Magic at the Museum

Also on our list of “must-sees” was the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.  Its permanent collection is well worth seeing, but the drawing card for us was the permanent exhibition of glass and drawings by Dale Chihuly.  We first saw Chihuly’s work years ago when we visited the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  His glass sculptures in the lobby ceiling are breathtaking, and we were excited to be able to see more of his work.

We weren’t disappointed.  Dale Chihuly: Magic & Light was everything we expected, and more.  The exhibition is one of the largest collections of Chihuly glass in the world.  As you approach and enter the Museum, you can’t help but be impressed by the 55-foot Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick Memorial Tower in the atrium.

No matter where you stand, it’s hard to take it all in…or get a photo that captures the feeling you have looking at it.  

Here are some of the pictures I took at the art museum.  The collection covers a period of five centuries with highlights in European and American art from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and a growing collection of contemporary art.  The first several images will give you a taste of the pieces on display.  

Parrot Tulip, 1973 -- Lowell Nesbitt

Old Mortality, 1979 -- Jack Levine

Untitled (Bike) -- Paul Sarkisian

The Spirit-Spout, 1988 -- Frank Stella

And while we enjoyed the entire collection, we were blown away by the Chihuly glass.  

From simple spheres to elaborate, fantastical shapes and pieces that for me evoked ethereal sea creatures, it was all there.

While I was trying to capture detail in the grouping below...

John came around the corner and had me cover my eyes.  He then led me into another room and told me to uncover my eyes and look up.  There was an entire ceiling covered with brilliant flower shapes.  The lighting brought out every color you can imagine.

And then there was the Float Boat....

...and this boatload of fantastical flowers.  

I could go on and on, but I encourage you to click on the images to enlarge them.  And if you have a chance to visit Oklahoma City, don't miss the chance to see the exhibit in person.  You won't be sorry.

And, even though we didn't need any more sensory extravaganzas, we stopped in a nearby coffee shop, where I had a world-class pumpkin spice latte'  to top off our afternoon.