If you’re a traveller on a shoestring budget, you’re undoubtedly aware that museums are great places to spend the day, especially when they’re free. For Austinites, UT students, and anyone visiting the city, the Blanton Museum of Art is a great place to check out what’s going on in the world of art. For the budget-minded, be sure to hit this museum on a Thursday (especially the third Thursday of the month, as they remain open until 9 PM) when admission is free!
OVERVIEW
The Blanton is a part of the University of Texas at Austin, and features a permanent collection of both modern and ancient art from around the world. Collections include items from Europe, Latin America and the U.S., with recent acquisitions including Anselm Kiefer’s mixed-media Sternenfall [Falling Stars] (1998), Paul Chan’s digital video projection 2nd Light (2006), and Giuseppe Bernardino Bison’s Landscape (1820s), seen below.
Giuseppe Bernardino Bison's "Landscape" (image via Blanton Museum of Art)
If you enjoy art, the Blanton is a great destination, and features a number of artists with star-power names. The modern gallery is particularly enjoyable, with works from Joan Mitchell, Franz Kline, Adolph Gottlieb, Max Weber, Jorge de la Vega and a temporary exhibition on the first floor from Brooklyn-based artist Teresita Fernández that features innovative and beautiful installations and large-scale sculptures.
I’m looking forward to seeing their February 2010 exhibition, entitled “DESIRE,” which will feature work from Marilyn Minter and Tracey Emin, among others.
POINTS OF INTEREST
As a few additional points of interest, you probably already know that flash photography is forbidden in most art museums, but the Blanton also discourages note-taking with ink pens. If you don’t happen to have a pencil on you when you arrive, the staff will be happy to provide you with a golf pencil for note-taking and sketching purposes. Otherwise, if you intend to study the artwork with your notebook, you may want to bring your own box of pencils (colored or plain old graphite are both okay).
"My pencil broke!" Your humble writer's golf pencil lead snapped in the Blanton entranceway; be sure to BYOP! (photo by B. Walker)
Similarly, I was surprised to find that the Blanton has a small room full of what at first appear to be ancient Greek statues in marble, but upon closer inspection turned out to be plaster reproductions. Why this fine institution would be displaying poor copies of originals is a question you’ll have to ask their staff, especially given the limited floor space for art in general, but since it is part of a university, my speculation is that they’re there for educational purposes. Still, as someone who has seen plenty of Greek art at the fantastic Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, this was a big let-down.
Finally, an oddly enjoyable part of the museum, for me, was actually the front entranceway. Though there are no works of art exhibited in the large and open foyer just past the admissions desk, the spacious turquoise-tiled room had a very Mediterranean feel. It inspired a great feeling of calm, and on the bright sunny day I visited, it was a warm and welcoming space to be in. Whoever designed this space gets two thumbs up from me, as it was really architecturally stunning.
Mediterranean-style portico or Blanton entranceway? Hint: It's the Blanton. (photo by B. Walker)
The Blanton Museum of Art is located at 200 East MLK, near Congress, in Austin, Texas. For more information, call (512) 471-7324.
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Very lovely artwork…good tips on visiting this museum : )
Nice photo job by B. Walker.