Shoppin'

There was a gift shop at the Hyde Collection.  I love museum shops because A) They have cool shit, and B) Even though it's overpriced shit, you don't have shopping guilt because the money goes to support the museum.  Therefore, you are not merely a shopper, but also a patron of the arts.  Snooty!

I had to have one of these:

Folds flat.

Insta-vase when filled with water.

Didn't get a chance to pick a bouquet for it because no sooner did I get it set up, it started pissing down rain.  And yeah, I AM still picking bouquets in October.  They aren't as extravagant as the ones I can get in high season but it still counts.  When they're all gone, I'll start buying them at florists and grocery stores.  Did you know that in Europe, flowers are a grocery list staple?  Here we save them for special occasions and illness.  That's just dumb.  More flowers for everyone- go buy some!  (But not from 1-800-FLOWERS.  They suck.  Independent florists are better.)

Last but not least, Keith Haring temporary tattoos.  They were 10 cents each.  Yep, I'm an arts patron.

Field Trip!

Will we drive over an hour to see one tiny REAL Maurice Sendak illustration?  You betcha.  The Hyde Collection in Glens Falls, New York is doing a special exhibit on children's book illustrations.  I love that shit and the mister was game as well.  Some true things:  The Hydes were rich people who owned a paper mill.  The museum itself is their actual amazing house.  You can still see a working paper mill right from the windows.

Finch Paper Mill

How's that for a firewood pile?  Anyway, we looked at the book exhibit first.  

Tiny Sendak rendered large for your enjoyment.

 

 

I liked this one a lot too:

Mind you, I was busily making a list of kids' books to check out next time I go to the library on my special "Dear Fuckface" stationary.  I had to be all stealthy and shit so no little kids could see the header.  Literate babies are easily offended, or at least their moms probably are.  Funny thing, though, is that there were actually very few kids in attendance but lots of adults.

The mister liked this one.

We both liked the German cut-out book.

Cut and glue the story yourself.

This series of books was really cool.  They tell the story and based on that, you cut out all the furniture and accessories and glue them into the book yourself.  There are some objects that have no specific place.  You get to choose where to glue them yourself.  I like this particular one because the child or adult was clearly on some drugs or has a distorted perception disorder.  (Pardon the bad picture- the book was under glass and lights.)

After the book stuff, we toured the house itself which is full of art and furniture that the family collected.  Eight rooms around a central indoor courtyard with amazing light.

Absolutely my favorite type of stuff- tempera religious icons.  I just love the colors, regardless of subject matter.

Another one.  Look at the blue on the guy on the right.  1400s.  Nice steal score, Hydes!

The indoor courtyard.

The skylight above the courtyard.

A Picasso wayyyy upstate.  Good eye, Hydes!

And last but not least, my absolute favorite:

Angel, circa 1350.  I definitely want her on MY side.