SchoolArts - April 2010

Museum Musings Art for All

Formanypeople,theBaltimore MuseumofArtistheperfect- sizedmuseum—largeand richenoughinscopetooffer a multitude of treasures from past and present, but not so big as to overwhelm its visitors. Admission to the internationally renowned collection is free for everyone, every day, making it a popular cultural destination for out-of-town visitors and local residents alike. There may be a charge for certain special exhibitions.

Located in a park-like setting adjacent to Johns Hopkins University, the BMA opened at its present site in 1929. The original neo-classical structure with its colonnaded hall and light-filled atrium forms the heart of the museum. Over the years, additional space has been added in wings of a more contemporary style.

Matisse Collection

Most visitors to the BMA are espe-
cially eager to see its world-famous
collection of paintings and sculpture
by Henri Matisse. Matisse’s exuber-
ant pattern-filled interiors, his still-
life arrangements of favorite flowers
and vases, his exotic odalisques, and
reclining figures in bronze all repre-
sent the personal taste of two Balti-
more sisters, Claribel and Etta Cone,
who made annual trips to Matisse’s
studio in Paris to make their selec-
tions. With a taste in art far more
daring than that of their Baltimore
contemporaries, the sisters also
acquired artworks by Cézanne, Gau-
guin, van Gogh, Picasso, and many
other nineteenth- and twentieth-cen-
tury artists.

Free Audio Tours

The BMA offers free audio tours with about sixty favorite artworks on view in every area of the museum. Using the “random access” feature of the tour, visitors may learn about one of the large Roman-era mosaic floor panels displayed on the walls of the Antioch Court, or a glowing sculpture made of red, yellow, and blue fluorescent light bulbs in the Contemporary Wing.

In the gallery of European Paint-
ing and Sculpture, visitors can marvel
at the museum’s “jewel,” a luscious
baroque painting by Sir Anthony van
Dyck in which a beautiful but malevo-
lent enchantress named Armida casts
her spell on the unwitting knight
Rinaldo. In galleries celebrating the
arts of Africa, the Americas, and the
Pacific Islands, the audio tour intro-
duces visitors to a powerful dance
headdress weighing more than eighty
pounds!
During the NAEA National Con-
vention held in Baltimore in April,
registered participants will receive
free admission to the BMA’s current
major ticketed exhibition, Cézanne
and American Modernism, featur-
ing sixteen of
Cézanne’s land-
scapes, still lifes,
and portraits
placed alongside
works by more
than thi rty Ameri-
can artists who
were clearly inspired by his work.
An additional small exhibition, Tex-
tiles Recycled /Reimagined, displays
beautiful objects made from reused or
repurposed materials.

Visitors may browse through art-inspired gifts and books at the BMA

Linda Andre

Most visitors to the BMA
are especially eager to see
its world-famous collection
of paintings and sculpture
by Henri Matisse.
Left: The Baltimore Museum of Art looks beautiful in the spring with
magnolias in bloom. Right: Students view The Thinker in the BMA’s
Atrium Court, surrounded by mosaics from ancient Antioch.

Continued from page 14.

Circle No. 177 on Reader’s Service Card

Shop (with a 10% discount for NAEA Convention participants) and enjoy the superb regional cuisine of celebrity chef John Shields at Gertrude’s restaurant—a perfect way to bring the BMA experience to a close.

The BMA is located on Art Museum Drive at North Charles and 31st Streets, three miles north of the Inner Harbor. It is easily accessible by bus numbers 3 and 11. Museum hours are Wednesday through Friday 10:00–5:00, Saturday and Sunday 11:00–6:00, closed Monday and Tuesday.

The BMA’s free Art-To-Go program offers teachers a monthly e-mail with a printable image of an artwork from the BMA collection, along with commentary appropriate for the classroom. An archive of previous selections is available at www.artbma. org/educators/atg. To register for Art-To-Go, send your name and e-mail address to Linda Andre at Landre@ artbma.org.