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Category: Serendipity | Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:14 pm

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When we moved to Texas from New York, people kept asking us about "culture shock." Yes, we were shocked at how many cultural opportunities we had here in Central Texas.
Shortly after we arrived, we saw and heard Luciano Pavarotti in Austin. Earlier in the week we had gone to a rodeo where Dan Mortensen, the reigning world bronco rider, rode and won (hey, rodeo is culture in Texas!). Only in Texas can you get dusty at the rodeo on Thursday and hear a premier tenor on Saturday (you need Friday to rest up).
We have also seen the Rockefeller Latin American Folk Art exhibit in San Antonio's Museum of Art. Charming sculptures, wonderfully colorful objects, all collected and then donated by the Rockefellers.
We have visited two art museums in Ft. Worth--the Amon Carter and the Kimbell. The Carter specializes in Western art and has a great collection of Remington statues, as well as paintings of Western scenes.
The Kimbell has a wonderful collection of art all its own--Velasquez, Rubens, and a recently acquired painting by Michelangelo. It also hosts visiting exhibits, often the only venue in the United States. We have seen two Impressionist exhibits (a favorite style of my husband's) and an impressive exhibit of Egyptian artifacts from the only female pharaoh to rule Egypt (Hapshetsut).
Which brings us to Caravaggio--and you were probably wondering when we were going to talk about the artist who was one of the most influential figures in the history of art. The Kimbell is hosting an exhibit of Caravaggio paintings, and paintings of his contemporaries in France, Belgium, Spain, and other countries who were influenced by his new style. We went this past Tuesday and were amazed at the depth of the exhibit. The Kimbell always presents exhibits well, but the explanatory texts, the lighting, the juxtaposition of the paintings made this exhibit one of the best we have seen.
There is another Impressionist exhibit coming in March, and we'll be going to Ft. Worth to see it, and have another great lunch at the Kimbell. They serve a wonderful lunch there, too!
So, we aren't completely over our "culture shock" and it looks like we won't be for quite a while. We're thinking of going to the Impressionist exhibit, staying overnight, and hitting the Ft. Worth Stockyards Rodeo the next day. Yee-Haw!


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toni wrote on Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:01 pm:

Don't forget to stay at Miss Molly's Bed and Breakfast that night. Boardinghouse, then a bordello, now a BnB....and haunted too!!
http://www.missmollyshotel.com/

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Cayuga Morning wrote on Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:57 pm:

Very cool Marlingardener!

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