Colorado, Photography

Denver Art Museum

by Ingrid

This week’s WordPress Photo challenge is Zigzag and it just so happened to coincide with my trip to the Denver Art Museum. This is one unique structure that captivated my attention.  Check out the zigzag angles!WordPress photo challenge Zigzag

My cultural experience started before I even entered the doors to the museum. Beautiful architectural buildings new and old surround the area with grounds dotted with interesting sculptures.Denver Art MuseumDenver Colorado

Art in DenverI’m not sure why, but I was so intrigued by the big red chair with the horse on top.

I found it very humorous and somewhat perplexing. Perhaps those were the exact emotions the artist wanted to evoke.

Although the Denver Art Museum building alone is worth a visit, it is only appropriate to step inside and have a look around…. especially since this was the first Saturday of August – free day. Yep, the first Saturday of every month admittance to the museum is free. Gosh, we couldn’t say no to that.

zigzag
interior stairway in the Denver Art Museum

I had a tremendous curiosity about how the Denver Art Museum might compare to my favorite art museum; the Chicago Art Institute.  Actually, it would be quite silly of me to compare these two museums to one another, each is unique in its own right offering a very different museum experience.Denver Art Museum

Where as the Chicago Art Institute has a serious, historical, and intellectual feel the Denver Art Museum has a quirky, modern, and fun feel.  Although the Denver Museum has a beautiful collection of art, it doesn’t come close to rivaling the collection in Chicago.  The Chicago Art Institute has a stunning display of ‘impressionist’ art by such famed artists as Monet, Renoir, and Seurat…. my faves!Norman Rockwell

Norman RockwellHowever, the Denver Museum had this Norman Rockwell painting that had me doing a double take…. definitely not the typical Norman Rockwell painting we have come to know and love.

The textile room was unique with a beautiful display of quilts as well as a specialty room filled with sewing tools, threads, scissors …. anything to do with the art of sewing over the centuries.

This flag quilt was fascinating.textile arttextile art

The painting by Albert Bierstadt caught my attention.  First it’s a painting of Rocky Mountain National Park with Longs Peak in the distance and second I’ve been to this spot.  I believe the lake in the painting is called Bierstadt Lake.  Is it possible the lake was named after the painter?Art

After touring the museum for a little over two hours, our stomachs let us know it was time for lunch.  We saw about half of the Denver Art Museum with plans to return another time to take in the other half.

the perfect gravatar

As for lunch, we found a cute burger place that had just opened the day before called Burger Fi.  located at the corner of 12th and Broadway.  We thought the food was good and reasonably priced.Denver Art Museum

All in all, it was a good day and we loved all the zigzag lines 🙂
Art Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Adventures in Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Paper, and Mixed Media-For Budding Artists (Lab Series)

 

48 thoughts on “Denver Art Museum”

  1. Well, well, well … You find the best even with the non-nature stuffs. These are incredible, Ingrid. A lot of art museums here in California are mostly pretentious or sophisticated. The big chair and horse is what interests me most. Why red, why horse, and how incredibly awesome for that to be just outside like that… vulnerable to weather, birds and other animals, and vandalisms.

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  2. The post about the Denver Botanic Garden and the Chihuly exhibition was great… Chihuly came to Atlanta Botanic Garden a few years back but I don’t remember the pieces intertwining in the plants like this. The tall pink and white glass tree was truly amazing.
    Thanks for the tour of the gardens and the beautiful plantings there…

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  3. Great zigzag post Ingrid. I tried to respond on my smartphone yesterday as I bounced along in the car (passenger of course!) but failed dismally. Can’t get the hang of the WP app.

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  5. Glad you had a fun time at the museum! I noticed BurgerFi recently when a friend and I were taking a break from work. Looks promising. I don’t eat beef, but hopefully they have at least one veggie option. 🙂

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  6. Thanks for this nice tour of the Denver Art Museum, I like the openness of the displays, the building is a head scratcher but then sometimes unusable space serves another purpose. -smile-
    The horse on the chair is interesting too curious about the artist, whether Native or non.

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    1. That horse on the chair had me scratching my head and smiling. The Denver Art Museum was definitely worth a visit. I may need to go back just to review the exterior of the building again from all angles and perhaps scratch my head once again 🙂

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      1. Had it been a recliner, the title could be Equine Recline, or a play on Rocking Horse if a rocking chair. Maybe it has no meaning at all, some artists are like that and the intent was to simply confound.
        In any event the creator of the piece was likely paid some serious hay. 😉

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  7. Will put this place on the visit list. My BFF will be moving to Denver in October. Will love going to visit her there!

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    1. Very good excuse to visit. I am very much enjoying my time exploring this beautiful city. Lots of hidden gems to discover. You and your BFF will not be at a loss of things to see and do 🙂

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  8. The Denver Museum of Art look very similar to the new Grand Rapids Art museum, I wonder if the same architect designed them both? It’s been a few years since I visited the Chicago Art Institute, now that’s my kind of art museum!

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    1. Interesting about the architecture. I’m so used to the old, ornate buildings in Chicago that I found the contemporary feel to Denver refreshing. But there’s nothing like the Chicago Art Institute… will remain my fave 🙂

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    1. I find Denver’s mix of architecture; new vs. old very interesting. Definitely prettier and more appealing than that city in the Midwest you posted about. You MUST attend mass at the Cathedral Basilica when you’re in Denver. Al and I almost did. Stunning!

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    1. You’ll love it. Also the botanic garden has a Chihuly exhibit which is stunning – a must see. Thoroughly enjoying our lengthy stay in Denver, much to my surprise 🙂

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        1. I went yesterday…. beautiful. You MUST visit. The Chihuly exhibit at the Denver Botanic Garden will continue until Nov. – perfect timing for your visit 🙂

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          1. Yay!!! Chihuly’s presence was seen throughout Arizona so I feel that connection to home whenever I see one of his works.

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  11. Great zigzag captures, Ingrid—and such an interesting array of art at the museum! It looks like a place that we would enjoy exploring. We always love a bit of culture mixed in with our nature experiences in our travels.

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    1. Thanks Laurel, it’s a fun museum with some quirky items. A little culture is good for us. Al and I are enjoying our city time but looking forward to a little time in Rocky Mtn NP.

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  12. What an awesome, fun Art Museum. I love the stag coach art and the quilt is really fascinating. I actually think Paul would enjoy this museum.

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    1. There’s a low key feel to the place that I think most folks could find some level of enjoyment. They had some unique exhibits and when it’s a freebie day, how can ya go wrong!

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  15. Agreed that the Art Institute of Chicago and the Denver Art Museum are like night and day. I have to say though, I was very impressed by the artwork done by American Western artists when out West. Actually, Dennis is not an Art lover, but he became intrigued by the bronzed sculptures and beautiful Western paintings in a few Art Museums we were in in Arizona. I never thought I could get him interested in Art, but he sure loved the Western style!

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    1. We don’t do museum’s regularly but every now and then a little cultural experience is good for the mind. Al too was intrigued by the ‘Western art’. I think I was more enamored with the architecture than anything 🙂

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  17. What a fun place and a fun post. I’m often quite moved by museums and art of the natural landscape, in a different way than I am by beautiful scenery – though the former is often just a copy of the later. What’s up with that? I guess it’s something that the artist catches and helps us see more of. Thanks showing us the museum and samples of the art.

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    1. Very good comparison – art does indeed imitate life. As much as I enjoy and appreciate the talents of artists, I still prefer to immerse myself in nature among beautiful scenery. Thanks for stopping by and commenting 🙂

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    1. Our time here in Denver has turned into a very fun adventure. I would highly recommend a visit to this diverse city with stunning scenery just miles away. There’s a little something for everyone to enjoy 🙂

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  19. That is a beautiful architecture! I must go back to Denver to see this art museum… Chicago Art Institute is my fave museum 🙂
    Great post, as always!

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    1. Thank you Amy, I’m with you – I don’t think anything rivals the Chicago Art Institute without traveling to Europe but I did really enjoy the overall experience here in Denver. I’ve been pleasantly surprised with some of the beautiful buildings and all the things to see and do 🙂

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  20. What a fabulous structure and exhibits. The totem poles really caught my eye Ingrid. Do you recall my post on the Japanese totem poles in Vancouver ? It started a conversation about where else they could be found. I’m always delighted to spot some more. Thanks for including that photo!

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    1. Yes, I do recall your post on totem poles and I believe Cee even tweaked a photo of yours. Am I right? It was a delightful exhibit that hubby really enjoyed. So now you know, the Denver Art Museum is another place to see a lovely display of totem poles 🙂

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  21. This was a great tour of the Denver Art Museum. We’ve never been there but this is a place I would really enjoy. Generally, we only hit historical museums which are John’s favorite or small town museums. I love all the variation in this museum from the building to the outside and then the inside. Who would have ever guessed that the stagecoach scene was a Norman Rockwell! Gee, Ingrid, another gem for our Colorado trip:)

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    1. I think you two would really enjoy this museum. It has a very laid back, unpretentious, fun feel with a little something for everyone. And the first Saturday of the month is free admittance…. can’t say no to that. Stay tuned, more Denver excursions forth coming!

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  23. Wonderful time at the museum I see. Hope to get out that way soon. Thanks for the excellent blog! Really enjoy reading your exploits.

    Steve

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