthusiastic and that you came away with an excitement from the experience.
I really do enjoy seeing through your eyes your visits to the museums. I feel like I am there as well.
Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful trip.
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Hello Julie,
What a tremendous experience. I especially like the snuff boxes and the jewelry. Not to mention the paintings. I bet it was an evening of history and going back in time. I did listen to the pod cast of this and you sounded so enthusiastic and that you came away with an excitement from the experience.
I really do enjoy seeing through your eyes your visits to the museums. I feel like I am there as well.
Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful trip.
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Hello Julie,
What a tremendous experience. I especially like the snuff boxes and the jewelry. Not to mention the paintings. I bet it was an evening of history and going back in time. I did listen to the pod cast of this and you sounded so enthusiastic and that you came away with an excitement from the experience.
I really do enjoy seeing through your eyes your visits to the museums. I feel like I am there as well.
Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful trip.
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Hello Julie,
What a tremendous experience. I especially like the snuff boxes and the jewelry. Not to mention the paintings. I bet it was an evening of history and going back in time. I did listen to the pod cast of this and you sounded so enthusiastic and that you came away with an excitement from the experience.
I really do enjoy seeing through your eyes your visits to the museums. I feel like I am there as well.
Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful trip.
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Hello Julie,
What a tremendous experience. I especially like the snuff boxes and the jewelry. Not to mention the paintings. I bet it was an evening of history and going back in time. I did listen to the pod cast of this and you sounded so enthusiastic and that you came away with an excitement from the experience.
I really do enjoy seeing through your eyes your visits to the museums. I feel like I am there as well.
Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful trip.
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
Hello Julie,
What a tremendous experience. I especially like the snuff boxes and the jewelry. Not to mention the paintings. I bet it was an evening of history and going back in time. I did listen to the pod cast of this and you sounded so enthusiastic and that you came away with an excitement from the experience.
I really do enjoy seeing through your eyes your visits to the museums. I feel like I am there as well.
Thank you for taking us along on this wonderful trip.
Happy Tuesday
Fawna
So cute!
So cute!
So cute!
So cute!
So cute!
So cute!
Julie, such a wonderful experience! Being allowed to hold the snuff boxes and other jewelry pieces was amazing! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Julie, such a wonderful experience! Being allowed to hold the snuff boxes and other jewelry pieces was amazing! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Julie, such a wonderful experience! Being allowed to hold the snuff boxes and other jewelry pieces was amazing! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Julie, such a wonderful experience! Being allowed to hold the snuff boxes and other jewelry pieces was amazing! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Julie, such a wonderful experience! Being allowed to hold the snuff boxes and other jewelry pieces was amazing! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
Julie, such a wonderful experience! Being allowed to hold the snuff boxes and other jewelry pieces was amazing! Thanks so much for sharing with us!
thank you so much for sharing this- I grew up in NY (spent so many days roaming around the Met) and now I live in a place with no art museums so these posts make me so happy.
thank you so much for sharing this- I grew up in NY (spent so many days roaming around the Met) and now I live in a place with no art museums so these posts make me so happy.
thank you so much for sharing this- I grew up in NY (spent so many days roaming around the Met) and now I live in a place with no art museums so these posts make me so happy.
thank you so much for sharing this- I grew up in NY (spent so many days roaming around the Met) and now I live in a place with no art museums so these posts make me so happy.
thank you so much for sharing this- I grew up in NY (spent so many days roaming around the Met) and now I live in a place with no art museums so these posts make me so happy.
thank you so much for sharing this- I grew up in NY (spent so many days roaming around the Met) and now I live in a place with no art museums so these posts make me so happy.
I am a few blog days behind, but it’s funny that you say you were never that interested in the musical instruments. After moving to Phoenix, traveling around town I would see this brown and white sign: Musical Instrument Museum. It just struck me as funny. In my mind I pictured this old house with a clarinet and a saxophone! WRONG! The MIM (as it is known) is considered one of the top museums in the US. The place is huge and was fascinating. Many, maybe most, of the instruments are hand made. They are from all over the world, from many different cultures. I’ve been once and I really want to go again. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Phoenix — maybe you and your mom at next year’s CHA! It is a different type of an artistic experience.
I am a few blog days behind, but it’s funny that you say you were never that interested in the musical instruments. After moving to Phoenix, traveling around town I would see this brown and white sign: Musical Instrument Museum. It just struck me as funny. In my mind I pictured this old house with a clarinet and a saxophone! WRONG! The MIM (as it is known) is considered one of the top museums in the US. The place is huge and was fascinating. Many, maybe most, of the instruments are hand made. They are from all over the world, from many different cultures. I’ve been once and I really want to go again. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Phoenix — maybe you and your mom at next year’s CHA! It is a different type of an artistic experience.
I am a few blog days behind, but it’s funny that you say you were never that interested in the musical instruments. After moving to Phoenix, traveling around town I would see this brown and white sign: Musical Instrument Museum. It just struck me as funny. In my mind I pictured this old house with a clarinet and a saxophone! WRONG! The MIM (as it is known) is considered one of the top museums in the US. The place is huge and was fascinating. Many, maybe most, of the instruments are hand made. They are from all over the world, from many different cultures. I’ve been once and I really want to go again. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Phoenix — maybe you and your mom at next year’s CHA! It is a different type of an artistic experience.
I am a few blog days behind, but it’s funny that you say you were never that interested in the musical instruments. After moving to Phoenix, traveling around town I would see this brown and white sign: Musical Instrument Museum. It just struck me as funny. In my mind I pictured this old house with a clarinet and a saxophone! WRONG! The MIM (as it is known) is considered one of the top museums in the US. The place is huge and was fascinating. Many, maybe most, of the instruments are hand made. They are from all over the world, from many different cultures. I’ve been once and I really want to go again. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Phoenix — maybe you and your mom at next year’s CHA! It is a different type of an artistic experience.
I am a few blog days behind, but it’s funny that you say you were never that interested in the musical instruments. After moving to Phoenix, traveling around town I would see this brown and white sign: Musical Instrument Museum. It just struck me as funny. In my mind I pictured this old house with a clarinet and a saxophone! WRONG! The MIM (as it is known) is considered one of the top museums in the US. The place is huge and was fascinating. Many, maybe most, of the instruments are hand made. They are from all over the world, from many different cultures. I’ve been once and I really want to go again. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Phoenix — maybe you and your mom at next year’s CHA! It is a different type of an artistic experience.
I am a few blog days behind, but it’s funny that you say you were never that interested in the musical instruments. After moving to Phoenix, traveling around town I would see this brown and white sign: Musical Instrument Museum. It just struck me as funny. In my mind I pictured this old house with a clarinet and a saxophone! WRONG! The MIM (as it is known) is considered one of the top museums in the US. The place is huge and was fascinating. Many, maybe most, of the instruments are hand made. They are from all over the world, from many different cultures. I’ve been once and I really want to go again. I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Phoenix — maybe you and your mom at next year’s CHA! It is a different type of an artistic experience.
Oh, and I forgot to mention that there is a large room of hands on instruments!!!
Oh, and I forgot to mention that there is a large room of hands on instruments!!!
Oh, and I forgot to mention that there is a large room of hands on instruments!!!
Oh, and I forgot to mention that there is a large room of hands on instruments!!!
Oh, and I forgot to mention that there is a large room of hands on instruments!!!
Oh, and I forgot to mention that there is a large room of hands on instruments!!!
Thanks for the reminder to be open to all visual experiences, not just your own well-beaten path.
Thanks for the reminder to be open to all visual experiences, not just your own well-beaten path.
Thanks for the reminder to be open to all visual experiences, not just your own well-beaten path.
Thanks for the reminder to be open to all visual experiences, not just your own well-beaten path.
Thanks for the reminder to be open to all visual experiences, not just your own well-beaten path.
Thanks for the reminder to be open to all visual experiences, not just your own well-beaten path.